On the first day of the ecological festival Uzana Polyana Fest, an interactive discussion was held whose format provokes the generation of ideas and proposals, directed to finalising and enriching the Gabrovo’s GI strategy. The event is part of the activities by the European project MountResilience by the program “Horizon Europe”, in which Gabrovo is a pilot city.
The discussion was opened by Dr. Eng. Desislava Koleva, project manager of MountResilience, who introduced the audience to the main activities of the project and started the discussion by presenting the main goals that should be set in the GI Strategy of Gabrovo.
The following hours saw focused group work involving over 50 representatives of the administration, experts, scientists, citizens, and organisations. They worked on four key topics:
- Educational programs for climate adaptation
- Innovative technology and digital solutions
- Green and blue infrastructure in urbanized territories
- Forests and protected territories
The working group in the direction of “Education and awareness on climate adaptation” formulate the necessity from purposeful communication and education for all age and social groups. Among the leading suggestions are:
- Campaigns through radio, podcasts, social networks (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook) with short videos, sketches and games.
- Create a special “Waste Day” – with installations that provoke reflection regarding environmental risks.
- Conducting competitions and live laboratories in schools – one of the most supported ideas was to create a demo vegetable kindergarten in schools and kindergartens gardens where children will have opportunity yes acquire practically skills related to plants, soils, waters and the environment.
- Campaigns from type “Let’s clean Bulgaria together ” and games like “Plums for waste” in small, populated places.
- Encouraging homework and schoolwork practices – rainwater harvesting water, planting of local types, use of solar panels.
The working group emphasised the important role of children as “ambassadors of adaptation” and the necessity for parents and teachers yes be positive examples.
The second working group was for goal yes generates specific, prioritised and actionable measures in support of the Green city strategy Gabrovo, related to the topic of “Innovative technology and digital solutions”. The discussion in this group developed with great interest, numerous suggestions and intense debate.
They were identified and obstacles as scepticism and a lack of feeling for belonging, but were proposed countermeasures as creating a “green” identity of Gabrovo, intergenerational activities and platforms for positive examples.
In the final performance, the participants in this group generated multiple technological solutions and digital tools. Leading offerings are related to :
- of “smart” containers in urban areas with sensors and remote-control tracking
- Solar panels sunflower type – artistic and follower the sun
- Energy neighbourhoods (PEDs) with renewable energy
- Biodegradable packaging and incentives for passage to them
- Micro Hydropower and AI for aquatic energy , electric bicycles with solar sheds
- IoT and AI waste tracking
- Drones and LiDAR for thermal monitoring islands and greens areas
- Mobile applications for stimulating environmental behavior
- Info board by stops and in air-conditioned buses messages
The third working group focuses on the theme “Green and Blue infrastructure in an urbanised environment”. The group paid special attention to the preservation of biodiversity in urban environments, the improvement of public infrastructure and the integration of nature-friendly solutions, the planned planting of vegetation in urban areas and the involvement of citizens, businesses and institutions.
At the end of the working session, the group outlined priorities in the following directions :
- Urban biodiversity: “urban forests“ and “eco-islands” in the city; roof apiaries and gardens; QR codes on trees with ecological information; filtering rainy gardens and river troughs cleaning
- Infrastructural solutions: green facades and roofs with pilot projects; permeable flooring for rainwater retention; greens routes between tourist and cultural objects; separation of waste and rainwater waters and their secondary use
- Strategic landscaping: renewal of green cadastre; planting shady and air purifying trees; informational campaigns for the benefits from vegetation and usage of alternative water sources
- Civil participation: programs for “adoption” of green areas; urban gardening, including roof gardens; volunteer campaigns, competitions and educational workshops; encouraging businesses to invest in green solutions and take care of key urban spaces.
The participants in the fourth thematic group “Forests and protected territories” offered specific measures for conservation, restoration and adaptation of forest ecosystems in climate change:
- Network building from volunteers who yes signal for illegal activities in the forests
- Good management of municipal forests, with emphasis on water-retaining them function
- Afforestation with suitable species adapted to the new one’s climatic conditions
- Installing thermal imaging cameras for early warning at fires
- Forest maintenance clearings and roads – key for access and prevention
- Maintaining eco -trails in good condition, with the aim of attracting visitors
- Sensors for aquatic river levels, which yes signal for potential floods
These measures show clear directionality to integrated risk management, natural resource conservation resources and citizen engagement in long- term sustainable practices.
At the end of the event, participants commented that Gabrovo has a rich resource from ideas, concrete proposals and readiness for targeted work. All this will contribute to the development of GI strategy, which will be based on one new approach – greener, sustainable and responsible to the nature of Gabrovo.
The event, held on July 18, 2025 during the Uzana Polyana Fest, is part of from project MountResilience by program ” Horizon Europe “, aimed to construction of an air conditioning system sustainability in mountain areas regions of Europe. Gabrovo is a pilot city and model for integrated sustainable development.
