More Green, Less Gray
With a so-called “unsealing partnership”, the district of Euskirchen is promoting the renaturation of gravel gardens and parking lots. The aim is to reduce the negative effects of soil sealing, such as the risk of flooding, loss of biodiversity and the creation of heat islands. This measure represents an important part of the county’s overall climate adaption strategy and also takes into account the specific preferences of its citizen who had been asked in a poll which climate adaption measure they would rank as the most important and as the most urgent.
“In this way, we are creating an attractive incentive for citizens to transform the sealed areas back into near-natural biotopes,” says Achim Blindert, the vice district administrator. “By converting concrete and asphalt surfaces into near-natural green spaces, the local water balance is improved, habitats for plants and animals are created and urban heat pollution is reduced.”
A newly released video, featuring interviews with community stakeholders and citizens, showcases the Euskirchen county's efforts to incorporate natural based-solutions that enhance local resilience. By creating more green spaces, Euskirchen is fostering sustainable, near-natural, and climate-resilient urban environments, setting a strong example for future urban development.
Watch the video here.
(The video is in German)
This article was co-created by LAND4CLIMATE consortium partners DEN Institute and The County of Euskirchen:
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