Author: Maria Bednarska

City of Ptuj and Kassandra: collaborative steps toward climate resilience and heritage conservation

Kassandra has just completed, as part of the URWAN project, a productive site visit and community engagement session in Ptuj, Slovenia—one of the country’s most historic towns. As we continue to work towards sustainable development and climate change mitigation, visiting Ptuj provided invaluable insights into the unique challenges faced by a town deeply rooted in history and culture.

One of the key challenges we discussed was how to balance the urgent need for climate action and integration of Nature Based Solutions with the conservation of Ptuj’s architectural heritage. The town’s narrow streets, ancient buildings, and rich cultural landscapes make implementing modern, sustainable infrastructure a delicate process in which a data-based decision making process will be crucial. In this respect Kassandra will be an invaluable tool to allow local authorities can balance the immediate need for climate action with the careful stewardship of Ptuj’s cultural heritage, ensuring that both the town’s past and its future are protected.

Throughout our visit, we engaged in open dialogues with stakeholders, including local authorities, business owners, and residents.

By listening to these voices, we gained a deeper understanding of the town’s unique vulnerabilities and opportunities. The visit highlighted the importance of co-creating solutions with the community, ensuring that any steps we take forward are rooted in local needs and aspirations. Together, we aim to help build a sustainable future that honors Ptuj’s past.

Advancing urban resilience: URWAN Project site visit in Sarajevo

Just wrapped up an inspiring site visit in Sarajevo as part of the URWAN project! It was an incredible opportunity to engage directly with key local authorities, stakeholders, and community members who are integral to the project’s success.

We had very productive meetings where we discussed the implementation of Kassandra as an Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS) for part of Sarajevo, including the historic Old Town. This tool will be pivotal in integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning, ensuring that the city’s rich cultural heritage is preserved while also enhancing resilience to environmental challenges.

This visit reaffirmed the importance of strong, localized partnerships in making a meaningful impact. We are excited to see how these collaborations will shape the future of Sarajevo’s urban landscape. Looking forward to the next steps in this journey!

Over 1500kg of waste removed and a wew turtle nest found: Modica and Kassandra in action

Modica and Kassandra are still dedicated to their environmental efforts: we have collected over 1500 kg of waste and discovered a new turtle nest.

Read more: https://www.radiortm.it/2024/07/03/modica-continua-il-suo-impegno-per-lambiente-raccolti-oltre-1500kg-di-rifiuti-e-scoperto-un-nuovo-nido-di-tartarughe/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1Jhx6t6uA22i2udjW99xMlxtgokoizUPjwhmLKVQqG52Mzx6pmoqfKdoo_aem_udtnfS4LhtITIAyvhQk4uA

Foto: RTM

Join Kassandra and Plastic Free for a beach cleanup at Maganuco – June 30th

On Sunday, June 30th, starting at 4:30 PM, Kassandra will join friends from the Plastic Free association, in collaboration with the Municipality of Modica, for a beach cleanup event at Maganuco.

You are what you eat: the impact of ocean plastic on marine life and humans

You are what you eat.

An estimated 8 million to 10 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean each year.

Plastic in the ocean breaks down into microplastics which can cause serious environmental concerns because they can be eaten by marine life and can cause harm to humans.

The decisions we make in dealing with waste affect us all.

Rethinking urban mobility: visualizing sustainable futures with Kassandra

“Building more roads to prevent congestion is like a fat man loosening his belt to prevent obesity” Lewis Mumford, 1955

Historic cities were not built for cars. Visualising future sustainable scenarios via Kassandra can help decision makers obtain buy-in from stakeholders and citizens for this often delicate issue, improving resilience and quality of life.

Kassandra’s role in safeguarding Mediterranean wetlands and biodiversity

Healthy wetlands play an essential role as a habitat for biodiversity that can help to adapt to climate change.

Mediterranean wetlands are critical habitats for migratory birds. However, they are threatened by human pressure, reducing their capacity to preserve biodiversity.

Kassandra can help in assessing the resilience of these areas and developing adaptation pathways for better decision making.

Coastal heritage preservation in a changing climate: a collaborative discussion

We are focusing on the critical issue of coastal heritage preservation in the face of climate change. Coastal areas are on the front lines of climate impacts, and heritage sites are no exception.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on how Kassandra and other experts are collaborating to equip decision-makers with the tools and knowledge needed to address these complex challenges. Let’s come together to explore effective communication strategies for advocating urgent action.

URWAN Project: second partnership meeting begins!

URWAN PARTNERSHIP MEETING JOURNEY

Here we are, the Second Meeting of URWAN Project has officially started!