Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
A study pointed out that conifers are the perfect species for the job
A new study commissioned by the state of Tyrol in Austria shows that a mixed and well-managed forest can have a significant impact when it comes to flood prevention. The study was published on 9 August, and it identifies conifers in particular as a species capable of great water retention.
The study clearly shows the importance of conifers. The spruce, sadly, is under pressure from climate change and has a very hard time surviving under 1,000 meters altitude. At the same time, conifers have proven to be more resilient.
Tyrolean state forest director, Josef Fuchs, explained that conifers are particularly good in mild winters, where they can retain and evaporate considerable amounts of water in contrast to larches.
It is well established that forests are good for protection against avalanches and falling rocks but they have an important function in flood protection as well – they absorb 40% more water than grasslands.
A well-placed and mixed forest can help store and evaporate a lot of water and after the recent flood disaster in Austria, Tyrol has started collaborating with South Tyrol, its adjacent province in Italy, through an Interreg programme for reforesting.
The study helped validate the Austrian state’s push to establish new forests and the better management of old ones as protection against natural disasters. The local government plans to use the “Climate Smart Mountain Forest” programme – a cooperative built around the idea of forest preservation and expansion, to further speed up the efforts in the state. The programme will help provide a variety of trees – a mixed forest with different types of roots provides a stabilising effect on slopes at risk of erosion.
In principle, the forest should be able to take care of itself, slowly reclaiming the land, however, with the increased frequency and magnitude of the disasters, human intervention is also necessary.
Director Fuchs explained that, with the new information, the state can create a better advisory practice for forest surveillance and maintenance, while focusing efforts on controlling and mitigating natural hazards.
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital