The series of destructive natural disasters in 2017 have led to severe human, environmental and economic losses in Europe. The region is significantly vulnerable towards climate change while it is very weakly prepared to respond to natural hazards and disasters adequately. Floods have a serious impact on the economic, social and local situation in the region. The cross-border region is subject to torrential rains during the summer with increased frequency and duration. As a result, the river basins of the main rivers in some critical areas are unable to accept the waters of these precipitation. This leads to flooding of the terrain, and further to floods with extremely unfavorable consequences for the areas,such as destruction of the available infrastructure – bridges, roads, even loss of human lives, etc.
As a result of increased rainfall, the municipality of Sandanski and the municipality of Radovis suffered from floods caused by the rivers Sandanska Bistrica and the river Sushica and because of the bad weather conditions and climate change, the significance of such a project is great.
Main Activities of the Project:
1. Information and publicity campaign which will allow promotion of the activities, events and results of the project in the cross-border region;
2. Preparation of Guide “A collection of good practices for combating the climate change consequences in communities” which will be distributed in Bulgaria and N. Macedonia, and will aim to increase the awareness of the policy and decision makers in the cross-border region;
3. Organization of open workshops on climate change and “green” activities in Bulgaria and N. Macedonia with the aim to increase the awareness of young people on the climate change consequences, and related risks such as erosion, flooding, storms and drought etc.;
4. Organization of roundtable discussions on mitigation of climate change in order to mitigate the consequences of climate change in Bulgaria and N. Macedonia, for support and exchange of good practices, experiences and knowledge on the various measures for mitigating the consequences of climate change;
5. Infrastructure activities in the Municipality of Sandanski – arrangement of a part of the Sandanska Bistrica riverbed and flood area including the construction of several correction walls of different length and gabions facilities according to the technical designs, cleaning and arrangements of the river bed, strengthening and creating dykes and river banks, etc. Additionally, afforestation and reforestation of the river basin will also be included, as a measure for reducing the erosion and quieting the noise created by the river flow;
6. Infrastructure activities in the Municipality of Radovish – arrangement of the 624 meters section of the river Sushica, by cleaning the river bed, setting up cascade thresholds, a quay wall, arranging the bottom of the river bed, building stairs on the quay wall and ramps to create access to the river. Also afforestation and reforestation of the river basin is predicted.
The series of destructive natural disasters in 2017 have led to severe human, environmental and economic losses in Europe. The region is significantly vulnerable towards climate change while it is very weakly prepared to respond to natural hazards and disasters adequately. Floods have a serious impact on the economic, social and local situation in the region.
