CARM.es - The regional Government boosts green and sustainable solutions in municipalities movilizing investment of more than 5.4 million
07/03/2022
This involves implementing Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in urban areas to renaturalise spaces which improve rain management and reduce the impact of rain
The councillor for Development and the mayor of Fuente Álamo present the creation of two plant coverings in the urban heart of the municipality
The regional government encourages the arrival of the 'green revolution' at municipalities in the Region by awarding of the first regional subsidies whose aim is to extend Nature-based Solutions across urban spaces to act as 'natural sponges', revegetate surfaces and reduce the impact of rain.
These subventions, valued at 400,000 euros, will turn into the mobilization of 5.4 million euro investment which will allow the renaturalisation of urban spaces with native vegetation acting as carbon sinks, the creation of vertical gardens and green corridors and the substitution of impermeable pavements with pavements which drain better and allow rainwater filtration.
Today, the councillor for Development and Infrastructure, José Ramón Díez de Revenga and the mayor of Fuente Álamo, Juana María Martínez, presented the plant coverings which will be created by the municipality, one of the projects which has received funding from the regional Administration to implement NBS in urban spaces. The project, which has obtained a regional subvention of 30,000 euros, will create an investment of 114,625 euros.
"'Green solutions' are destined to be an essential element for a more sustainable future, with which we can increase urban biodiversity and improve environmental sustainability, reduce our carbon footprint and help the natural refrigeration of buildings," noted the councillor.
The regional manager of Development stated that "we find ourselves in a key moment for providing solutions to the great challenges of improving the urban environment," and added that "every administration has to create a united front in order to live in more pleasant cities, which care for people and are more environmentally friendly".
A 'green blanket' in Fuente Álamo
The intervention in Fuente Álamo consists of building two extensive plant coverings, with an extension of 311 square metres, in a parking area of the Town Hall square. This will allow a plant surface in a completely impermeable square (of 1,355 metres) to be introduced, which will act as a 'natural sponge' in an urban environment and correct the absence of vegetation and shade.
This will be possible thanks to a rainwater recovery system and a buried storage tank to allow water to be reused through an irrigation system. Likewise, it will have an electrical system to control the opening and closing of the solenoid valves connected to the irrigation programmer.
The councillor highlighted that the plant covering is "pioneering" in the municipality and noted that it has "a didactic purpose of raising social awareness about the importance of this kind of solution in our immediate environment".
The coverings will be extensive with species with a high water retention capacity and low irrigation needs, combined with herbaceous and native plants to create compositions of different textures, colours and sizes.
Statements: Councillor for Development and Infrastructure, José Ramón Díez de Revenga, on the regional grants for the implementation of Nature-based Solutions.
