A GOOD MATCH!

The association

The 'Ambiente e Salute' association is leading the 'Regreening Bolzano' initiative. It is formed by Reinhard Dallinger, Klaus Griesser, and Argante Brancalion.

"We are a group of citizens concerned about climate change and the dangers it poses to the population. For this reason, we are planning to unseal and re-vegetate an area of around 12,000 square metres around the Premstallerhof in Piani di Bolzano." (Ambiente e Salute, 2024)

The students

In April, a collaboration began with the Eco-Social Design students from the University of Bolzano.

Michela, Mirjam, Simon and Tania are working on 'Da grigio a verde' project, parallel to the initiative 'Regreening Bolzano'. They have been engaged in field work over the past few months to increase the effectiveness of the initiative and gain interest and participation from citizens.

The initiative

This initiative was established by the association 'Ambiente e Salute', and developed from a series of dialogues and idea exchanges with various representatives of civil society. The initiative 'Regreening Bolzano' was formed out of concern for Bolzano's urban climate situation, aiming to create redevelopment projects for the city's "hot-spots" to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Global warming data shows a steady increase in temperatures over the past century, with extreme weather conditions becoming more frequent. Projections indicate that summer temperatures could rise by 1.5 degrees by 2050 and 5 degrees by 2100, with tropical nights becoming more common. Urban areas, with their sealed soils, limited green spaces, and insufficient tree coverage, are particularly affected. Local administrations and residents are urged to act against these climatic events. The initiative calls for measures to enhance adaptation and resilience to high temperatures and extreme weather.

The need to enhance Bolzano's resilience to climate change led to the 'Regreening Bolzano' campaign. The pilot project aims to restore natural environments and identify suitable locations for renaturation. The neighbourhood will not only become greener but the spaces will also be designed to meet the needs of its residents, including recreational and sports areas.

A few months ago, a collaboration with university students began, so 'Regreening Bolzano' is now working together with 'Da Grigio a Verde'.

The space

The project area of interest is in the neighbourhood of Piani in Bolzano, around the Premstallerhof multifunctional center, which hosts several associations that work closely with people. Outside, the space is mainly divided into two areas: a green zone with a playground and a completely asphalted area without an apparent function.

While the park area is generally green and covered by trees, the areas behind the main complex are completely sealed with asphalt. Large trees on the circumference just give shade to the buildings behind while the main area is exposed to sunlight, making it a very hot and unpleasant place in the middle of the day during the summer.

Who is involved?

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