On March 25, the opening conference was held at the Silesian Botanical Garden, which was attended in large numbers by people who are involved in the project and guests who were interested in the subject of the meeting. The conference was opened by Dr. Pawel Kojs, Director of the Silesian Botanical Garden, together with Mr. Stanislaw Piechula, Mayor of Mikolow, welcoming the participants. Then Mr. Mateusz Handel, 1st Deputy Mayor of Mikolow, introduced the assumptions of the project. The last speaker in this part was Prof. Peter Droege, director of the Institute for Strategic Development in Liechtenstein.

After a short break, the plenary session began. The conference program included speeches by the following experts:

• Leszek Trząski, deputy director for scientific and educational affairs of the Silesian Botanical Garden, “Blue-green infrastructure – an urgent call for our metropolitan region.”;
• Krzysztof Rostanski, associate professor and associate dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Silesian University of Technology, “Natural patterns of blue-green infrastructure,” ;
• Łukasz Dworniczak, landscape architect, green space specialist, author of numerous dendrological projects and documentation, “Design and implementation of blue-green infrastructure solutions. Case Studies,” ;
• Artur Kwaśniewski employee of the Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław University of Technology, “Protection and restoration of historical watercourses in urbanized areas – remarks on the methodology of research and design works for shaping the city’s green-green infrastructure”;
• Michal Stangel, assistant professor in the Department of Urban and Spatial Planning at the Faculty of Architecture, Silesian University of Technology, “Blue-Green Infrastructure in Urban Design of New Development Complexes,”;
• Dagmara Zelazny, member of the Chamber of Architects and the Association of Landscape Architecture, “Implementing Nature-Based Solutions,”;
• Tomasz Tosza, Deputy Director of the Municipal Roads and Bridges Authority in Jaworzno, “Jaworzno’s experience of socializing greenery,”;
• Michal Adamczyk, employee of the City Development Department of Ruda Śląska City Hall, “Development of blue-green infrastructure in Ruda Śląska – implementation and plans,”;
• Katarzyna Galej-Ciwiś, Superintendent of the Silesian Seed Bank at the Silesian Botanical Garden, “Project SALUTE4CE – Integrated environmental management with micro-scanners in urban functional areas – application of the idea of urban green acupuncture,”.

The conference was moderated by Ms. Małgorzata Szymańczyk, spokesperson for the Garden. During the break, the participants were invited to a walk through the Silesian Botanical Garden, which was guided by its directors telling about the specimens, which was guided by its directors telling about the specimens, which could be admired during the walk through the garden. At the end, the participants were invited to lunch, during which discussions continued in smaller groups.

The purpose of the conference was:

➡️ discuss issues related to the problem of climate change from a holistic perspective;

➡️ present the challenges facing Mikolov;

➡️ illustrate the solutions that will be implemented as part of the investment;

➡️ describe the planned environmental effects;

➡️ analyzing the adaptability of Mikolov;

➡️ illustrating plans for the coming years.

Enjoy the photo report!