At the end of 2020, we have launched a very important project in Bosnia and Herzegovina called Green Roofs of Sarajevo – Sustainable space during crisis periods. This new project is implemented with UNDP under the Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and in close cooperation with the Czech Embassy in Sarajevo. The main goal of the Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs is to bring Czech expertise and innovative solutions for sustainable development goals to partner countries.
In cooperation with our local partner fea – Forestry and Environmental Action and the UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina we focus on enhancing green roofs and rooftop gardens in the region. These nature-friendly measures play important role in the urban areas since they have positive effects on health and well-being of citizens as well as on biodiversity. Such solution can regulate heat, ameliorate air quality and help with climate change adaptation. As part of the project, our team will install one rooftop garden to a selected building.
The core of the project is based on community engagement so the local citizens will be involved in the project by several activities. Firstly, they will take part in the pre-selection of buildings for the installation of one pilot rooftop garden in a form of competition. Thanks to cooperation with the local UNDP office we will be able to enlist potential applications to the UNDP Accelerator Lab, which is an excellent occasion for the applicants as well as for promotion of the green roof solutions. In this case, the interest to establish green roofs will be more community driven and as such, better sustainability of outcomes will be ensured. The public competition for building owners is being prepared at this moment and will be publicly announced during spring 2021. Secondly, we plan to organize a class for interested public and residents to present the rooftop gardens and its advantages. Moreover, replicate model and short video guide how to make your rooftop garden and how to take care of it.
This project will positively contribute to the UN SDGs 3, 11, 13 and 14.