On April 4, 2025, the Municipality of Gabrovo hosted a workshop titled “Gabrovo – A Green Municipality Adapted to Climate Change”, part of the European project MountResilience. As a regional innovation center and project partner, RIC Gabrovo was proud to support and participate in this initiative, which showcased the city’s proactive approach to building climate resilience and fostering sustainable urban development.
The event featured three key actions, demonstrating how integrated planning, innovation, and public engagement can support a greener and more adaptive urban environment.
- Tree Planting in “The Bear Garden” Park
The day began with a symbolic tree-planting campaign in the popular central park known as “The Bear Garden.” A total of 22 trees—including Japanese cherry, sweetgum, sycamore, and magnolia—were planted by local authorities, community representatives, and young citizens. Notably, five children and their grandfather took part in planting a maple tree, reinforcing the intergenerational commitment to sustainability.
- Mapping Urban Green & Blue Infrastructure
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Stelian Dimitrov presented a cutting-edge geospatial analysis of Gabrovo’s green and blue infrastructure. Using drone photogrammetry, LiDAR scanning, and spatial data processing, the team has developed a comprehensive inventory of more than 30,000 urban trees across two city zones. This data will serve as a foundation for informed ecosystem management and climate resilience planning.
- Rainwater Harvesting for Urban Irrigation
Engineer Emil Tsanov introduced a concept for a smart rainwater harvesting system designed to irrigate public green spaces. The system will collect rainwater from the roof of the “Aprilov-Palauzov” Community Center and surface runoff from the Sinkevitsa River. Stored in dedicated tanks, the water will be distributed through an automated system informed by soil moisture sensors and weather data.
- Early Warning System for Natural Disasters
The third initiative includes plans for the deployment of an early warning system for natural disasters such as floods, forest fires, and severe storms. Leveraging data from meteorological stations and various sensors, the system aims to improve preparedness and enable timely alerts to protect citizens and infrastructure.
RIC Gabrovo’s Commitment
As an innovation stakeholder in the MountResilience project, RIC Gabrovo continues to support the Municipality of Gabrovo in implementing data-driven and community-inclusive solutions to tackle climate change. These efforts align with our mission to foster regional resilience, promote sustainable practices, and contribute to smart, green urban transitions.
