As part of a series of training courses for municipalities in the Czech Republic, the City of Nový Bydžov presented the benefits of the MAURICE Project during a webinar organized by the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic (SMO ČR). The webinar took place on November 27, 2025, within the framework of the Regional Development Hour and focused on effective public engagement in the implementation of blue-green infrastructure in municipalities.
During the webinar, Petr Kohout from the City of Nový Bydžov shared practical experiences from the MAURICE project, highlighting the value of regional and international implementation groups. These groups bring together representatives of cities, experts, and members of the public to collaboratively design and implement blue-green infrastructure solutions in urban environments. Broad stakeholder consultation was emphasized as a key factor in achieving the shared goal of preparing cities and communities for the impacts of climate change.
Public participation is a fundamental pillar of all activities related to sustainable rainwater management. Alongside the City of Nový Bydžov, experts from the Institute for Economic and Environmental Policy (FSE UJEP) at Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem—Jan Macháč, Štěpánka Truhlářová, M. Herkle, and Jiří Louda—shared their expertise, including insights gained through the ReBioClim project.
Additionally, Jan Kolář, Mayor of Krásná Lípa, presented practical lessons learned from the revitalization of a local stream, offering an inspiring example of how blue-green infrastructure can be successfully implemented at the local level.
To learn more, watch the webinar recordings available on YouTube.