Presentation of the conference
Onda hosted the meeting of the municipal representatives of the partners of the GreenPlace. Let's do it together! network, within the framework of the URBACT programme promoted by the European Union, as part of the Sustainable Urban Development Programme initiatives. The city hosted a day of exchange and mutual learning, reaffirming its commitment to green and sustainable growth.
Representatives of the network's municipalities have had the opportunity to visit, observe and learn from good practice in sustainable urban development, with a particular focus on green regeneration.
The Councillor for European Projects, Vicent Bou, said: "We are delighted to be able to showcase Onda's efforts and achievements in the field of sustainable urban development. Working together with other municipalities through URBACT allows us to strengthen our initiatives and move towards a greener and more liveable future.
Workshops at the headquarters of the NGO Quisqueya
The exchange days counted with the participation of several municipalities that are part of the GreenPlace network, such as Wroclaw (Poland), Löbau (Germany), Nitra (Slovakia), Quarto d'Altino (Italy), Limerick (Ireland), Vila Nova de Poiares (Portugal), Boulogne-Sur-Mer (France), Cehegin (Murcia) and Bucharest (Romania). Some members of the ULG (Urban Local Group) were also present: University Jaume I, the Chamber of Commerce, the NGO Quisqueya, the Association of Shops, Schools and Colleges, representatives of the Association of Builders and Investors, the Water Company Supply, and technicians and political representatives from Onda City Council.
During these meetings, the municipal technicians presented the project for the restoration of a degraded area of our city, with the aim of removing harmful materials such as asbestos and reforesting the area, projecting a large green lung that will act as a link between the suburbs and the city centre.
The experience of the municipality in drafting the Urban Agenda 2030 and implementing an action plan for its development in terms of citizen consultation was also shared by the municipality's technicians in the workshops held.
Visit at the Museum of Ceramics
These face-to-face meetings have therefore proved crucial in addressing specific issues such as citizen participation and cultural heritage, as mentioned above. The agenda for the Onda meeting included visits to the Green Lung area, the Olympic Forest and the Intergenerational Gardens. Workshops were also held at the day centre run by the NGO Quisqueya, which is part of the urban local group, and at the La Campaneta Cultural Factory.
It is worth highlighting, and this is what we communicated at the conference, the interest shown by the participants in the Olympic Forest. The Spanish Olympic Forest Initiative is an action of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) together with Banco Santander, Global Partner of the COE's Sustainability Strategy. The initiative stems from the action and commitment made by Banco Santander and the COE during the Tokyo Olympic Games to carry out an action to offset the carbon footprint of the medals and diplomas won by the Spanish delegation at the Olympic Games.
The EOC selected Onda and four other Spanish municipalities to plant these forests as part of a collaborative effort to offset the carbon emissions caused by the travel of Olympic athletes. The strategic location of the Olympic Forest, on an area of approximately 30,000 m² between citrus groves and industrial buildings on the Miralcamp and Corral de Diago roads, underlines its importance as a community project. With the planting of 400 olive trees, 400 carob trees, 85 holm oaks and 15 ash trees, the Bosque from Onda is expected to absorb up to 134 tonnes of CO2, consolidating its contribution to environmental sustainability. The municipal initiative has been joined by companies and citizens themselves, who have sponsored and increased the number of plantations. At the time of the conference, 263 applications had been received. The number of tree units to be added is estimated at 500.
Planting an URBACT GreenPlace tree in the Olimpic Forest
