Reflections on the seminar in Maritsa Municipality
On July 7, 2025, the Agricultural University of Plovdiv (AUP) successfully hosted a seminar in the Municipality of Maritsa, Plovdiv region, Bulgaria, as part of the Twinning work plan under the ARCADIA project. This event placed a strong emphasis on presenting and discussing Scorecards for the implementation of environmentally friendly solutions in the Plovdiv region, marking an important step in the region’s ongoing commitment to climate adaptation and stakeholder-driven planning.
(See the Self Assessment Scorecard – a collaborative tool that helps regional stakeholders evaluate their progress, identify gaps, and plan next steps).
Highlights
The seminar’s primary goals were to introduce the Scorecards, present preliminary results, and gather targeted feedback from a range of local stakeholders. The AUP team’s smooth and efficient organisation drew a significant turnout, reflecting the strong interest and readiness among stakeholders to engage in robust dialogue about NbS and climate resilience in the area.
The Scorecards facilitated dynamic discussions around the current state of environmental planning, the integration of NbS, and the key challenges faced by municipalities across the Plovdiv region. This format enabled the identification of both existing good practices and gaps, especially concerning stakeholder engagement, resource limitations, and the institutionalisation of NbS in local policy.
Insights
Stakeholder inclusion: the seminar underlined the value of structured stakeholder identification and engagement. While Maritsa and Plovdiv municipalities have developed plans incorporating NbS, a formal stakeholder analysis and engagement strategy is still in development. The discussions brought attention to the need for practical mechanisms to enhance participation and ensure the voices of all key groups are reflected in climate planning.
Mainstreaming NbS in municipal planning: participants recognised that while environmental protection programs and river basin management plans provide general frameworks for addressing climate-related risks, the practical integration of NbS remains limited by insufficient financial and human resources, as well as a lack of specialised training. The Scorecards discussions highlighted the importance of establishing capacity-building programs and securing dedicated funding streams to support the wider adoption of NbS approaches.
Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting: the seminar identified that, although annual reporting mechanisms exist and evaluation indicators are in place, there is a need for more focused, transparent, and participatory monitoring systems that better articulate the tangible benefits of NbS for local communities. Enhanced communication strategies were also identified as a key gap, with calls for concerted efforts to showcase NbS benefits to raise awareness and foster public support.
Translating good practices into policy: a critical takeaway was the importance of mechanisms that can scale up positive experiences and translate them into sectoral policies across the region. There are ongoing efforts to ensure that lessons learned – both successes and challenges – are systematically institutionalised to inform future strategies.
The way forward: twinning and practical instruments
A recurring theme in the discussions was the similarity of challenges faced by municipalities across the Plovdiv region, such as limited resources, gaps in communication, and the need for practical, implementable instruments for climate adaptation. Twinning activities between municipalities and knowledge partners, such as those coordinated through AUP, serve as crucial vehicles for solution-sharing and capacity building.
The seminar illuminated opportunities to develop, pilot, and disseminate efficient instruments resulting from the Twinning collaboration. These might include:
- Customised training programmes and resources for municipal staff.
- Shared stakeholder engagement models.
- Joint proposals for accessing regional and EU climate adaptation funds.
- Mechanisms for participatory monitoring and reporting.
Acknowledgements
Special gratitude goes to the AUP team for their outstanding facilitation of this seminar and for fostering an atmosphere ripe for constructive dialogue and meaningful partnership development. The high level of stakeholder interest demonstrates that the Plovdiv region is poised to lead by example in embedding nature-based solutions and resilient planning into municipal action.
In conclusion, the seminar provided valuable momentum for accelerating the mainstreaming of NbS and strengthening stakeholder-driven approaches to climate adaptation planning in the Plovdiv region. The collective insights and collaborative spirit set a promising course for the next stages of the Twinning work plan and the ARCADIA project’s regional transformation goals.