The commissioner for Recovery, Raúl Mérida, has highlighted the collaboration between the Generalitat and local councils to develop a network of resilient green infrastructure that protects Valencian municipalities from floods. These infrastructures, like floodable parks, are fundamental to increasing the territory's resistance capacity.
During a visit to the municipal floodable park Mamàs Belgues in Ontinyent, accompanied by the Director General for Recovery and Reconstruction, Sandra Castillo, and the mayor Jorge Rodríguez, Mérida explained that these spaces help to structure the Commissioner's Green Strategy, creating a municipal network that enhances the territory's resilience.
The commissioner emphasized that anti-flood green infrastructures have moved from being an option to an obligation, promoting nature-based solutions to improve citizens' daily lives. He stressed the need to adapt these infrastructures to each environment, considering the Valencian Community's exposure to torrential rains and intense heat.
Mérida pointed out that the temperature at the Port of Valencia is setting daily records, being 4 to 6 degrees above average, indicating high ambient humidity that could increase the possibility of torrential rains after the summer.
The Mamàs Belgues park was recognized as a model for urban transformation, regenerating areas, creating green spaces, and offering a safe area. This park, created after the rains from Dana in September 2019, serves as an example of the solutions society demands to improve municipal safety.
This initiative aligns with the design of metropolitan floodable parks for the regeneration of municipalities affected by the Dana of 2024 along the Túria and Poyo rivers. The Generalitat will also establish two major green corridors spanning 72 kilometers to connect l'Albufera, the Túria Natural Park, and the surrounding Horta, regenerating 1,500 hectares damaged by the floods.
