The ecological map of the City of Zagreb, which consolidates existing data on the state of the environment, primarily air, water, and soil, to enable relevant city offices to make quality decisions in the development of the city in accordance with sustainable development, was presented on Thursday at the Zagreb City Administration.
The project represents an important step in protecting human health and the environment, as well as effective planning for the development of Zagreb, said Sandra Šikić, Deputy Director of the Public Health Institute (NZJZ) ‘Dr. Andrija Štampar’ at a press conference.
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– The ecological map of the City of Zagreb, developed by the Public Health Institute (NZJZ) ‘Dr. Andrija Štampar’ in collaboration with the City of Zagreb, the Institute for Medical Research, the Faculty of Agriculture, and the State Hydrometeorological Institute (DHMZ), is an operational tool that allows relevant offices to functionally manage land, space, environmental protection, and to take better care of human health.
For Zagreb residents, it serves as a clear and concise information source necessary for assessing and predicting the state of the environment, emphasized Šikić.
Šikić assessed that the project is unique because the map is a dynamic tool with continuous data input based on regular monitoring, episodic measurements, and new data from various environmental testing sectors, such as air quality measurement using automated sensors.
Soil monitoring is conducted for urban soils and community gardens, while in the air sector, the existing network for permanent quality monitoring has been upgraded at eight locations with automated air pollution measurement sensors that read every 60 seconds and display data every 15 minutes.
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Sensors, Šikić says, are installed on suitable city structures in the busiest parts of Zagreb.
Data is also available for water monitoring; during the swimming season, data on the quality of city bathing areas will be available, along with information on allergenic pollen, meteorological data including temperature, wind direction and speed, and pressure. In the next three years, the entire system is planned to be supplemented with three additional meteorological stations.
The map will be available to citizens on the websites of the Public Health Institute ‘Dr. Andrija Štampar’ and the City of Zagreb.
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Director of NZJZ Zvonimir Šostar announced that this year they intend to cover the entire city of Zagreb with sensor stations and plan to install more than 70 sensor stations.
– As the mayor of Zagreb, I always think about how to improve the quality of life for our citizens and future generations. The desire to achieve an optimal balance between a pleasant life and productive work, and the development of a city where people live in harmony with nature, has always been a priority for this city administration and for me personally. I am proud that this project is yet another proof that the citizens of Zagreb live above average standards and that the project is unique not only in Croatia but also in all of Europe, concluded Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandić.
Bandić: Composting facilities are not dangerous to human health anywhere in the world
He commented on the construction of a composting facility in Brezovica, whose residents oppose the project, believing it will negatively impact the environment, stating that composting facilities are not dangerous to human health anywhere in the world or Europe.
– Those who stir up the problem, I repeat that we will soon meet in Brezovica. Before that, I ask our people and NZJZ to install instruments for measuring the state of the environment in both Brezovica and Resnik so that my fellow citizens can see that the composting facility does not pollute or endanger life and health. Everything else is a product of human imagination and stirring up issues, said Bandić.
