1st Meeting of the Regional Working Group for Sustainable Management of Healing Waters in Lower Silesia Health Resorts

On March 31, 2021 the 1st Meeting of the Regional Working Group for Sustainable Management of Healing Waters in Lower Silesian Health Resorts was held. It was organised, on-line, by project partner Institute for Territorial Development with the help of the Central Mining Institute. lead partner of the project. The meeting was attended by 9 external experts from regional scientific institutions and public administration, specializing on various issues related to mineral and thermal waters.

The participants were acknowledged with the HealingPlaces project idea and the goals of the Regional Working Group. During the meeting the main conclusions of the reports on the environmental and socio-economic situation in Lower Silesian health resorts were presented, database on healing waters resources introduced and main assumptions of an Internet tool for pressures assessment discussed.

The experts agreed that the problem of protection and management of mineral and thermal waters is an important issue in the region. They pointed out some activities undertaken in recent years in Lower Silesian health resorts that may pose a threat to their natural resources. The issue of protection and management of medicinal waters will gain in importance with the further development of health resorts causing increased pressure from investors, tourists and patients.

The Regional Group's action is intended to help in linking and utilising the existing and ongoing research, analytical works and good practices to develop mechanisms and recommendations for better management of healing waters. The proposals would be addressed to many different managerial levels, including various health resort enterprises. They will also become an element of a common, strategy of healing waters management in Central Europe elaborated within the HealingPlaces Project.