The Košice self-governing region (KSK), covering an area of 6 754 km², is home to four historical regions (Spiš, Gemer, Abov and Zemplín) and approximately 782 000 residents. Nearly 90% of the area covers agricultural land and forests where a significant economic activity is dominated by intensive farming, commercial logging, and industrial operations such as steel production, all contributing to carbon emissions.

Practices such as monoculture farming and widespread land drainage have degraded the region's soil and exacerbated water scarcity. Every year, hundreds of millions of cubic metres of rainwater run off the land without being utilised, thus increasing risks of floods, droughts, and declining water reserves. 

Such dynamics affect agricultural productivity, reduce groundwater levels, and diminish wood production in commercially used forests. Furthermore, the eastern part of the region has experienced  over 10% decline in precipitation, amplifying these challenges.

The programme consists in developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to:

The initiative began with a proposal by the region’s Chamber of Deputies to develop a Green Restoration Programme. This process involved extensive stakeholder engagement and the establishment of six ‘water councils’ bringing together over 120 representatives of local governments, farmers, forest managers, water managers, experts, entrepreneurs, and civic organisations. Their primary role was to facilitate multi-sector communication, analyse the current situation, and propose actionable solutions.

Using the SIM4NEXUS methodology – a decision-support tool that integrates water, land, energy, food, and climate systems to evaluate policy decisions – an expert team quantified the economic, environmental, and social benefits of the proposed solutions. The analysis focused on enhancing soil fertility, increasing water resources, improving biodiversity, mitigating local floods and droughts, and protecting territories from natural disasters. Specific targets were defined for each municipality, ensuring tailored plans for all local administrative units in the region.

The methodology also guided the identification of nature-based solutions (NBS) designed to enhance rainwater retention and soil health. These solutions were calibrated to manage extreme rainfall events effectively, restoring ecosystem balance and resilience.

The plan’s preparation involved a series of roundtables, workshops coordinated by the ‘water councils’, and regional conferences with the participation of international partners. During this process, experts collaborated with the EU-funded scientific research project Land4Climate which focuses on innovative land management strategies to address climate challenges.

The comprehensive programme was finalised in December 2020 and approved by the Košice Regional Parliament in February 2021 – this provided a strategic framework for addressing the region’s water and land management challenges until 2030. 

Implementation is monitored through progress reports submitted to the regional parliament annually. Each year, the regional parliament also approves the budget and activities of the plan, based on political decisions and the budgetary capacity of the Košice region.