On 17 September, representatives from LIFE A_GreeNet and LIFE terrAmare, two European projects co-funded by the LIFE Programme, met online for an exchange of best practices on engaging local communities and on the adaptation of coastal areas to climate change.
LIFE terrAmare, launched around a year ago and coordinated by D.R.E.Am. Italia, is being implemented in target areas in Italy and Greece, whilst LIFE A_GreeNet, coordinated by the Abruzzo Region, is in the final stages of the project.
During the meeting, which took place online, representatives from the two projects had the opportunity to discuss best practices and ways of working together to achieve the common objective of both projects.
In particular, the comparison revealed that LIFE terrAmare and LIFE A_GreeNet overlap in terms of strategies for adapting to climate change in coastal areas and the involvement of the public in these strategies. Specifically, LIFE terrAmare focuses on the restoration of sand dunes and the protection of Posidonia oceanica at 12 Natura 2000 sites in Italy and Greece, whilst LIFE A_GreeNet focuses on the resilience of coastal towns in the central Adriatic region of Italy.
Another area of common ground has been identified in the development of participatory and sustainable governance of coastal ecosystems, which, within the Life terrAmare project, will take the form of the creation of nine eco-friendly beach communities – comprising students, volunteers, members of the public, researchers, experts, technicians and staff from public bodies – and the signing of the Coastal Pact by local authorities.
