Mid-Term partner meeting of MANABAS COAST project held in Sweden

The North Sea Region is increasingly affected by climate change — from rising sea levels and severe storm surges to heat stress on coastal areas. To respond to these challenges, the INTERREG North Sea Programme project MANABAS COAST (MAinstreaming NAture BAsed Solutions through COASTal systems) is developing a framework for the widescale use of nature-based solutions (NbS). These solutions work with natural processes and local resources to reduce climate impacts while supporting biodiversity and human well-being. From 8 to 11 September, the partners discussed the project’s implementation status and next steps at their mid-term meeting in Gothenburg and Marstrand, Sweden.

The four-day meeting focused on presentations of the pilot projects and their current progress, workshops on strategies and circles of influence for the pilots, as well as interactive “how-to” group sessions encouraging exchange of knowledge and ideas on topics such as salt marshes and governance. The meeting also brought together the Steering Group and Policy Reflection Group, ensuring strong guidance for the next phase.

Participants visited Swedish pilot sites Bärby and Köleröd in Västra Götaland, where several types of nature-based solutions are being implemented to address coastal erosion and strengthen adaptive coastal management. The pilot sites provide practical insights for future application across region

The project, co-funded by the European Union, runs from 2022 to 2027 and consists of partners from six North Sea Region countries: Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and France, among them the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat.