Platform Voor Land-Zee Integratie en Samenwerking (COASTAL)

Geographical location	Belgium
Main geographical location (NUTS3)	Arr. Antwerpen
Keywords	Agricultural production system Farming practice Landscape / land management Water management Energy management Supply chain, marketing and consumption
Main funding source	Horizon 2020 (EU Research & Innovation programme)
Project Identification	Multi-actor project
Project type	Research project
Starting date	2018
End date	2022
Project status	Ongoing
Website	COASTAL web site

Title (in English):

COllaborative lAnd-Sea inTegrAtion pLatform (COASTAL)

Objective of the project (native language):

Integratie van lokale en expert kennis teneinde actoren en belanghebbenden te betrekken in een co-creatie proces gericht op verbetering van de land-zee samenwerking. De centrale doelstelling is de economische groei te verbeteren en tegelijkertijd de milieudruk te verminderen. Het project levert een bijdrage aan geintegreerde land-zee beleid en synergie in de studiegebieden in EU, en leidt tot een duurzaam, online platform voor kennisuitwisseling en de ondersteuning van land-zee samenwerking met praktisch inzetbare instrumenten en voorbeeldtoepassingen.

Objective of the project (in English):

Combining local knowledge and scientific expertise in a co-creation process to engage actors and stakeholders to improve land-sea collaboration. The central objective is to increase economic development while reducing the environmental pressures. The project will contribute to integrated land-sea planning and synergy in the study regions and wider EU territory, and result in a durable, online platform for knowledge exchange, supporting land-sea collaboration with practical tools and examples.

Description of activities (native language):

De belangrijkste projecttaken bestaan uit: (1) deelname van lokale actoren en experts in "Multi-Actor Labs" om problemen te analyseren en innovatieve oplossingen te formuleren, (2) combinatie van kwalitatieve en kwantitatieve technieken om de dynamiek van het land-zee systeem beter te kunnen begrijpen, (3) het ontwikkelen van scenarios en bedrijfs- en beleids indicatoren die de toegevoegde waarde van land-zee synergie kunnen meten, en (4) het formuleren van praktische aanbevelingen voor bedrijfs en beleids-strategieen

Description of activities (in English):

The main project activities include: (1) the participation of local actors and experts in "Multi-Actor Labs" to analyse problems and develop innovative business and policy solutions, (2) combine qualitative and quantitative techniques in this co-creation process to understand land-sea systemic transitions, (3) to develop multiple scenarios and business/policy indicators measuring the impact of improved land-sea collaboration, and (4) derive practical business road maps and policy strategies.

Project coordinator

Contact person:

Jean-Luc de Kok

Address:

Boeretang 200

E-mail:

jeanluc.dekok@vito.be

Phone:

00 32 14 33 6739

Partner category:

Researcher

Project partners

Contact person:

Jean-Luc de Kok

Address:

Boeretang 200

E-mail:

jeanluc.dekok@vito.be

Phone:

00 32 14 33 6739

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Aristomenis P. Karageorgis

Address:

46.7 km Athens-Sounio Av. 19013 Anavyssos, Greece

E-mail:

ak@hcmr.gr

Phone:

00 30 22 91 07 6369

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Georgia Destouni

Address:

Department of Physical Geography, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden

E-mail:

georgia.destouni@natgeo.su.se

Phone:

00 46 8 16 4785

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Rachel Tiller

Address:

Brattørkaia 17C, 7010 Trondheim, Norway

E-mail:

rachel.tiller@sintef.no

Phone:

00 47 92 200886

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Françoise Vernier

Address:

50, Avenue de Verdun BP 3, F-33612 Cestas, France

E-mail:

francoise.vernier@inrae.fr

Phone:

00 33 557890836

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Luminita Lazar

Address:

MAMAIA BLVD. 300, CONSTANTA 900581, Romania

E-mail:

llazar@alpha.rmri.ro

Phone:

40 74 438 16 92

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Pop Ruxandra

Address:

Mărăști Boulevard, no. 61, District 1, Bucharest, Romania

E-mail:

pop.ruxandra@iceadr.ro

Phone:

00 40 21 313 60 87

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Alice Guittard

Address:

3 Romanou Melodou Str., Paradeissos Amaroussion, Athens, Greece. GR 15125

E-mail:

alice.guittard@icre8.eu

Phone:

+30 (210) 6105244

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Javier Martinez-Lopez

Address:

Soil and Water Conservation Research Group. Centre for Applied Soil Science and Biology of the Segura (CEBAS). Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). PO Box 164, 30100 Murcia, Spain

E-mail:

jmartinez@cebas.csic.es

Phone:

(+34) 968 396 200

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Zsuzsanna Selmeczy

Address:

Záhony u. 7, H1031 Budapest, Hungary

E-mail:

zsuzsanna.selmeczy@geonardo.com

Phone:

00 36 1 250 6703

Partner category:

Other

Contact person:

Noémie Wouters

Address:

Wetenschapspark 1 - 8400 Oostende (B)

E-mail:

noemie.wouters@ugent.be

Phone:

00 32 59 24 27 30

Partner category:

Adviser

Contact person:

Frank Stubbe

Address:

Koning Albert II-laan 15 1210 Brussel

E-mail:

frank.stubbe@vlm.be

Phone:

32499994305

Partner category:

Other

Contact person:

Sarina Motmans

Address:

Koning Leopold III-laan 66 - 8200 - Brugge

E-mail:

sarina.motmans@pomwvl.be

Phone:

00 59 36 99 04

Partner category:

Other

Contact person:

Karina Barquet

Address:

Linnégatan 87D, 115 23 Stockholm, Sweden

E-mail:

karina.barquet@sei.org

Phone:

00 46 70 388 5690

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Klas Sandström

Address:

Fleminggatan 14, 9th, 112 26 Stockholm, Sweden

E-mail:

klas.sandstrom@niras.se

Phone:

00 46 8 503 844 00

Partner category:

Other

Contact person:

Donatella Acquaviva

Address:

Evert Taubes gata 1, 761 46 Norrtälje, Sweden

E-mail:

donatella.acquaviva@campusroslagen.se

Phone:

00 46 1 762 861 00

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

Riikka Venesjärvi

Address:

Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland

E-mail:

riikka.venesjarvi@luke.fi

Phone:

00 358 029 5322351

Partner category:

Researcher

Contact person:

George Rosca

Address:

152, Ovidiu Street, MALCOCI - Nufaru Commune, TULCEA County, postal code 827172, Romania

E-mail:

georgerosca56@gmail.com

Phone:

0040 745 344132

Partner category:

Representative of an NGO

Contact person:

Constantin Lividariu

Address:

STR DECEBAL 35, MEDGIDIA 605600, Romania

E-mail:

livadariu_g@yahoo.com

Phone:

40762286145

Partner category:

Representative of an NGO

Contact person:

Vasilis Karakousis

Address:

PENTELIS STR. 5, ATHINA 175 64, Greece

E-mail:

vkarakousis@temes.gr

Phone:

30 6970989229

Partner category:

SME

Contact person:

Xenophon Kappas

Address:

EO PYLOU KALAMATAS, MYTIKAS 24001, Greece

E-mail:

xkappas@cvf.gr

Phone:

30 27230 28353 / 30 210 9490253

Partner category:

SME

Contact person:

Ioannis Argirakis

Address:

OMIROU & MAIZONOS 50, KALAMATA 24132, Greece

E-mail:

tp5ayi5@otenet.gr

Phone:

30 272 1096120

Partner category:

SME

Contact person:

Juan Faustino Martínez Fernández

Address:

CARM c/ Catedrático Eugenio Úbeda, 3-3ª planta

E-mail:

juanf.martinez@carm.es

Partner category:

Other

Contact person:

Pedro Sanchez

Address:

FECOAM C/Caballero, 13, 30002, Murcia, Spain

E-mail:

psanchez@fecoam.es

Partner category:

Other

Contact person:

Jean-Luc Fort

Address:

CRANA CS 45002 86550 Mignaloux-Beauvoir

E-mail:

jean-luc.fort@na.chambagri.fr

Partner category:

Adviser

Contact person:

Wim Stubbe

Address:

AGHO Slijkensesteenweg 2, 8400 Oostende

E-mail:

wim.stubbe@portofoostende.be

Phone:

0032 478 548 768

Partner category:

Other

Contact person:

Steven Dauwe

E-mail:

steven.dauwe@vliz.be

Contact person:

Joel Ahlgren

E-mail:

Joel.ahlgren@globalutmaning.se

Practice summary

Practice abstract 1

Short title (in English):

Objectives of the H2020 project COASTAL - VITO

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

COASTAL (COllaborative lAnd-Sea inTegration pLatform) engages actors and stakeholders to develop practical business opportunities and policy solutions to improve economic growth while reducing environmental pressure. The main project results are:

• evidence-based business road maps and policy solutions with measurable results and performance indicators
• an online platform for land-sea knowledge exchange
• tools and example applications demonstrating the added value of improved land-sea collaboration and the proposed solutions

Together, these results will help exchange knowledge and expertise between coastal and rural regions in the EU, and understand the mid- and long-term impacts of the decisions taken.

Short title (native language):

Doelstelling van het H2020 project COASTAL - VITO

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

In COASTAL (COllaborative lAnd-Sea inTegration pLatform) wordt de kennis en ervaring van experten en lokale ondernemers gecombineerd om praktisch bruikbare oplossingen en beleidsaanbevelingen te ontwikkelen. Deze zijn gericht op betere economische ontwikkeling en afname van de milieueffecten. De belangrijkste project resultaten zijn:
• onderbouwde "business road maps" en beleidsoplossingen met meetbare resultaten en indicatoren
• een online platform voor kennisuitwisseling tussen bedrijven, overheden en instellingen gericht op activiteiten in het achterland, de kustzone en op zee
• praktisch inzetbare instrumenten en praktijkvoorbeelden om de meerwaarde van de voorgestelde oplossingen en verbeterde land-zee samenwerking te demonstreren

De resultaten kunnen gebruikt worden om kennis en inzichten uit te wisselen tussen landelijke en kustgebieden in de EU, en te begrijpen welke de gevolgen van beslissingen op (middel)lange termijn zijn.

Practice abstract 2

Short title (in English):

Multi-Actor Lab 1 - Belgian Coastal Zone - VITO

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Belgian "Multi-Actor Lab" focusses specifically on providing business and policy opportunities for a region suffering from intensive use of space and competition for resources, combined with a fragmented governmental context. Along the Belgian coast (67 km length) and its hinterland rural, coastal and sea-based activities such as agriculture, fisheries, agro-food industry, transport, energy production, and recreation are closely interwoven and compete for space, resources and infrastructure. A Marine Spatial Plan is in function, and an updated version covering 2020-2026 will be issued by 2020. COASTAL has the ambition to connect and reinforce the different policies for a sustainable use of marine space, exploiting new development opportunities related to blue growth. Offshore energy production entails new jobs and strategic specialisation of port activities and Belgium is one of the leading countries in know-how related to offshore energy production including multi-purpose use of wind farms. Limited water resources and decreasing surface water quality put pressure on the traditional activities in the rural hinterland. A combination of factors leads to increased salinization which poses problems for traditional agriculture but might offer an opportunity for alternative forms of agriculture or aquaculture. Based on the expertise and infrastructure of coastal tourism, developing sustainable rural and/or agro-tourism can provide additional income for the hinterland. Economic and environmental opportunities are found, for example, in sectoral restructuring and modernization, improved integration in the rural food chain with diversification, changes in farming practices and new business opportunities.

Short title (native language):

Multi-Actor Lab 1 - Belgische Kustzone - VITO

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Het Belgische "Multi-Actor Lab" richt zich specifiek op zakelijke en beleidskansen voor een regio die lijdt onder intensief ruimtegebruik en concurrentie om middelen, gecombineerd met een gefragmenteerde overheidscontext. Langs de Belgische kust (67 km lang) en het achterland zijn landelijke, kust- en zeegebaseerde activiteiten zoals landbouw, visserij, agrovoedingsindustrie, transport, energieproductie en recreatie nauw verweven en in competitie voor ruimte, middelen en infrastructuur. Een marien ruimtelijk plan is in functie en de bijgewerkte versie voor 2020-2026 zal uiterlijk in 2020 worden uitgebracht. COASTAL heeft de ambitie om verschillende beleidsopties voor de mariene ruimte te versterken door nieuwe ontwikkelingskansen met betrekking tot Blauwe Groei te benutten. Offshore energieproductie brengt nieuwe banen en strategische specialisatie van havenactiviteiten met zich mee en België is een van de leidende landen in de know-how met betrekking tot offshore energieproductie, waaronder multifunctioneel gebruik van windparken. Beperkte watervoorraden en afnemende oppervlaktekwaliteit verhogen de druk op het achterland. Een combinatie van factoren leidt tot verhoogde verzilting, wat problemen oplevert voor de traditionele landbouw, maar mogelijk een kans biedt voor alternatieve vormen van landbouw of aquacultuur. De expertise en infrastructuur van kusttoerisme kan mogelijk benut worden voor de ontwikkeling van duurzaam platteland en / of agro-toerisme, en zo extra inkomsten voor het achterland opleveren. Andere voorbeelden zijn sectorale herstructurering en modernisering, verbeterde integratie in de landelijke voedselketen met diversificatie, en veranderingen in landbouwpraktijken.

Practice abstract 3

Short title (in English):

Tools for Business Analysis - VITO

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

COASTAL adopts an interactive Systems Dynamics approach for supporting business decisions. System Dynamics or SD modelling is widely used since the 1950s for problem analysis in applications ranging from logistics, control management, engineering and financial management to public policy. Clients and business analysts interact design Causal Loop Diagrams. These are graphical models explaining the underlying dynamics of the problem - resulting from the combination of reinforcing and balancing feedback mechanisms. Quantification of the CLDs allows for further analysis, such as the pinpointing of 'tipping points'. Typical questions answered are: why do certain businesses fail and others not or why do certain management strategies work on the short term, but not on the long term? Although the human brain is capably of providing part of the answer this becomes more difficult when multiple factors play a role. This is certainly true for complex social-environmental systems such as coastal regions which are densely used and rapidly developing, with economic activities competing for resources such space, water, and skilled labor. A tutorial example was demonstrated during the project kickoff meeting, showing the interaction between tourism, pressure on space and the attractiveness of a coastal region for new tourists. The true strength of SD modelling lies in the transparency of the graphical models, enabling interactive design and use of the models, the limited data requirements and high computing speed.

Short title (native language):

Instrumentarium voor bedrijfsanalyse - VITO

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

COASTAL hanteert een interactieve systeem-dynamische benadering voor het ondersteunen van zakelijke beslissingen. Systeemdynamica of SD-modellering wordt al sinds de jaren vijftig veel gebruikt voor probleemanalyse in toepassingen variërend van logistiek, controlebeheer, engineering en financieel beheer tot openbaar beleid. Klanten en bedrijfsanalisten ontwerpen samen Causale relatiediagrammen. Dit zijn grafische modellen die de onderliggende dynamiek van het probleem verklaren - het resultaat van de combinatie van versterkende en balancerende feedbackmechanismen. Kwantificering van deze diagrammen maakt verdere analyse mogelijk, zoals het lokaliseren van 'tipping points'. Typische vragen die beantwoord kunnen worden zijn: waarom falen bepaalde bedrijven en anderen niet of waarom werken bepaalde managementstrategieën op de korte termijn, maar niet op de lange termijn? Hoewel het menselijke brein in staat is om een deel van het antwoord te leveren, wordt dit moeilijker wanneer meerdere factoren een rol spelen. Dit geldt zeker voor complexe sociaal-ecologische systemen zoals kustregio's die intensief worden gebruikt en zich snel ontwikkelen, waarbij economische activiteiten in competitie zijn om hulpbronnen zoals ruimte, water en geschoolde arbeidskrachten. Tijdens de kickoff-bijeenkomst van het project werd een schoolvoorbeeld getoond, waarin de interactie tussen toerisme, druk op de ruimte en de aantrekkelijkheid van een kustgebied voor nieuwe toeristen werd toegelicht. De echte kracht van SD-modellering schuilt in de transparantie van de grafische modellen, wat interactief ontwerp en gebruik van de modellen mogelijk maakt, de beperkte gebruik van gegevens en hoge rekensnelheid.

Practice abstract 4

Short title (in English):

Multi-Actor Lab 05 - Danube Delta

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The "Multi-actor" laboratories under the ICEADR coordination have as main objective to carry out consultations with representatives of the governmental units, academia, local communities and authorities, local actors, as well as stakeholders, in order to identify and analyze the problems in the Danube Delta region, from an integrated perspective, taking into account the economic, social, cultural and environmental factors. The analysis includes the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and its adjacent areas, each of one of this has different characteristics. The main economic activities identified are: tourism, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture. danube Delta is tdeclared a living museum of biodiversity, which attracts on average only 1% of the total number of tourists visiting Romania (romanian or foreign tourist). Due to the richness and cultural diversity, there are opportunities for tourism, agriculture, and crafts workshops. Fisheries and aquaculture remain a interest field for the area, representing a significant source of income for a part of the population living in the coastal rural area and the Danube Delta. There are identified opportunities for job growth through fishing and aquaculture, processing, marketing, diversification of alternative and complementary activities (environmental activities, ecotourism, education) that will contribute to economic growth and environmental protection.

Short title (native language):

Laboratoarele Multi-Actor 05 - Delta Dunarii

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Laboratoarele "Multi-actor" desfășurate sub coordonarea ICEADR au ca scop realizarea de consultari cu reprezentanti ai unitatilor guvernamentale, ai mediului academic, ai comunitatilor locale si autoritatilor,ai actorilor locali, precum si ai partilor interesate in vederea identificarii si analizarii problemelor existente in regiunea Delta Dunarii, dintr-o perspectiva integrata, tinand cont de factorii economici, sociali, culturali si de mediu. Analiza cuprinde Rezervatia Biosferei Delta Dunarii si zonele sale limitrofe, fiecare dintre acestea avand caracteristici diferite. Principalele activități economice identificate sunt: turismul, agricultura, pescuitul si acvacultura. Delta Dunării este declarata un muzeu viu al biodiverisitatii, lucru care atrage în medie, o pondere de doar 1% din numărul total al turiștilor care vizitează România (autohtoni sau străini). Datorita bogatiei si diversitatii culturale exita oportunitati de dezvoltare a turismului, agriculturii, precum si a atelierelor de mestesugarit. Pescuitul si acvacultura raman un domeniu de interes al zonei, reprezentand o sursa de venituri importanta pentru o parte a populatiei din arealul rural costier si din Delta Dunarii. Sunt identificate oportunitati pentru cresterea locurilor de munca prin pescuit si acvacultura, procesare, marketing, diversificarea activitatilor alternative si complementare (activitati de mediu, ecoturism, educatie) ce vor contribui la cresterea economica si la protectia mediului.

Practice abstract 5

Short title (in English):

Case Study: Western Messinia - HCMR

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Agriculture (mainly olive trees) and coastal tourism are the two major economic activities in Western Messinia, Greece. Tourism is expanding and goes hand in hand with infrastructure development (hotels, roads and airports) and can provide opportunities for diversified livelihoods, but also increases pressures on the environment and cultural sites. Coastal areas are also affected by agrochemicals, soil erosion, solid waste landfills, and waste waters. In particular waste products from olive production form a threat to surface and coastal water quality. Climate change is expected to increase coastal erosion and decrease the availability of freshwater, with increased risk for saltwater intrusion into coastal wetlands and aquifers. There are also plans for offshore oil and gas exploration that will have implications for the area’s rich coastal biodiversity. The study area comprises several important cultural sites and Mediterranean habitats included in the reference list of the Natura 2000 initiative.The MAL will develop a number of alternative strategies for local economic development that will allow a diversification and strengthening of a sustainable local economy while minimizing the impact on the Natura 2000 sites. Long-term planning for sustainable tourism and agriculture will take into account resilience to future climatic changes, exploiting the expertise and experience of local stakeholders.

Short title (native language):

Περιοχή Μελέτης: Δυτική Μεσσηνία - HCMR

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Οι αγροτικές δραστηριότητες (κυρίως οι ελαιοκαλλιέργειες) και ο παράκτιος τουρισμός είναι οι δύο πολύ σημαντικές οικονομικές δραστηριότητες στη Δυτική Μεσσηνία. Ο τουρισμός αναπτύσσεται συνέχεια και συμβαδίζει με την ταυτόχρονη ανάπτυξη υποδομών (ξενοδοχεία, δρόμοι και αεροδρόμια) και ενώ μπορεί να προσφέρει ευκαιρίες για ποιοτικά μέσα διαβίωσης, παράλληλα αυξάνει τις πιέσεις στο περιβάλλον και τα πολιτιστικά μνημεία. Οι παράκτιες περιοχές επηρεάζονται επίσης από τα αγροχημικά προϊόντα, τη διάβρωση του εδάφους, τους χώρους υγειονομικής ταφής απορριμάτων και τα λύματα. Συγκεκριμένα, τα απόβλητα από την παραγωγή ελιάς απειλούν την ποιότητα τόσο των υδάτων στην επιφάνεια της θάλασσας όσο και σε μεγαλύτερα βάθη σε παράκτιες περιοχές. Οι κλιματικές αλλαγές αναμένεται να αυξήσουν τη διάβρωση των ακτών και να μειώσουν τη διαθεσιμότητα των γλυκών νερών, με αυξημένο κίνδυνο διείσδυσης θαλασσινού νερού σε παράκτιους υγροτόπους και υδροφορείς. Υπάρχουν επίσης σχέδια για υπεράκτιες πλατφόρμες πετρελαίου και φυσικού αερίου που θα έχουν και αυτές επιπτώσεις στην πλούσια βιοποικιλότητα της περιοχής. Η περιοχή μελέτης περιλαμβάνει σημαντικά πολιτιστικά μνημεία και μεσογειακούς οικοτόπους που περιλαμβάνονται στο δίκτυο των προστατευόμενων περιοχών Natura 2000. Το MAL θα αναπτύξει πολλαπλές εναλλακτικές στρατηγικές για την ανάπτυξη της τοπικής οικονομίας που θα βοηθήσουν στην ενίσχυση μιας βιώσιμης τοπικής οικονομίας, ελαχιστοποιώντας ταυτόχρονα τις επιπτώσεις στις περιοχές Natura 2000. Ο μακροπρόθεσμος σχεδιασμός για την επίτευξη ενός βιώσιμου μοντέλου τουρισμού και γεωργίας θα λάβει επίσης υπόψη την αντοχή του οικοσυστήματος στις επερχόμενες κλιματικές αλλαγές, αξιοποιώντας την γνώση και εμπειρία των τοπικών φορέων.

Practice abstract 6

Short title (in English):

Knowledge Transition - HCMR

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Knowledge transition in COASTAL develops the quantitative data and scientific model constructs (types of data and associated models) needed for synergistic analysis of the social-economic, physical, and environmental rural-coastal interactions identified at the beginning of the project, between coastal and rural stakeholders, actors, and researchers in six case studies across Europe (Multi-Actor Labs). Mental mapping will allow for grouping similar issues through a bottom-up approach, ensuring an optimal exchange of qualitative understanding of the coastal and rural development factors between the case studies. This model work plan includes guidelines on how to address the modelling of interactions including social-economic, environmental and institutional conditions for each case study, supporting business and policy analyses. For example, the combined effect of hinterland pressures lead to changes in the coastal environment e.g. water and sediment flow changes are associated to variations in drought, flood risks, and coastal erosion, pressures of agricultural practices lead to variations of nutrient and pollutant loads from land to the sea. Together with trends on tourism, fisheries, transportation, and other economy-related variables, all are integrated within a dynamics modeling framework to support business and policy.

Short title (native language):

Ανταλλαγή Γνώσης - HCMR

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Στόχος είναι να επεξεργαστούν τα δεδομένα και να τεθούν σε λειτουργία τα μοντέλα που απαιτούνται για την ανάλυση των αλληλεπιδράσεων μεταξύ αγροτικών και παράκτιων περιοχών όπως αυτά εντοπίστηκαν στην αρχή του προγράμματος. Αυτές οι πληροφορίες θα πρέπει να μεταφραστούν λεπτομερώς για την περαιτέρω ανάλυση που αφορά επιχειρήσεις και χάραξη πολιτικής. Οι εργασίες αυτές θα βασιστούν στα αποτελέσματα της εννοιολογικής ανάλυσης των παράκτιων και αγροτικών περιοχών που θα συζητηθούν από τοπικούς φορείς και ερευνητές στα θεματικά εργαστήρια. Θα δοθεί έμφαση στη μετάφραση των υπάρχοντων δεδομένων και μοντέλων για τον ποσοτικό προσδιορισμό των κοινωνικο-οικονομικών, φυσικών και περιβαλλοντικών αλληλεπιδράσεων. Το πιο σημαντικό είναι ότι θα αναπτυχθούν οι γενικές αρχές προκειμένου να διευκολυνθεί η ανταλλαγή γνώσεων μεταξύ των περιοχών μελέτης.

Practice abstract 7

Short title (in English):

Multi-Actor Lab 06 - Mar Menor - CSIC

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Mar Menor coastal lagoon is located in the Region of Murcia (SE Spain). The area is characterized by multiple environmental, social-cultural and economic interests. There is a high potential for complementarity, win-win scenarios and development of sustainable business cases based on public-private collaboration, efficient use of water, and innovative farming practices and a transition to sustainable models of tourism and agriculture. The catchment draining into the Mar Menor is mainly covered by irrigated agriculture. The intensive and highly profitable irrigated agriculture depends on scarce low quality groundwater and water from inland inter-basin water transfers. Agriculture provides labor and income to the region, but forms a source of excessive nutrients and contamination into the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. The resulting poor water quality affects the ecology of the lagoon with severe implications for its potential function for tourism. The coastal lagoon forms part of a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance. The Mar Menor is one of the hotspots for tourism in the Region of Murcia, with a total number of 346,000 tourists and 1.4 million over-night stays in 2016. Beside international visitors, the Mar Menor has an important recreation function for the regional population. As such, the Mar Menor is strongly influenced by interactions between inland agriculture on the one side, and coastal tourism and fisheries affecting natural ecological values and socioeconomic sustainability on the other side. The need to move towards sustainable modes of agriculture, and tourism is increasingly recognized and recently revived strongly due to sudden increase in lagoon degradation resulting in a strong drop in tourism.

Short title (native language):

plataforma multi-sectorial 6 - Mar Menor - CSIC

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

La laguna costera del Mar Menor se encuentra en la Región de Murcia (SE de España). El área se caracteriza por múltiples intereses ambientales, socioculturales y económicos. Existe un alto potencial de desarrollo de casos empresariales sostenibles con escenarios beneficiosos para todos basados en el uso eficiente del agua, prácticas agrícolas innovadoras y la transición a modelos sostenibles de turismo y agricultura. La cuenca hidrológica de la laguna está cubierta principalmente por agricultura de regadío. La agricultura de regadío intensiva y altamente rentable depende de las escasas aguas subterráneas de baja calidad y del agua del transvase Tajo-Segura. La agricultura proporciona mano de obra e ingresos a la región, pero constituye una fuente de nutrientes y contaminación excesiva en la laguna costera del Mar Menor. La mala calidad del agua resultante afecta gravemente a la ecología de la laguna con graves implicaciones para el turismo. La laguna costera forma parte de un Área Especial Protegida de Importancia Mediterránea. El Mar Menor es uno de los puntos clave del turismo en la Región de Murcia, con un total de 346,000 turistas y 1,4 millones de estadías nocturnas en 2016. Además de los visitantes internacionales, el Mar Menor tiene un importante papel recreativo para la población regional. El Mar Menor está fuertemente influenciado por las interacciones entre la agricultura y el turismo costero, que afectan a sus valores ecológicos naturales y a la sostenibilidad socioeconómica de sus habitantes. La necesidad de avanzar hacia modos sostenibles de agricultura y turismo es cada vez más reconocida en la región y recientemente revivió con fuerza debido al colapso ecológico repentino de la laguna, que resultó en una caída del turismo.

Practice abstract 8

Short title (in English):

MultiActor Lab 4 Charente River Basin - IRSTEA

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Charente river case study is characterized by a strong agricultural activity mainly in the hinterland with shellfish farming and tourism activities in the downstream part the basin The overarching aim of the Multi-Actor Labs for the Charente river basin is to contribute to sustainable rural and coastal regional development for activities facing conflicting issues surrounding water (quantity and quality) in the context of climate change. It intends to collectively find out robust, long-term solutions for developing innovative chain values for agriculture, shellfish, and fishing activities, sustainable tourism both on coastal and hinterland areas taking into account environmental constraints. Development of existing port installations for increasing shipping activities and opportunities for renewable marine energies and wind energies will be discussed. Interactions between these different economic activities and impact of possible scenarios (on the regional economy, the land use, the employment, and the environment) will be addressed. The objective is to collectively share a common strategic vision to guide recommendations for a future sustainable territorial development.

Short title (native language):

Laboratoire MultiActeur 4 Bassin du fleuve Charente - IRSTEA

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

L’étude de cas du fleuve Charente se caractérise par une forte activité agricole, dans la partie amont du bassin, avec une conchyliculture développée et une activité touristique élevée dans la partie aval. L’objectif global des laboratoires multi-acteurs pour le bassin du fleuve Charente est de contribuer à un développement régional durable pour les activités confrontées à des problèmes conflictuels concernant l’eau (quantité et qualité) dans le contexte du changement climatique. L’ambition est de trouver collectivement des solutions solides et de long terme pour développer des chaînes de valeur innovantes pour l'agriculture, l’aquaculture et les activités de pêche, et un tourisme durable tant sur les zones côtières que dans l'arrière-pays, en tenant compte des contraintes environnementales. Le développement des installations portuaires existantes pour accroître le fret maritime et les opportunités offertes par les énergies marines renouvelables et les énergies éoliennes seront discutés. Les interactions entre ces différentes activités économiques et l’impact des scénarios possibles (sur l'économie régionale, l’utilisation des terres, l’emploi et l’environnement) seront abordés. L'objectif final est de partager collectivement une vision stratégique commune comme feuille de route pour guider les recommandations pour un futur développement territorial durable.

Practice abstract 9

Short title (in English):

Multi-Actor Lab 3 - Norrström / Baltic Sea - SU

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Norrström drainage basin and its surrounding coastal areas, including the Swedish capital Stockholm, represent the relatively densely populated, mixed urban, agricultural and industrial coastal areas and their catchments around the Baltic Sea. The nutrient loads from these areas into the coastal and marine waters constitute major human pressures on water quality, resulting in eutrophication, hypoxia and recurrent algae blooms. The Multi-Actor Lab approach applied to the Norrström / Baltic Sea case brings together scientists, decision makers, local stakeholders and business sectors to discuss and exchange their experiences and expertise regarding various rural-to-coastal development scenarios and how they may affect these environmental problems and their drivers and possible solutions. Such face-to-face interactions are a backbone of our rural-coastal interaction analysis and provide a realistic overview of different land and sea perspectives on coastal development and associated environmental problems and their possible solutions. Based on this overview, MAL3 will address development scenarios, strategies and plans at the local Norrström and regional Baltic scale, considering land-, coast- and sea-based sectors such as agriculture, urban areas, industry, fisheries, aquaculture, infrastructure, tourism, along with ongoing and future climate change. MAL3 is led by Stockholm University with ambitious aims to identify sustainable development and solution opportunities related to green and blue growth, rural-urban and marine spatial planning, and biodiversity and ecosystem functions in the Baltic Sea.

Short title (native language):

Multiaktörslab 3 - Norrström / Östersjön - SU

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Norrströms avrinningsområde och dess omgivande kustområden, inklusive huvudstaden Stockholm, representerar relativt tätbefolkade kustområden och deras avrinningsområden runt Östersjön, med blandad stads-, jordbruks- och industriell användning av marken. Näringsämnen från dessa områden sprids vidare till kust- och havsvatten där de utgör ett stort mänskligt tryck på vattenkvaliteten, med övergödning, syrebrist och återkommande algblomningar som resultat. Multiaktörsangreppssättet tillämpat på Norrström/Östersjö-fallstudien samlar forskare, beslutsfattare, lokala aktörer och näringsliv för att diskutera och utbyta erfarenheter och expertis kring olika utvecklingsscenarier för landsbygden och kusten och hur de kan påverka dessa miljöproblem och deras orsaker och möjliga lösningar. Sådana direkta interaktioner är en central del av vår analys och ger en realistisk översikt över olika lands- och havsperspektiv på kustutvecklingen och relaterade miljöproblem och möjliga lösningar. På basis av denna översikt kommer MAL3 att identifiera utvecklingsscenarier, strategier och planer på olika nivåer, lokalt (Norrström) och regionalt (Östersjö), med hänsyn till land-, kust- och havsbaserade sektorer, som jordbruk, städer, industri, fiske, vattenbruk, infrastruktur, turism, tillsammans med pågående och framtida klimatförändringar. MAL3 leds av Stockholms universitet med ambitiösa mål att identifiera hållbara utvecklings- och lösningsmöjligheter i relation till grön och blå tillväxt, stads- och landsbygdsplanering samt biologisk mångfald och ekosystemfunktioner i Östersjön.

Practice abstract 10

Short title (in English):

Understanding the complexity of water scarcity

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The impacts of climate change are becoming more and more prominent, notable by the increasing frequency and significance of periods of drought. Scarcity of fresh drinking water, combined with high usage in industry and agriculture, has led to a problem faced by many coastal regions in Europe, including West- and East Flanders. The depletion of groundwater reserves due to successive droughts is a growing concern and regularly reported by the Belgian media. The interactions between the changing climate, water demand and reserves, developing water engineering technology and increased public awareness are complex and uncertain, calling for a systemic view with a mid- to long-term timeline. This is one of the reasons why visionary scenario planning must rely on narratives, stakeholder interactions, and conceptual analyses. Predictive computer simulations used to model future scenarios can be useful but are often based on linear extrapolations of historic data and other assumptions. The COASTAL partners are currently developing a pilot model for water scarcity which is being tested to gain understanding of the long-term impacts of changing water demand and ground water resources, including adaptive water use behaviour. Results are promising and point to a clear difference between the short-, mid- and long-term shortage of fresh water. These will be further discussed with the stakeholders involved in the COASTAL project (https://h2020-coastal.eu).

Short title (native language):

De complexiteit van waterschaarste begrijpen

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

De gevolgen van de klimaatverandering worden steeds duidelijker, met name door de toenemende frequentie en betekenis van perioden van droogte. De schaarste aan zoet drinkwater, in combinatie met het hoge gebruik in de industrie en de landbouw, heeft geleid tot een probleem waarmee veel kustregio's in Europa, waaronder West- en Oost-Vlaanderen, te kampen hebben. De uitputting van de grondwaterreserves als gevolg van opeenvolgende droogteperiodes is een groeiende zorg en wordt regelmatig gerapporteerd in de Belgische media. De interacties tussen het veranderende klimaat, de watervraag en -reserves, de ontwikkeling van watertechnologie en de toegenomen bewustwording van het publiek zijn complex en onzeker en vragen om een systemische visie met een tijdslijn op middellange tot lange termijn. Dit is een van de redenen waarom visionaire scenarioplanning moet steunen op verhaallijnen, interacties met belanghebbenden en conceptuele analyses. Voorspellende computersimulaties die gebruikt worden om toekomstscenario's te modelleren kunnen nuttig zijn, maar zijn vaak gebaseerd op lineaire extrapolaties van historische gegevens en andere aannames. De COASTAL-partners ontwikkelen momenteel een proefmodel voor waterschaarste dat wordt getest om inzicht te krijgen in de langetermijneffecten van veranderende watervraag en grondwatervoorraden, inclusief adaptief watergebruiksgedrag. De resultaten zijn veelbelovend en wijzen op een duidelijk verschil tussen het tekort aan zoet water op korte, middellange en lange termijn. Dit zal besproken worden met de belanghebbenden die betrokken zijn bij het COASTAL-project (https://h2020-coastal.eu).

Practice abstract 11

Short title (in English):

Engaging stakeholders for sustainability in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon, Spain.

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The EU funded COASTAL project (https://h2020-coastal.eu) aims to develop an understanding of land-sea interactions and use this information to improve the economic development of coastal regions in a sustainable manner. Engaging stakeholders in policy analysis is the current-day standard. Broad support from citizens, business and local administrations is essential for the effectiveness of management strategies during the implementation phase. In addition, stakeholders can bring in useful insights on the priorities and opportunities for sustainable development, and local knowledge - referred to as a ‘participatory modelling’.

Cross-sectoral collaboration can help identify the main system variables and interactions affecting sustainability but proves to be difficult. Participatory approaches to map and model the dynamics of resource exploitation can help create mutual understanding, paving the way for collective action to restore the ecosystems. This, however, is a challenging task, often touching upon dormant or active resource conflicts or different value systems.

Power imbalances, conflicts between stakeholders or economic sectors can often impede effective collaboration. The most effective way is to start with sectorial workshops followed by multi-actor exchanges bringing together representatives from each sector. Fuzzy cognitive maps and causal loop diagrams were designed interactively together with the sector stakeholders. These are now used to generate innovative solutions for sustainable business development with common ownership.

Short title (native language):

Involucrando a las partes interesadas para la sostenibilidad en la laguna costera del Mar Menor, España.

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

El proyecto COASTAL, financiado por la UE, tiene por objeto desarrollar la comprensión de las interacciones tierra-mar y utilizar esta información para mejorar el desarrollo económico de las regiones costeras de manera sostenible. La práctica actual es involucrar a las partes interesadas en el análisis de políticas. Un amplio apoyo de los ciudadanos, las empresas y las administraciones locales es esencial para la eficacia de las estrategias de gestión durante la fase de aplicación. Además, las partes interesadas pueden aportar ideas útiles sobre las prioridades y oportunidades para el desarrollo sostenible y el conocimiento local mediante modelización participativa. La colaboración intersectorial puede ayudar a identificar las principales variables e interacciones del sistema que afectan a la sostenibilidad, pero resulta difícil. Los enfoques participativos para mapear y modelar la dinámica de la explotación de los recursos pueden ayudar a crear un entendimiento mutuo, allanando el camino para la acción colectiva para restaurar los ecosistemas. Sin embargo, esta es una tarea difícil, que a menudo se refiere a conflictos de recursos latentes o activos o a sistemas de valores diferentes. Los desequilibrios de poder, los conflictos entre las partes interesadas o los sectores económicos a menudo pueden impedir una colaboración eficaz. La forma más eficaz es comenzar con talleres sectoriales seguidos de intercambios multilaterales que reúnan a representantes de cada sector. Se diseñaron mapas cognitivos y diagramas causales de forma interactiva junto con las partes interesadas de cada sector. Estos se utilizan ahora para generar soluciones innovadoras para el desarrollo de negocios sostenibles entre todos los actores interesados.

Practice abstract 12

Short title (in English):

Advantages of sustainable farming business models

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Intensive large-scale monocultures are an important driver of land degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. This land degradation often leads to a loss of biodiversity, soil quality and crop yields, contamination and overexploitation of scarce ground and surface water resources, reduced drought resilience, and increased frequency and severity of floods. New farming business models are needed based on regenerative and agroecological practices like conservation tillage, crop diversification to increase resilience, and economic viability of agriculture, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The key assumptions are that diversified and low input farming systems have positive environmental impacts with higher crop yields and less harvest failure and that customers are prepared to pay a higher price for sustainably produced food products.

Diversifying a cropping system by using intercropping and crop rotations is not easy and a lot is unknown about how to optimize the benefits. It may take along time before crop yields increase after implementation of diversified cropping systems. Environmental conditions such as the annual climate conditions strongly determine the outcomes. The potential of crop diversification is also examined in the EU funded project COASTAL (https://h2020-coastal.eu). The suggestion made is to adjust the type of crop diversification and low input farming to the local farming conditions. The European crop diversification cluster (https://www.cropdiversification.eu/) brings together research projects to increase the impact of crop diversification. The cluster encourages the uptake of diversification measures by farmers in the EU through innovation.

Short title (native language):

Ventajas de los modelos de negocio agrícolas sostenibles

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Los monocultivos intensivos a gran escala son un factor importante de la degradación de la tierra y de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI). Esta degradación de la tierra a menudo conduce a una pérdida de biodiversidad; de calidad del suelo y rendimiento de las cosechas; a la contaminación y a la sobreexplotación de los recursos hídricos; a la reducción de la resiliencia a la sequía y al aumento de la frecuencia y severidad de las inundaciones. Se necesitan nuevos modelos agrícolas basados en prácticas regenerativas y agroecológicas como la labranza de conservación y la diversificación de cultivos para aumentar la resiliencia, la viabilidad económica de la agricultura y la reducción de las emisiones de GEI. Los sistemas agrícolas diversificados y de bajos insumos tienen impactos ambientales positivos, con un mayor rendimiento de los cultivos y menor número de malas cosechas. Los clientes están dispuestos a pagar un precio más alto por los productos alimenticios producidos de forma sostenible. Puede pasar mucho tiempo antes de que el rendimiento de los cultivos aumente realmente después de la implementación de sistemas de cultivo diversificados. Tanto las condiciones ambientales, como las condiciones climáticas anuales, determinan en gran medida los resultados. El potencial de la diversificación de cultivos también se examina en el proyecto COASTAL, proponiendo ajustar el tipo de diversificación de cultivos y la agricultura de bajos insumos a las condiciones agrícolas locales. El grupo europeo de diversificación de cultivos (https://www.cropdiversification.eu/) pretende aumentar el impacto de la diversificación de cultivos, fomentando así la adopción de medidas de diversificación por parte de los agricultores de la UE.

Practice abstract 13

Short title (in English):

Shellfish farming and water quality

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Shellfish are filter feeders whose health depends on the coastal water quality where they are raised. As in almost all aquaculture production sectors, shellfish farms are located in coastal areas that are productive but dependent on terrestrial inputs from river basins. Shellfish farmers, accountable for the health quality of their food products, depend on a water quality that they do not directly control. Different strategies are available to them at four levels:
1- Business-as-usual: trust the existing water quality monitoring networks and regulations (EU-Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive) and the means implemented to reach the thresholds required for the fish farming and sanitary quality of shellfish.
2- Involvement: become legitimate and actively participate in the structures responsible for the management of the quality of fluvial, coastal and offshore waters.
3- Water engineering: develop innovative techniques for purifying shellfish in order to overcome the quality of coastal waters
4- Spatial planning: relocate shellfish farms to areas where the water quality is either better with regard to health issues, the trophic conditions, or both.
Together with the stakeholders the COASTAL partners are currently developing interactive tools to examine and compare the potential impact of these strategies (https://h2020-coastal.eu)/ short_sum_en1

Short title (native language):

Conchyliculture et qualité des eaux

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Les coquillages sont des filtreurs dont la qualité sanitaire dépend de la qualité d'eau dans laquelle ils sont élevés. Dans le secteur étudié et comme dans la quasi-totalité des secteurs européens de production, les coquillages sont situés dans des zones littorales, productives et dépendantes des apports terrestres issus des bassins versants. Les conchyliculteurs, responsables de la qualité sanitaire de leurs produits, sont dépendants d'une qualité d'eau qu’ils ne maîtrisent pas directement. Leur action peut se situer sur quatre niveaux:

1- Faire confiance aux réseaux de surveillance de la qualité des eaux (Directive Cadre sur l’Eau et Directive Cadre Stratégique Milieu Marin) et aux moyens mis en œuvre pour atteindre les seuils requis pour l'élevage et la qualité sanitaire des coquillages
2- Se rendre légitime et intervenir activement dans les structures engagées dans la gestion de la qualité des eaux fluviales, littorales et côtières.
3- Développer des techniques d'épuration des coquillages permettant de s'affranchir de la qualité des eaux littorales.
4- Délocaliser leurs élevages dans des zones dont la qualité des eaux est, soit meilleure au regard des questions sanitaires, soit meilleure au regard des questions trophiques, soit des deux.

Practice abstract 14

Short title (in English):

Ports and the Energy Transition

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

As a point of entry and exit for material and non-material flows, ports lie at the heart of coastal-rural interdependencies. Situated at the land/sea interface, their ecological transition strategies are influenced by decisions taken by others (e.g., other ports, other sectors). Some ports regard this interdependence as beyond their sphere of influence. Others seek instead to govern it through developing a political role of ‘intermediary actor’ shaping the ecological transition of local port community and wider commercial dynamics. Ports’ investment in this role depends on their political status and their willingness to reduce their environmental impact; their capacity to mobilize those resources at their disposal (economic, institutional, territorial, etc.); their effectiveness in building alliances with other actors; and the type of governing structures in which they participate.
Ports seeking to govern a policy of de-carbonization can take the following actions along a land/sea gradient:
1. Implement a local circular economy coordinating port community industries inhabiting the port place;
2. Invest in alternative energy sources, e.g. become a platform for territorial development of wave and wind energy;
3. Bring about a modal shift, e.g., moving from road to rail and sea transport;
4. Build alliances and contribute to governing strategies and public policies at different scales.
The COASTAL project will help highlight how ports can this way promote new territorial interdependencies between infrastructure, nature and society

Short title (native language):

Ports et transition énergétique

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

En tant que point d'entrée et de sortie de flux matériels et immatériels, les ports sont au cœur d’interdépendances littorales et rurales. Situés à l’interface « terre-mer », leurs stratégies de transition écologique sont influencées par les décisions prises par d’autres acteurs (i.e. d'autres ports ou secteurs). Certains ports considèrent ces interdépendances en dehors de leur influence ; d’autres cherchent à orienter ces dynamiques au sein de la place portuaire et au travers de relations commerciales élargies en développant un rôle « d’acteur intermédiaire » dans la gouvernance de la transition écologique. Cet investissement dépend de leur statut politique et de leur volonté à réduire leur impact environnemental ; de la façon dont ils mobilisent les ressources dont ils disposent (économiques, institutionnelles, etc.) ; ou encore des alliances qu'ils nouent et des structures de gouvernance auxquelles ils participent.
Les ports cherchant à gouverner une politique de dé-carbonisation peuvent structurer leurs actions sur un gradient « terre-mer »:
1. En mettant en place une économie circulaire locale coordonnant les entreprises de la place portuaire;
2. En investissant dans les sources d'énergies alternatives marines en devenant une plateforme pour le développement territorial de l'énergie houlomotrice et éolienne ;
3. En développant un transfert modal (i.e. passer de la route au rail) et le cabotage ;
4. En construisant des alliances et en contribuant à la gouvernance et aux politiques publiques à différentes échelles.
Le projet COASTAL aidera à mettre en évidence comment les ports pourraient promouvoir ainsi de nouvelles interdépendances territoriales entre infrastructures, nature et société.

Practice abstract 15

Short title (in English):

Scenario narratives - rural tourism in coastal regions

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Romanian MAL (Multi-Actor Laboratory) was organized at be beginning of September, 2019. The stakeholders group included representatives from rural and coastal tourism, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and local administration. The aim was to build on the outcomes of the sectorial COASTAL workshops, confirmation of drivers and variables and linkages between them and identification of further narratives for sustainable development in the upcoming 5 to 30 years.
The discussion led to the conclusion that the tourism sector in Danube Delta area, in its traditional form, will evolve to a broader sense, including various connected activities, bringing more value to the visitors. Alternative tourism is enhancing a closer relation between visitors and the local community. The visitors will use or share the services of local people, exploring the preserved natural environment, authentic atmosphere and cuisine, and local traditions. This kind of tourism is regarded as a key to sustainable development.
An interesting development direction that was pointed out is the transition to agritourism with a specific interest towards food tourism (culinary delights, wine tasting, etc.), cultural or heritage tourism (due to the large variety of ethnic communities in the coastal area), scientific tourism, bird watching and arts and crafts festivals. The revenues from activities converging from agriculture are welcomed for the small farmers in subsistence agriculture from coastal area.

Short title (native language):

Turismul rural in zona costiera - proiectii pentru viitor

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

La inceputul Lunii Septembrie 2019, In Cadrul Proiectului COASTAL, s-a desfasurat workshopul inter-sectorial pe tema identificarii sinergiilor existente in zona rural-costiera. Grupul de parteneri de discutii a inclus reprezentanți din turismul rural și de coastă, agricultură, acvacultură, pescuit și administrația locală. Discutiile au avut la baza rezultatele si concluziile workshopurilor sectoriale, și identificarea unor proiectii pentru viitor, a unor situatii ideale de dezvoltare durabila a zonei costiere intr-un orizont de timp de 5-30 de ani.
In ceea ce priveste activitatea turistica, s-a specificat faptul ca turismul din zona Deltei Dunării, în forma sa tradițională, va evolua către un sens mai larg, incluzând diverse activități conexe, cu un potential de crestere a numarului de vizitatori. Turismul alternativ poate crea o relație mai strânsă între vizitatori și comunitatea locală. Vizitatorii vor folosi sau vor împărtăși aceleasi servicii ca si localnicii, explorând mediul natural conservat, bucătăria autentică și tradițiile locale. Acest tip de turism este considerat un element cheie al dezvoltării durabile.
O direcție interesantă care a fost evidențiată este tranziția la agroturism cu includerea unor forme specifice: turismul gastronomic (delicii culinare, degustare de vinuri etc.), turism cultural sau de patrimoniu (datorită diveristatii etnice din zona), turism științific, observarea păsărilor, festivaluri de artă și meșteșuguri. Aceste forme de turism ar putea asigura venituri din activități convergente agriculturii, fiind binevenite pentru cei care practica agricultura de subzistență.

Practice abstract 16

Short title (in English):

Scenario narratives - rural tourism in Topalu (Romania)

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Romanian MAL included the participation of representatives of local authorities in the Coastal Area. The participants were asked for the description of a potential version of the future. Thus, it was described a visionary image of the case study area in a future where the various sectors work together to enhance sustainable land-sea synergies.
One of the most interesting visionary scenarios for the future development of the Romanian Coastal tourism described the projection of an integrated touristic village on the Danube’s shores, in Topalu Village. The stakeholder vision is pointing towards more than just leisure and recreation, including a close interaction of travelers with the destination, for discovery of ancient stories of the region. Near Capidava Citadel, the local authorities organize a yearly art and music festival, aiming to establish a modern art museum in the area.
The future scenario includes the development of a miniport for cruise vessels, with electric vehicles charging facilities, and cycling paths that start from the miniport and cross the coastal region. The target is to set up sustainable tourism activities and split the village area into two converging zones: the traditional region (including Capidava Citadel) and the modern region. The scenario is centered on the visitor’s freedom to choose on how to spend their own time, either in the music and art festivals, bird watching, gastronomic travelling or sightseeing.
Another idea is the implementation of a broader international collaboration project, donating land for an open-air museum, where countries from the Danube’s Course could be represented by building traditional houses, to promote their own traditions and heritage.

Short title (native language):

Turismul rural in localitatea Topalu - proectii pentru viitor

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Workshopul participatoriu inter-sectorial desfasurat in Constanta, cu privire la dezvoltarea armonioasa a zonei rural-costiere a inclus participarea reprezentanților autorităților locale din zona de interes a proiectului COASTAL.
Unul dintre cele mai interesante scenarii pentru dezvoltarea turismului rural se refera la dezvoltarea unui sat dotat cu tehnologii moderne, impletind traditionalul cu modernismul. Activitatea turistica implica pe langa petrecerea timpului liber pentru repaus sau recreere in natura, si interacțiunea cu localnicii, incluzand descoperirea poveștilor stravechi ale regiunii. În apropiere de Cetatea Capidava, autoritățile locale organizează anual un festival de artă și muzică, intentionand infiintarea unui muzeu de artă modernă.
Planurile de dezvoltare pe termen lung includ construirea unui miniport pentru vase de croazieră, dotat cu statii de încărcare a vehiculelor electrice. De aemenea, se vor proiecta trasee pentru ciclism, care pornesc de la miniport și traversează regiunea de coastă. Obiectivul acestor planuri il reprezinta promovarea unui turism armonios si prietenos cu mediul si de aceea se împarte regiunea în două zone distincte: regiunea tradițională (incluzand Cetatea Capidava) și regiunea moderna (cu tehnologii adaptate prezentului). Scenariul este centrat pe libertatea vizitatorului de a alege cum să-și petreacă propriul timp: la festivalurile locale, vizionarea elementelor din natura, turismul gastronomic sau vizitarea obiectivelor turistice.
O altă idee este punerea în aplicare a unui proiect internațional de anvergura, prin construirea unui muzeu în aer liber, in care țările de pe Cursul Dunării ar putea fi reprezentate prin construirea unor case tradiționale.

Practice abstract 17

Short title (in English):

Scenario narratives - development of agriculture sector in the coastal area of Romania

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Multi- Actor workshop in Romania included participants involved in agricultural policy and strategy. The stakeholders commonly developed a vision of the future of our coastal area and draw up an ideal situation of the agriculture sector, having in mind the creation of beneficial costal-rural synergies.
The agriculture vision on Romanian MAL, revealed key drivers for the envisioned future, building up a coherent storyline around the identified opportunities. First of all, the agriculture of the future should bring around an integrated production and the creation of value chains. Integrated production refers to modern farming systems that produce high quality crops and food by a sustainable use of biological resources, aiming to reduce pollution output. The value chains increase the competitive advantage through strategic partnerships of producers, processors, traders, logistics providers and retailers.
The long term development of Romanian (Coastal) agriculture should follow the European model of association of farmers and food producers, creating agricultural cooperatives in order to be economically stronger.
The scientific and technological advances are key elements for sustainable agriculture, as well. Nutrients recovery and recirculation, pests and diseases resistant cultivars, precision farming are main topics foreseen in the long term agricultural sector management plans for ensuring next generations food security and clean environment, under a changing climate.
For example, the fertility state of agricultural land should be properly assessed, taking into consideration that the wind and rain erosion of arable substrate reaches in Dobrogea region the maximum level from Romania

Short title (native language):

Dezvoltarea sectorului agricol în zona costiera a României - proiectii pentru viitor

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Workshopul multi-sectorial desfasurat in cadrul proiectului COASTAL a inclus participanți implicați în politica și strategia agricolă. Stakeholderii au elaborat un scenariu de dezvoltare ideală a sectorului agricol, având în vedere crearea unor sinergii benefice intre zona costiera si cea rurala adiacenta acesteia.
Astfel, agricultura viitorului se va baza pe un management integrat și crearea lanțurilor valorice. Managementul integrat se referă la sistemele agricole moderne care produc recolte și alimente de calitate crescuta print utilizarea durabilă a resurselor biologice, vizand in acelasi timp reducerea poluarii mediului. Lanțurile valorice cresc avantajul competitiv prin parteneriate strategice ale producătorilor, procesatorilor, furnizorilor de logistică și comercianților.
Dezvoltarea pe termen lung a agriculturii românesti (costiere) ar trebui să urmeze modelul european de asociere a fermierilor și producătorilor de produse alimentare, oferind acestora stabilitate si forta economica.
De asemenea, progresul științific și tehnologic reprezinta elemente cheie pentru o agricultură durabilă. Recuperarea și recircularea substanțelor nutritive, cultivarea soiurilor rezistente la boli si dăunători și agricultura de precizie sunt subiecte de interes in strategia sectorului agricol pe termen lung, pentru asigurarea securității alimentare și a unui mediului curat pentru generațiilor următoare, în conditiile schimbarilor climatice.
De exemplu, starea de fertilitate a terenurilor agricole ar trebui să fie evaluată în mod corespunzător, luând în considerare faptul că eroziunea substratul arabil din cauza vântului și a ploii atinge nivelul maxim din România în regiunea Dobrogea.

Practice abstract 18

Short title (in English):

Dominant contributions of diffuse subsurface legacy sources to nutrient loads and eutrophication of coastal waters

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Population growth and associated human activities, such as agriculture, have led to major nutrient and pollutant loads from land to coastal waters. Some of the past nutrient inputs from previous active sources at the land surface have accumulated in and still remain as important diffuse legacy sources in the subsurface. A recent assessment of legacy source contributions from (different parts of) the Swedish Norrström catchment (MAL3 in the COASTAL project) shows that they may contribute around 70-80% of the total nutrient loading to the Baltic coastal waters. Such contributions may be in practice untreatable within the commonly short time frames given for compliance with environmental regulations. Consequently, due to dominant legacy sources, policies, regulations and international agreements implemented to mitigate nutrient loads to Baltic coastal waters have so far led to only small or no improvements. For considerable and relatively fast water quality improvements, mitigation measures need to be spatially directed to areas without major legacy sources. On longer time scales, good water quality can be achieved also in areas with major legacy sources, but only if new sources at the surface do not continue to feed into and maintain the legacy sources. An important research challenge, which will be further addressed in the COASTAL project for MAL3, is to identify where legacy sources are dominant, so that available resources for coastal eutrophication mitigation can be allocated to areas without such major legacies, where the measures will be most effective and can lead to relatively fast improvements of coastal water quality.

Short title (native language):

Viktiga bidrag från diffusa ärvda källor i marken till närsaltsbelastningar och övergödning av kustvatten

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Befolkningstillväxt och relaterad mänsklig verksamhet, som jordbruk, har lett till stor belastning av närsalter och föroreningar från land till kustvatten. En del av närsalterna från tidigare aktiva källor på markytan har ansamlats och utgör nu viktiga diffusa ärvda källor i marken. En aktuell uppskattning av belastningsbidragen från sådana ärvda källor inom (olika delar av) det svenska Norrström-avrinningsområdet (MAL3 i COASTAL-projektet) har visat att de kan bidra med cirka 70-80% av den totala närsaltsbelastningen till Östersjöns kustvatten. Sådana belastningsbidrag kan i praktiken vara omöjliga att minska inom de vanligtvis korta tidsramar som ges för att följa miljöbestämmelser. Till följd av sådana stora belastningsbidrag från ärvda källor under markytan har genomförandet av politik, förordningar och internationella avtal för att minska närsaltsbelastningen till Östersjöns kustvatten hittills lett till endast små eller inga förbättringar. För att få betydande och relativt snabba förbättringar i vattenkvalitet måste åtgärder riktas till områden utan stora ärvda närslatskällor. Över längre tidsskalor kan god vattenkvalitet åstadkommas också i områden med stora ärvda källor, men endast om nya källor vid ytan inte fortsätter att föda in till och upprätthålla de ärvda källorna i marken. En viktig forskningsutmaning, som kommer att fortsättningsvis hanteras i COASTAL-projektet för MAL3, är att identifiera var ärvda källor är dominerande, så att tillgängliga resurser för minskning av kusternas övergödning kan riktas till områden utan sådana dominerande källor, där åtgärderna kommer att vara mest effektiva och kan leda till relativt snabba förbättringar av kustvattenkvaliteten.

Practice abstract 19

Short title (in English):

A scenario simulation approach for identifying effective land- and/or sea-based measures for coastal water quality improvement

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Coastal water quality and eutrophication may be affected by pollutant and nutrient loads from both land and the open sea, and by the mixing of these within the coastal zone itself. Recent research has developed and tested a modelling approach that can consistently quantify and account for changes in coastal water quality and eutrophication due to various possible mitigation measures on land and/or in the sea. Such land-coast-sea interactions have been studied by specific application of this modelling approach to the COASTAL project’s MAL3 case of the Baltic Sea and, as a local example, one of its coastal areas, the Archipelago Sea. The developed water quality model has been applied to and validated at the scale of the whole Baltic Sea, and consistently (with the open sea results as relevant boundary conditions) refined and adapted to the much smaller local-coast scale of the Archipelago Sea. For this Baltic coast, the model was used to investigate the effects on coastal water quality and eutrophication of different land- and/or sea-based nutrient management scenarios. The scenario simulation results show that successful sea-based measures may be most effective for coastal water quality improvement and eutrophication mitigation. This highlights the need to consistently account for change drivers and measures both on land and at sea when modelling and projecting coastal conditions and their possible improvements under future development scenarios.

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Vattenkvalitet och övergödning i kustområden kan påverkas av förorenings- och närsaltsbelastning från både land och det öppna havet, och av hur dessa blandas i själva kustzonen. Ny forskning har utvecklat och testat en modelleringsmetod för att konsekvent kvantifiera förändringar i kustzoners vattenkvalitet och övergödning på grund av olika möjliga åtgärder på land och/eller i havet. Sådana land-kust-hav-interaktioner har studerats genom specifik tillämpning av denna modellering på COASTAL-projektets MAL3, som omfattar Östersjön och, som ett kustzonsexempel, dess kustområde Skärgårdshavet. Den utvecklade modellen har tillämpats och validerats på skalan av hela Östersjön, och konsekvent (med resultaten för det öppna havet som relevanta randvillkor) i en förfinad och anpassad modell för Skärgårdshavets mycket mindre lokala kustskala. För detta lokala exempel användes modellen för att undersöka effekterna på kustens vattenkvalitet och övergödning av olika möjliga land- och/eller havsbaserade åtgärdsscenarier. Resultaten från scenariosimuleringarna visar att havsbaserade åtgärder kan ha störst förbättringseffekter på kustzoners vattenkvalitet och övergödning. Detta belyser behovet av att konsekvent räkna med förändringsdrivkrafter och åtgärder både på land och i havet när man vill modellera och förutsäga kustförhållanden och deras möjliga förbättringar under olika framtida utvecklingsscenarier.

Practice abstract 20

Short title (in English):

EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE ADAPTATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Climate change is expected to have a significant impact on coastal ecosystem services affecting livelihoods and human well-being worldwide. The impacts are already severe in Mediterranean regions, such as the Mar Menor Region (https://h2020-coastal.eu/mar-menor-coastal-lagoon) and include increased flood frequency, droughts and soil erosion, and increased plant water stress affecting agricultural production. Adaptation strategies are needed to secure food production and freshwater availability for the growing global population and increase the resilience to floods, droughts, landslides and forest fires. There is a growing recognition that Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) can provide cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to hard engineering or grey infrastructures. NBS aim to manage environmental hazards and reduce the risks by ‘building with nature’. Examples are Sustainable Land Management, Conservation Agriculture, Green Infrastructures, Community Based Adaptation, and Integrated River Basin Management.
Modelling and monitoring studies are needed to fit NBS to the local conditions. Especially important are studies combining on-site and off-site impacts, studies evaluating the effectiveness of NBS under past, present, and future climate conditions, and stakeholder-based modelling.

Short title (native language):

EFECTIVIDAD DE LAS SOLUCIONES BASADAS EN LA NATURALEZA PARA LA ADAPTACIÓN CLIMÁTICA EN EL MEDITERRÁNEO

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Se espera que el cambio climático tenga un impacto significativo en los servicios de los ecosistemas costeros que afectan los medios de vida y el bienestar humano en todo el mundo. Los impactos ya son graves en las regiones mediterráneas, como la región del Mar Menor (https://h2020-coastal.eu/mar-menor-coastal-lagoon) e incluyen una mayor frecuencia de inundaciones, sequías y erosión del suelo, y un mayor estrés hídrico en las plantas, que afecta la producción agrícola. Se necesitan estrategias de adaptación para asegurar la producción de alimentos y la disponibilidad de agua dulce para la creciente población mundial y aumentar la resistencia a las inundaciones, las sequías, los deslizamientos de tierra y los incendios forestales. Hay un reconocimiento creciente de que Las Soluciones Basadas en la Naturaleza (NBS) pueden proporcionar alternativas rentables y sostenibles a las obras de ingeniería o a las infraestructuras grises. El objetivo de las NBS es gestionar los peligros ambientales y reducir los riesgos mediante la "construcción con la naturaleza". Algunos ejemplos son la gestión sostenible de la tierra, la agricultura de conservación, las infraestructuras verdes, la adaptación basada en la comunidad y la gestión integrada de cuencas fluviales.
Se necesitan estudios de modelado y monitoreo para ajustar las NBS a las condiciones locales. Son especialmente importantes los estudios que combinan los impactos in situ y ex situ, los estudios que evalúan la efectividad de las NBS en condiciones climáticas pasadas, presentes y futuras, y la modelización participativa.

Practice abstract 21

Short title (in English):

CONNECTING RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES WITH SECTORAL NETWORKS TO SUPPORT INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF MEDITERRANEAN COASTAL AND RURAL AREAS

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Many Mediterranean coastal areas encounter similar problems in relation to governance and the implementation of sustainable management strategies. The lack of coordination between management of inland and coastal areas, and integration of land-sea data and knowledge exchange impede the transition towards sustainable development and coastal-rural synergies.The main challenges to reach sustainable development of coastal-rural areas are data availability, knowledge exchange and effective governance. These could be tackled by coupling regional and international Research Infrastructures (RIs) with scientific and stakeholder collaboration networks to facilitate the co-creation of solutions.In a recent study, two Horizon 2020 project teams (COASTAL and COOP+), joined forces to identify the main challenges in the sustainable development of coastal-rural areas followed by a review of major existing RIs, scientific knowledge and collaboration networks that can help support integrated management of Mediterranean coastal zones. A useful overview is given on the existing RIs, scientific and stakeholder collaboration platforms, together with recommendations for improved science-policy exchanges and strategies for sustainable development of coastal and rural areas. The most important recommendations are: (1) the creation of local science-stakeholder networks to facilitate periodical meetings between all sectors involved and to connect science and policy actors and (2) setting up local RIs that support the data processing and interaction with regional and international RIs.

Short title (native language):

CONECTANDO INFRAESTRUCTURAS DE DATOS CON REDES DE INVESTIGACIÓN Y SECTORIALES PARA APOYAR LA GESTIÓN INTEGRADA DE LAS ZONAS COSTERAS Y RURALES DEL MEDITERRÁNEO

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Muchas áreas costeras mediterráneas encuentran problemas similares en relación con la gobernanza y la implementación de estrategias de gestión sostenible.La falta de coordinación entre la gestión de las zonas costeras y del interior, la falta de integración de los datos tierra-mar y del intercambio de conocimientos impiden la transición hacia un desarrollo sostenible y las sinergias costeras-rurales.Los principales desafíos para alcanzar el desarrollo sostenible de las zonas costeras rurales son la disponibilidad de datos, el intercambio de conocimientos y la gobernanza efectiva. Esto podría abordarse conectando Infraestructuras de Datos (ID) regionales e internacionales con redes de colaboración científica y sectoriales para facilitar la creación conjunta de soluciones. En un estudio reciente, dos equipos del proyecto Horizon 2020 (COASTAL y COOP+) han unido fuerzas para identificar los principales desafíos en el desarrollo sostenible de las zonas costeras y rurales, seguido de una revisión de las principales ID existentes, redes de conocimiento científico y redes de colaboración sectorial que pueden ayudar a apoyar la gestión integrada de las zonas costeras mediterráneas.El estudio ofrece también recomendaciones para mejorar los intercambios entre ciencia y sociedad y promover estrategias para el desarrollo sostenible de las zonas costeras y rurales.Las recomendaciones más importantes son: 1.la creación de redes locales para facilitar reuniones periódicas entre todos los sectores involucrados y conectar a los actores sectoriales, científicos y de las administraciones públicas, así como 2.establecer ID locales que apoyen el procesamiento de datos y la interacción con ID internacionales.

Practice abstract 22

Short title (native language):

ISSUES AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN COASTAL-RURAL AREAS IN THE CONTEXT OF LAND-SEA SYNERGIES & COASTAL RURAL COLLABORATION

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

COASTAL project have identified common issues and business opportunities in the European coastal-rural areas. They are linked to human pressures on the environment: water pollution and eutrophication; water scarcity; soil pollution and salinization; biodiversity loss; inland, beach and marine litters, beach erosion and flood risks; which will also be enhanced by sea-level rise and other climate change impacts. Other issues were related to local conflicts and lack of cooperation between sectors, the insufficiency of information and education for the development of local sustainable activities. Additionally, many regions face difficulties in applying the principal of sustainable growth. European coastal-rural areas not only have issues related to nature and cultural conservation, but also in managing (or lack of management) natural protected areas. The high-density level and touristic attractiveness of coastal areas also lead to traffic congestion and transport network issues, land use pressure (increase land price, decrease of land availability), and high seasonal population variability. However, besides facing many issues, coastal-rural areas offer great business opportunities in the sector of renewable energy, risk management, and tourism (eco-tourism, agro-tourism). Innovative cross-sectoral business practices in agriculture and fisheries sectors, water and waste management (with nature-based solutions), can also foster land-sea synergies while creating sustainable growth. Practices focusing on improving coastal-rural collaborations and land-sea synergies are not yet commons but can provide great opportunities for coastal and rural current and future challenges.

Practice abstract 23

Short title (native language):

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN COASTAL AREAS

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Nature-based solutions offer sustainable solutions to human pressures and benefits in terms of landscape restoration, and additional space for recreational activities. In coastal-rural areas it can create the base for a circular economy system through water recycling and reuse. As an alternative to coastal discharges, areas with extensive wetlands could be part of a secondary treatment/overland flow system, with the already nutrient rich wetlands ‘treating’ the final effluent material. Instead of being expensively treated and rejected in the environment, wastewater could be reused by the agricultural sector or coastal golf courses. A well-designed and planned water recycling and reuse system with nature-based solutions over the whole coastal-inland system (that includes stakeholders from coastal and rural areas in the design process), would reduce the impact of inland polluted water onto the coastal-sea ecosystems and related activities activities (fishery, aquaculture, coastal tourism). Nature-based solutions are also used in coastal risk management (coastal erosion, waves surges), sand beach nourishment can be used as alternative solutions to conventional options to reduce coastal erosion with an additional co-benefits through increased attractiveness of recreational opportunities by extending the beach width (i.e. development of new water sports activities, construction of new beach houses), and consequently the number of tourists. It also improves the environmental quality of the area with positive impact on the local biodiversity. Such co-benefits can increase economic activity, generating tax revenues, which in turn can attract more public investments in the project.

Practice abstract 24

Short title (in English):

A DURABLE NETWORK FOR KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND BLUE GROWTH

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Creating a platform for knowledge exchange is a key objective of H2020 project COASTAL (h2020-coastal.eu). The Belgian Coastal zone has a densely populated coastline. Apart from aging population in coastal cities, younger people are forced to work outside these cities or move out due to high real estate prices. In addition, coastal “brain drain” is a growing concern. Coastal areas do not offer many jobs for higher educated people and employment is primarily seasonal, aimed at tourism and recreation. Blue Growth is considered as the main social-economic opportunity for the area. Yet, current blue growth initiatives are still fragmented. An active BG community comprises stakeholders from knowledge- and government institutions, private companies and NGO's. Current collaboration is limited to project- or grant applications. Optimizing cooperation and collaboration within this community would create unique opportunities to fine-tune the expertise within the blue sector and identify synergies. Recently, a couple of actors joined forces and "Ostend Science Park"(https://ostendsciencepark.be/) was established. The science park has the central objective of bringing marine and coastal knowledge partners together with blue business. In the long term, the aim is to develop a durable platform for knowledge exchange and co-creation of innovative solutions to address the challenges of tomorrow.

Short title (native language):

EEN DUURZAAM NETWERK VOOR KENNISUITWISSELING EN BLAUWE GROEI

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Een duurzaam platform voor kennisuitwisseling is een belangrijke doelstelling van het H2020-project COASTAL (h2020-coastal.eu). De Belgische Kustzone heeft een dichtbevolkte kustlijn. Naast een vergrijzende bevolking, trekken jongeren uit deze zone door beperkte werkopportuniteiten en stijgende vastgoedprijzen. Daarnaast is er het fenomeen van "braindrain". De kustzone biedt weinig banen voor hoger opgeleiden en de werkgelegenheid is vooral seizoensgebonden en gericht op toerisme en recreatie. Blauwe groei wordt beschouwd als de belangrijkste sociaal-economische kans voor de Belgische kust. De huidige blauwe groei initiatieven zijn versnipperd. Er is een actieve blauwe groei gemeenschap van kennis- en overheidsinstellingen, privé-bedrijven en NGO's. De samenwerking beperkt zich vaak tot specifieke projecten of subsidieaanvragen. Het optimaliseren van de samenwerking en communicatie tussen stakeholders zou unieke mogelijkheden creëren om de expertise binnen de blauwe sector te verfijnen en synergieën te identificeren. Onlangs hebben een aantal actoren hun krachten gebundeld en werd "Ostend Science Park"(https://ostendsciencepark.be/)opgericht. Het wetenschapspark heeft als centrale doelstelling om mariene en maritieme partners en bedrijven uit de blauwe industrie samen te brengen. Op lange termijn is het doel een duurzaam platform te ontwikkelen voor kennisuitwisseling en co-creatie van innovatieve oplossingen om de uitdagingen van morgen aan te gaan.

Practice abstract 25

Short title (in English):

RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES - POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE DANUBE DELTA

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Romania has an important potential of renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, biomass, hydro, wind and solar power. Dobrogea region has the highest wind energy potential and is considered as a fast-growing market for wind energy in the South-Eastern Europe, with an installed capacity of approximately. 2000 MW (8% of total country) in 2018.In the same time, biomass production is an economic sector under exponential development. Agriculture is a significant contributor to the biomass supply in the form of energy crops, by-products and waste materials. Investments in renewable energy can contribute to sustainable economic development of rural area of the Danube Delta region by opening new business opportunities, increasing the endowment level, new sources of income for farmers and for local public administration leading to the improvement of the existing infrastructure and increasing the competitiveness of the area. The specialty literature already demonstrated that an increased share of renewable energy consumption leads to improvement of the quality of economic growth. Environmental sustainability brings along the wide social acceptance of renewable sources of energy as a reflection of human wellbeing indicators. In the future, the role of renewable energy production and use will enhance the economic, financial and social wellbeing of the Danube Delta region by creating jobs, diversification of population income, environmental safeguarding and overall improvement of life quality.

Short title (native language):

SURSE REGENERABILE DE ENERGIE - POTENTIAL DE CRESTERE ECONOMICA IN DELTA DUNARII

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Romania are un potențial imens de surse de energie regenerabilă, precum biomasă, energie geotermala, hidroenergie, energie eoliană și energie solară. Regiunea Dobrogea are cel mai mare potențial de energie eoliană, si este considerata o piață cu creștere rapidă, în sud-estul Europei, cu o capacitate instalată de aproape 2000 MW (8% din capacitatea nationala) în 2018. De asemenea, producția de biomasă este un sector economic aflat în dezvoltare exponențială. Sectorul agricol din regiunea Deltei Dunarii poate contribui la aprovizionarea cu biomasă sub forma de culturi energetice, produse secundare și materiale reziduale. Investitiile in producerea de energie regenerabila pot contribui la dezvoltarea economica durabila a zonei rurale din regiunea Deltei Dunarii prin deschiderea unor noi oportunitati de afaceri, cresterea nivelului de dotare in zonele rurale, noi surse de venituri pentru fermieri si pentru administratia publica locala, ducand la imbunatatirea infrastructurii existente si a cresterii competitivitatii zonei. Activitatile prietenoase cu mediul inconjurator conduc la o acceptare sociala imediata a surselor regenerabile de energie ca o reflectare a indicatorilor bunăstării umane.În viitor, rolul producției și utilizării de energie regenerabilă va spori bunăstarea economică, financiară și socială a regiunii Delta Dunării prin crearea de locuri de muncă, diversificarea veniturilor populației, protecția mediului și îmbunătățirea calității vieții locuitorilor din zona.

Practice abstract 26

Short title (in English):

ORGANIC FARMING – PILLAR FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM IN DANUBE DELTA REGION

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Although organic farming represents a niche segment in terms of both acreage and production in Romania, it is gaining increased attention due to its sustainable principles of ecological importance and the economic opportunities it can offer. About 10% of the arable area of Tulcea County is represented by organic farming, ranking Tulcea on the first place in the country in this domain. Organic farming in the Danube Delta region can be considered a model of sustainable development, transforming the potential disadvantages resulting from restrictions due to the vicinity of the protected areas, in advantages for creating value added products, respecting nature. Organic farming is beneficial for the development of the rural area of the Danube Delta region through its role in promoting alternative food chains, capitalizing on the existing natural resources and the positive impact on the environment. This will contribute to the expansion of high value-added economic activities and job creation. The region presents favourable conditions for the production of organic bee products, with a very good honey base (sunflower, lime, spontaneous flora). More than 350 producers have been registered as certified suppliers of organic products in Tulcea County, which is at the highest level throughout the country. According to statistical data, the total consumption of organic products has been steadily increasing during the last ten years so that the development of a business in this field can bring real success. Moreover, the introduction into the agroecotouristic circuit of businesses based on organic production could be a development direction.

Short title (native language):

AGRICULTURA ECOLOGICA - PILON DE SUSTINERE A DEZVOLTARII DURABILE PENTRU ECOSISTEMUL DE AFACERI IN REGIUNEA DELTEI DUNARII

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Deși, in Romania, agricultura ecologică reprezintă un segment de nisa atât în ceea ce privește suprafața cât și producția, aceasta câștigă o atenție sporită datorită principiilor sale durabile de importanță ecologică și oportunităților economice pe care le poate oferi.Aproximativ 10% din suprafața arabilă a județului Tulcea este reprezentată de agricultura ecologică, clasând județul pe primul loc în tara in acest domeniu. Agricultura ecologică din regiunea Deltei Dunării poate fi considerată un model de dezvoltare durabilă, transformând potențialele dezavantaje rezultate din restricții datorate vecinătății ariilor protejate, în avantaje pentru crearea de produse cu valoare adăugată, respectând natura. Agricultura ecologică este benefică pentru dezvoltarea spatiului rural din regiunea Deltei Dunarii prin rolul său în promovarea lanțurilor alimentare alternative, valorificarea resurselor naturale existente si impactul pozitiv asupra mediului. Aceasta va contribui la extinderea activităţilor economice cu valoare adăugată mare şi la generarea de locuri de muncă. Regiunea prezinta condiţii propice pentru realizarea produselor apicole ecologice, existand o baza melifera foarta buna (floarea soarelui, tei, flora spontana). Un număr de peste 350 de producători au fost înregistrați ca furnizori certificați de produse ecologice in judetul Tulcea, acesta fiind la nivel superior pe intreaga tara. Conform datelor statistice, consumul total de produse ecologice este în continuă creștere în ultimii zece ani astfel ca dezvoltarea unei afaceri în acest domeniu poate aduce un success real. Mai mult, introducerea in circuitul agroecoturisic al unor afaceri bazate pe productia ecologica ar putea fi o directie de dezvoltare.

Practice abstract 27

Short title (in English):

NEW IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES - PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE DANUBE DELTA REGION

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Given that irrigation accounts for 70% of total water consumption worldwide, investments in modern irrigation systems to optimize water consumption and avoid waste are of immediate importance in the Danube Delta region. In 2018, Tulcea County represented almost 14% of the irrigated area of Romania. The optimum irrigation method depends on soil type, crop type and irrigation surface. Currently, there are developed irrigation technologies that reduce the energy costs compared to the systems of pushing water from the Danube to the shore. Depending on the type of culture and cultivation technology applied, in the Danube Delta Region all four basic methods of irrigation can be applied, namely: surface irrigation, underground irrigation, sprinkling, and micro-irrigation. For cultivation in an ecological system the most suitable is drip irrigation. For large surfaces sprinkler is recommended. The digitization of the irrigation activity can make the difference between profit and loss in the activity of the farms, by monitoring the timing, the humidity and the quantity of water needed. The incorporation of wireless sensors that measure the humidity in the air, the temperature and the humidity of the soil will lead to the real-time data collection, obtaining greater efficiency of water use. The use of remote sensing for irrigation management will provide the advantage of systematic measurements in space and time, the ability to cover large areas and the ability to be integrated into models, and with GIS systems. New irrigation technologies use algorithms to obtain vegetation indices from satellite images in combination with ground measurements to estimate large surface evapotranspiration.

Short title (native language):

NOI TEHNOLOGII DE IRIGATII – SOLUTII PRACTICE PENTRU REGIUNEA DELTEI DUNARII

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Avand in vedere faptul ca irigarea reprezintă 70% din consumul total de apă la nivel mondial, investitiile in sisteme moderne de irigatii pentru optimizarea consumului de apa si evitarea risipei sunt oportune in regiunea Deltei Dunarii. In 2018, Judetul Tulcea reprezenta aproape 14% din suprafata irigata a Romaniei. Alegerea metodei potrivite de irigare depinde de tipul de sol, tipul de cultura si suprafata de irigat. In prezent, exista tehnologii perfomante de irigat care reduc costurile energiei comparativ cu sistemele de urcare a apei dinspre Dunăre spre mal. In functie de tipul de cultura si tehnologia de cultivare aplicata, in Regiunea Deltei Dunarii pot fi aplicate toate cele patru metode de baza ale irigării, si anume: scurgerea la suprafaţă, irigaţia subterană, aspersiunea, şi micro-irigarea. Pentru cultivarea in sistem ecologic, cea mai potrivita este irigarea prin picurare. Pentru suprafetele mari se recomanda aspersiunea. Digitalizarea activitatii de irigare, poate face diferenta intre profit si pierdere in activitatea fermelor, prin monitorizarea temporizarii, a umiditatii si a cantitatii de apa necesare. Incorporarea senzorilor wireless care măsoară umiditatea in aer, temperatura și umiditatea soluluii va conduce la colectarea in timp real a datelor, obtinand eficiență mai mare a utilizării apei. Utilizarea teledetectiei pentru gestionarea irigarii va oferi avantajul unor măsurători sistematice în spațiu și timp, capacitatea de a acoperi suprafețe mari și capacitatea de a fi integrate în modele, și cu sisteme GIS. Mai nou, exista metode care folosesc algoritmi pentru a obține indici de vegetație din imagini prin satelit în combinație cu măsurători la sol pentru a estima evapotranspirația pe suprafețe mari.

Practice abstract 28

Short title (in English):

HYDRO-CLIMATIC EFFECTS ON BALTIC COASTAL AND MARINE CONDITIONS

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

This research has developed a quantification methodology and used it to assess the impacts of climate and hydrology on coastal conditions in the Baltic MAL3 case of the COASTAL project. Specifically, the study has assessed impacts on seawater temperature, salinity and flow structure (magnitudes and directions of flows between different marine basins and associated coastal zones) of the freshwater runoff from land, the saltwater influx from the North Sea, and the wind and net surface heat flux (related to air temperature) conditions over the sea. The investigated resulting conditions of seawater temperature, salinity and flow structure are fundamental for the water quality, eutrophication and ecosystem status of the Baltic Sea and its coastal waters. The exploration of hydro-climatic impacts on these conditions has shown that: (i) The net heat flux is a main control of sea water temperature; (ii) The freshwater runoff from land, which was also found to be well correlated with the salt water influx from the North Sea, controls average sea salinity; (iii) The wind conditions control water flow magnitudes, while the flow directions remain relatively stable. These findings identify main driver-effect relationships that can guide choices of best climate models to use in projections of the coastal effects of future hydro-climatic scenarios, based on the most relevant climate-model outputs for key physical Baltic coast conditions.

Short title (native language):

HYDRO-KLIMATEFFEKTER PÅ ÖSTERSJÖNS KUST- OCH MARINA FÖRHÅLLANDEN

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Denna forskning har utvecklat en metodik och använt den för att undersöka effekterna av klimat och hydrologi på Östersjöns kustförhållanden, som utgör MAL3 inom COASTAL-projektet. Specifikt har studien visat påverkan på havsvattnets temperatur, salthalt och flödesstruktur (storlek och riktning av flöden mellan olika marina bassänger och tillhörande kustzoner) av sötvattenavrinningen från land, saltvatteninflödet från Nordsjön, samt vindförhållandena och nettovärmeflödet (relaterat till lufttemperatur) över havet. De undersökta resulterande förhållandena i termer av vattentemperatur, salthalt och flödesstruktur är grundläggande för vattenkvalitet, eutrofiering och ekosystemstatus i Östersjön och dess kustvatten. Forskningen om hydro-klimatets påverkan på dessa förhållanden har visat att: (i) Nettovärmeflödet styr havsvattentemperaturen; (ii) Sötvattenavrinningen från land, som också visade sig vara korrelerad med saltvatteninflödet från Nordsjön, styr den genomsnittliga salthalten i havet; (iii) Vindförhållandena styr havsvattenflödenas storlek, medan flödesriktningarna förblir ganska stabila. Dessa resultat identifierar dominerande orsak-verkan-samband, som kan vägleda val av bästa klimatmodeller att använda i prognoser av framtida hydro-klimateffekter på viktiga kustförhållanden i Östersjön. Authors: Georgia Destouni (Stockholm University) and Samaneh Seifollahi-Aghmiuni (SU) Source: Chen, Y., Vigouroux, G., Bring, A., Cvetkovic, V., Destouni, G. (2019) Dominant hydro-climatic drivers of water temperature, salinity, and flow variability for the large-scale system of the Baltic coastal wetlands. Water (MDPI), 11, 552. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/3/552

Practice abstract 29

Short title (in English):

LAND-COAST-SEA INTERACTIONS AND IMPACTS ON SEAWATER QUALITY

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

For the Baltic MAL3 case of COASTAL, a numerical simulation method has been used for controlled experimentation on the concentration patterns that various solute (nutrient, pollutant) releases from land lead to in different Baltic coasts and the open sea. The Swedish Kalmar County coast and the Polish coast of the Vistula River outlet are two Baltic coast examples investigated with this method. Equivalent solute releases from these two coasts lead to different local coastal concentrations but similar overall concentration patterns in the open Baltic Sea. For solute release scenarios that are proportional to the actual nutrient loads from land in these cases, the highly-populated Vistula catchment yields much greater total, but smaller per-capita nutrient impacts than the Kalmar County catchment in the open Baltic Sea. For the open sea concentration contributions to be as low per capita as from those from the Vistula catchment, the per-capita nutrient loading from Kalmar County would have to be reduced much more than required on average per Swedish inhabitant by the Baltic Sea Action Plan. This highlights an unfairness issue in the per-capita distribution of nutrient load allowance among the Baltic countries, which needs to be considered and handled in further research and international efforts aimed to combat the Baltic Sea eutrophication. Authors: Georgia Destouni (Stockholm University) and Samaneh Seifollahi-Aghmiuni (Stockholm University)
Source: Chen, Y., Cvetkovic, V., Destouni, G. (2019) Scenarios of Nutrient-Related Solute Loading and Transport Fate from Different Land Catchments and Coasts into the Baltic Sea, Water, 11, 1407. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11071407

Short title (native language):

LAND-KUST-HAVSINTERAKTIONER OCH EFFEKTER PÅ HAVSVATTENKVALITET

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

En numerisk simuleringsmetod har använts för kontrollerad experimentering på de koncentrationsmönster som olika ämnesutsläpp (av näringsämnen, föroreningar) från land leder till i olika kustzoner och i öppna havet för Östersjö-fallet MAL3 i COASTAL. Den svenska kusten vid Kalmar län och den polska kusten vid Vistula-flodens utlopp är två exempelkuster som har undersökts med denna metod. Liknande ämnesutsläpp från dessa två kuster leder till olika lokala kustkoncentrationer, men liknande övergripande koncentrationsmönster i det öppna havet. För scenarier av ämnesutsläpp som är proportionella till de faktiska belastningarna av näringsämnen från land blir koncentrationseffekterna i öppna havet mycket större totalt, men mindre per person från Vistulas avrinningsområde (med stor befolkning) än från Kalmar läns avrinningsområde (med mycket mindre befolkning). För att resulterande koncentrationseffekter i havet ska vara lika låga per person från Vistulas avrinningsområde, måste belastningen av näringsämnen per person från Kalmar län minskas mycket mer än vad som krävs i genomsnitt per svensk invånare i den internationella överenskommelsen Baltic Sea Action Plan. Detta belyser en orättvis fördelning av reduktionskrav mellan de baltiska länderna, som måste beaktas och hanteras i ytterligare forskning och internationella ansträngningar för att bekämpa Östersjöns övergödning.

Practice abstract 30

Short title (in English):

STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES ON BALTIC LAND-COAST-SEA INTERACTIONS

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Coastal regions are subject to multiple change pressures from human activities and climate change on land and at sea. These pressures also relate to other societal and ecosystem risks, e.g., for water, food and energy security, human, animal and ecosystem health, and climate change adaptation. Local and regional actors in the Swedish Norrström catchment (MAL3 in the COASTAL project) were invited to a series of sector workshops to collaboratively identify key physical, socio-economic and environmental components of the land-coast-sea system in MAL3, and to discuss opportunities and barriers for coastal sustainability. The discussions in these workshops have resulted in mind maps of interlinked land-coast-sea processes and related human activities and sectors. These mind maps show a general stakeholder perception of high complexity in the interactions and feedback structures of the MAL3 coastal system. Furthermore, the discussions on relevant policies and management structures for sustainable coastal, rural and urban development have highlighted policy and implementation fragmentation as main concerns and barriers for cross-sectoral collaborations in this system.
Authors: Georgia Destouni (Stockholm University) and Samaneh Seifollahi-Aghmiuni (Stockholm University)
Source: Seifollahi-Aghmiuni, S., Kalantari, Z., Prieto, C., Chen, Y., and Destouni, G. (2019) Stakeholder perspectives on sustainable coastal development: A Baltic coast case study. Baltic Sea Science Congress, 19-23 August, Stockholm, Sweden.

Short title (native language):

AKTÖRSPERSPEKTIV PÅ LAND-KUST-HAVSINTERAKTIONER I ÖSTERSJÖN

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Kustregioner är utsatta för olika förändringstryck från mänskliga aktiviteter och klimatförändringar på land och i havet. Dessa tryck är också relaterade till andra samhälls- och ekosystemrisker, t.ex. för vatten-, mat- och energisäkerhet, människors, djurs och ekosystems hälsa, anpassning till klimatförändringar. Lokala och regionala aktörer i Norrströms avrinningsområde (MAL3 i COASTAL-projektet) bjöds in till en serie möten för att sektorsvis identifiera viktiga fysiska, socioekonomiska och miljömässiga aspekter i MAL3-fallets land-kust-havssystem och diskutera möjligheter och hinder för att uppnå hållbarhet i detta system. Mötesdiskussionerna har resulterat i tankekartor över sammanlänkade land-, kust- och havsprocesser och relaterade mänskliga aktiviteter och sektorer. Dessa tankekartor visar en allmän uppfattning av hög komplexitet i MAL3-kustsystemets interaktioner och återkopplingar. Vidare har diskussionerna om relevant politik och förvaltning för hållbar kust-, landsbygds- och stadsutveckling framhävt politik- och förvaltningsfragmentering som huvudsakliga problem och hinder för tvärsektoriellt samarbete i detta system.

Practice abstract 31

Short title (in English):

THE EVOLUTION OF GIALOVA LAGOON WETLAND OVER THE LAST 70 YEARS.

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Human interventions during the last 70 years have altered the characteristics of the Gialova Lagoon, a coastal wetland that is part of a wider Natura 2000 site. Results, based on a combination of conceptual hydrologic models, analysis of aerial photographs, interviews with local elderly, field observations, and GIS (Geographic Information System) analyses, revealed that the combined effects of human interventions and climate have led to decreased wetland size and increased salinity in the wetland over time. The fresh and brackish water marshes have gradually been turned into open water (open water coverage in the whole wetland has increased by almost 23%) or replaced by halophytic vegetation with implication on the ecology of the wetland. Parts of the wetland have been transformed to agricultural land (increased by 44.5%) and vegetation coverage has been decreased by almost 47% resulting to less habitats for birds, amphibians and reptiles. Current human activities inside the Natura 2000 area and in the surrounding areas could further impact on the water quantity and quality in the wetland, and on its sensitive ecosystems. A more holistic understanding of the broader socio-ecological system is needed to understand the dynamics of the wetland and to achieve sustainable long-term management and conservation strategies, and the work under COASTAL provides the platform for such an approach.
Author: Giorgos Maneas (Stockholm University), based on: Maneas, G., Makopoulou, E., Bousbouras, D., Berg, H., Manzoni, S. (2019) Anthropogenic Changes in a Mediterranean Coastal Wetland during the Last Century—The Case of Gialova Lagoon, Messinia, Greece. Water, 11(2), 350. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11020350

Short title (native language):

Η ΕΞΕΛΙΞΗ ΤΟΥ GIALOVA LAGOON WETLAND ΣΤΑ ΤΕΛΕΥΤΑΙΑ 70 ΧΡΟΝΙΑ.

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Τα χαρακτηριστικά της Λιμνοθάλασσας Γιάλοβα, ενός παράκτιου υγροτόπου που αποτελεί μέρος μιας ευρύτερης περιοχής Νatura 2000, έχουν αλλοιωθεί από τις ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες τα τελευταία 70 χρόνια. Τα αποτελέσματα, βασισμένα σε συνδυασμό εννοιολογικών υδρολογικών μοντέλων, ανάλυση αεροφωτογραφιών, συνεντεύξεις με ηλικιωμένους της περιοχής, παρατηρήσεις πεδίου και αναλύσεις Γεωγραφικού Συστήματος Πληροφοριών (GIS), αποκαλύπτουν ότι με την πάροδο του χρόνου οι ανθρώπινες παρεμβάσεις σε συνδυασμό με τις επικρατούσες κλιματικές συνθήκες οδήγησαν σε μείωση του μεγέθους του υγροτόπου καθώς και σε αυξημένες τιμές αλατότητας. Υγροτοπικές εκτάσεις καλυπτόμενες με βλάστηση γλυκού ή/και υφάλμυρου νερού, έχουν σταδιακά μετατραπεί σε εκτάσεις καλυπτόμενες από νερό μόνο (η επιφάνεια του νερού σε ολόκληρο τον υγρότοπο έχει αυξηθεί κατά σχεδόν 23%) ή έχουν αντικατασταθεί από αλοφυτική βλάστηση με επιπτώσεις στην οικολογία του υγροτόπου. Μέρη του υγροτόπου έχουν μετατραπεί σε καλλιεργήσιμη γη (αυξημένη κατά 44,5%), ενώ η βλάστηση συνολικά έχει μειωθεί σχεδόν κατά 47%, περιορίζοντας τα ενδιαιτήματα για πτηνά, αμφίβια και ερπετά. Οι τρέχουσες ανθρώπινες δραστηριότητες, εντός και πέριξ της περιοχής Natura 2000, επηρεάζουν περαιτέρω την ποσότητα και την ποιότητα των υδάτων με επιπτώσεις στον υγρότοπο και στα ευαίσθητα οικοσυστήματα του. Για την κατανόηση της δυναμικής του υγροτόπου και την επίτευξη βιώσιμων μακροπρόθεσμων στρατηγικών διαχείρισης και διατήρησης, απαιτείται μια πιο ολιστική προσέγγιση του ευρύτερου κοινωνικοοικονομικού συστήματος, προσέγγιση που επιχειρείται στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος COASTAL.

Practice abstract 32

Short title (in English):

THE HYDROLOGY OF GIALOVA LAGOON WETLAND AND RESTORATION NEEDS

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Coastal wetlands and lagoons are under pressure due to competing demands for freshwater resources and climatic changes. To manage such wetlands and maximize their provision of ecosystem services, their hydrologic balance must be quantified. In the Gialova Lagoon wetland (SW Messinia, Greece), water exchanges were dominated by evaporation and saline water inputs from the sea during the summer, while precipitation and freshwater inputs were more important during the winter. About 40 % and 60 % of the freshwater inputs were from precipitation and lateral freshwater flows, respectively. Approximately 70 % of the outputs was due to evaporation, with the remaining 30 % being water flow from the lagoon to the sea. Under future drier and warmer conditions, salinity in the lagoon is expected to increase, unless freshwater inputs are enhanced by restoring hydrologic connectivity between the lagoon and the surrounding freshwater bodies. To adapt to expected climatic conditions by the end of 2100 and maintain the current annual average salinity in the lagoon, a more than 50% increase in freshwater inputs should be achieved. This restoration strategy would be fundamental to stabilize and maintain the current ecosystem functionality but could be challenging to implement due to expected reductions in freshwater water availability and competing demands (e.g. in agriculture). In COASTAL workshops these issues have been extensively discussed with the aim to co-create win-win solutions.

Short title (native language):

Η ΥΔΡΟΛΟΓΙΚΗ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΣΤΗ ΛΙΜΝΟΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ ΤΗΣ ΓΙΑΛΟΒΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΤΑΣΕΙΣ ΑΠΟΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗΣ

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Οι παράκτιοι υγρότοποι και οι λιμνοθάλασσες βρίσκονται υπό πίεση εξαιτίας των ανταγωνιστικών απαιτήσεων για πόρους γλυκού νερού και πιέσεων λόγων αλλαγών στο κλίμα. Για τη διαχείριση αυτών των υγροτόπων και τη μεγιστοποίηση της παροχής οικοσυστημικών υπηρεσιών, πρέπει να ποσοτικοποιηθεί η υδρολογική τους ισορροπία. Στον υγρότοπο της Λιμνοθάλασσας Γιάλοβα (ΝΔ Μεσσηνία, Ελλάδα), κατά τη διάρκεια του καλοκαιριού οι βασικές ροές νερού οφείλονται στην εξάτμιση και στην εισροή θαλασσινού νερού, ενώ κατά τη διάρκεια του χειμώνα στις βροχοπτώσεις και στις εισροές γλυκού νερού. Περίπου το 40% και το 60% των εισροών γλυκού νερού προέρχονται από τις βροχοπτώσεις και τις πλευρικές ροές γλυκού νερού αντίστοιχα. Περίπου το 70% των εκροών οφείλεται στην εξάτμιση, ενώ το υπόλοιπο 30% είναι η ροή νερού από τη λιμνοθάλασσα προς τη θάλασσα. Σε μελλοντικές πιο ξηρές και θερμές συνθήκες, η αλατότητα στη λιμνοθάλασσα αναμένεται να αυξηθεί, εκτός εάν οι εισροές γλυκού νερού βελτιωθούν με την αποκατάσταση της υδρολογικής σύνδεσης μεταξύ της λιμνοθάλασσας και των ανάντι αποθεμάτων γλυκών υδάτων. Για τη διατήρηση της αλατότητας στα επίπεδα τιμών που επικρατούν σήμερα (σήμερα έως 2100), υπάρχει ανάγκη να αυξηθούν οι εισροές γλυκών νερών κατά 50%. Αυτή η στρατηγική αποκατάστασης θα μπορούσε να σταθεροποιήσει το σύστημα και τις οικοσυστημικές υπηρεσίες, ωστόσο δεν είναι εύκολο να επιτευχθεί. Ο μακροχρόνιος σχεδιασμός θα πρέπει να συνεκτιμήσει το ενδεχόμενο μείωσης στη διαθεσιμότητα υδάτων (λόγω κλιματικής αλλαγής) και αύξησης της ζήτησης (π.χ. στη γεωργία). Στο πλαίσιο των εργασιών του προγράμματος COASTAL, τα θέματα συζητιούνται εκτενώς με στόχο τη συν-δημιουργία κοινά αποδεκτών λύσεων.

Practice abstract 33

Short title (in English):

BIRDS OF GIALOVA LAGOON WETLAND AND ECO-TOURISM

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Gialova Lagoon wetland is located at the south-westernmost part of the Balkan peninsula, along an important migration route (the Mediterranean/Black Sea Flyway). The wetland serves as the first suitable stopover for many spring migrants who have flown non-stop over the Mediterranean Sea, and the last before their journey back to Africa in the autumn. During the period October 2016-January 2019, 149 bird species were recorded, including 36 threatened species at a European and national level. Nevertheless, the area is located at the core of a complex socio-ecological system and conservation strategies should also consider the existing human activities and social needs. The development of ecotourism activities (e.g. birdwatching) could support wildlife conservation, increase awareness among locals and visitors, and enhance the bonds of the diverse socio-ecological system. Such development was also envisioned by stakeholders participating in the COASTAL project. The fact that species richness and abundance is higher from October to April, could prolong the touristic season and attract visitors outside the high touristic season (May-September), adding to the local economy. Income from eco-tourism could both be an income for the local community making them positive to conservation, and for funding some of the conservation. After all, the wetland has good accessibility, a road taking visitors around and into the lagoon, and the relatively small-sized area makes it possible to see many habitats and a large diversity of birds at close distance, without too much effort.

Short title (native language):

ΤΑ ΠΟΥΛΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΛΙΜΝΟΘΑΑΣΣΑΣ ΓΙΑΛΟΒΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΚΑΙΡΙΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ ΟΙΚΟ-ΤΟΥΡΙΣΜΟΥ

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Ο υγρότοπος της Γιάλοβας βρίσκεται στο νοτιοδυτικό τμήμα της Βαλκανικής, κατά μήκος μιας σημαντικής μεταναστευτικής οδού που ενώνει τη Μεσόγειο με τη Μαύρη Θάλασσα. Κατά την εαρινή μετανάστευση, ο υγρότοπος λειτουργεί ως ο πρώτος σταθμός για πολλά μεταναστευτικά πουλιά , ενώ κατά τη φθινοπωρινή ως ο τελευταίος πριν το ταξίδι τους πίσω στην Αφρική. Κατά την περίοδο Οκτωβρίου 2016 - Ιανουάριος 2019 καταγράφηκαν 149 είδη πτηνών, συμπεριλαμβανομένων 36 απειλούμενων ειδών σε ευρωπαϊκό και εθνικό επίπεδο. Η ανάπτυξη του οικο-τουρισμού (π.χ. παρακολούθηση των πτηνών) θα μπορούσε να υποστηρίξει τη διατήρηση της άγριας πανίδας, να ευαισθητοποιήσει τους ντόπιους και τους επισκέπτες και να ισχυροποιήσει τους δεσμούς μεταξύ κοινωνίας και φύσης. Μια τέτοια προοπτική αναφέρθηκε από αρκετούς συμμετέχοντες στα εργαστήρια που πραγματοποιήθηκαν στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος COASTAL. Το γεγονός ότι ο αριθμός των ειδών και οι πληθυσμοί τους είναι υψηλότερα κατά τη χειμερινή περίοδο (από Οκτώβριο έως Απρίλιο), θα μπορούσε να προσελκύσει επισκέπτες εκτός της υψηλής τουριστικής περιόδου (Μάιος-Σεπτέμβριος). Εξάλλου, ο υγρότοπος έχει καλή πρόσβαση, υπάρχει δρόμος που οδηγεί τους επισκέπτες γύρω και μέσα στη λιμνοθάλασσα ενώ εξαιτίας της μικρής της έκτασης είναι δυνατή η παρακολούθηση πολλών οικοτόπων και πτηνών από κοντινή απόσταση. Μια ενδεχόμενη παράταση της τουριστικής περιόδου βασισμένη σε εναλλακτικές μορφές τουρισμού θα είχε σημαντικά οφέλη για την τοπική οικονομία, ενώ μέρος των εσόδων θα μπορούσε να χρησιμοποιηθεί σε δράσεις διατήρησης και προστασίας του υγροτόπου.

Practice abstract 34

Short title (in English):

ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF GIALOVA LAGOON AND THE COASTAL WATER BODIES

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Land-sea interaction is an important factor to consider in coastal management activities. The Gialova lagoon and surrounding coastal waters in SW Greece are characterized by expanding coastal tourism and agricultural activities, the latter leading to hazardous by-products from olive oil production. The ecological quality status (ES) of coastal and transitional waters has become a priority issue after the legislative implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC). In order to assess the ES of the study area, benthic communities were sampled in Gialova lagoon and adjacent coastal waters. Concerning the ecological status, the lagoon stations are classified as “bad” or “poor”, whereas coastal stations are mostly classified as “good” or “high” ecological status. This could be an indication of agricultural waste run-off, which is in part buffered by the lagoon, which is a more vulnerable ecosystem due to its hydrological and geo-morphological characteristics.

Short title (native language):

Η ΟΙΚΟΛΟΓΙΚΉ ΚΑΤΆΣΤΑΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΛΙΜΝΟΘΆΛΑΣΣΑΣ ΓΙΆΛΟΒΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΠΑΡΆΚΤΙΩΝ ΥΔΆΤΩΝ

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Η αλληλεπίδραση ξηράς και θάλασσας αποτελεί σημαντικό παράγοντα που πρέπει να λαμβάνεται υπόψη στις δραστηριότητες διαχείρισης παράκτιων περιοχών. Η λιμνοθάλασσα της Γιάλοβας και τα παράκτια ύδατα της Νοτιοανατολικής Ελλάδας χαρακτηρίζονται από την αύξηση του παράκτιου τουρισμού καθώς και την εντατικοποίηση των γεωργικών δραστηριοτήτων, οι οποίες οδηγούν σε επικίνδυνα υποπροϊόντα από την παραγωγή ελαιολάδου. Η οικολογική ποιότητα των παράκτιων και μεταβατικών υδάτων αποτελεί ζήτημα προτεραιότητας για την εφαρμογή της ευρωπαϊκής οδηγίας πλαίσιο για τα ύδατα (WFD, 2000/60/ΕΚ). Προκειμένου να αξιολογηθεί η οικολογική ποιότητα των επιφανειακών υδάτων συλλεχθηκαν δείγματα στη λιμνοθάλασσα Γιάλοβα και τα παράκτια ύδατα της περιοχής μελέτης. Οι σταθμοί της λιμνοθάλασσας ταξινομήθηκαν σε «ελλιπή» ή «κακή» οικολογική κατάσταση, ενώ οι παράκτιοι σταθμοί ταξινομήθηκαν κυρίως σε «καλή» ή «υψηλή» οικολογική κατάσταση. Αυτό υποδεικνύει ότι η απορροή των γεωργικών αποβλήτων περιορίζεται εν μέρει από τη λιμνοθάλασσα, που παράλληλα αποτελεί πιο ευάλωτο οικοσύστημα λόγω των υδρολογικών και γεωμορφολογικών χαρακτηριστικών της.

Practice abstract 35

Short title (in English):

SW MESSINIA STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATORY WORKSHOPS

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

As part of the EU funded COASTAL project (https://h2020-coastal.eu) a series of sectoral and multi-sectoral workshops took place between June 2018 – June 2019 in Messinia, aiming to understand the underlying socio-ecological dynamics that put pressures on the ecosystem, which includes high natural value farmland and a coastal wetland that is part of the NATURA2000 network. This understanding is vital to create a mutual and comprehensive knowledge of the human-environment interactions, as stakeholders can bring useful insights and local knowledge on the components and interactions of the system. In addition, stakeholder participation increases the acceptability of regional planning and the effectiveness of management strategies, when planning for future uses that avoid conflicts and more pressures on the environment. In Messinia the workshops included olive farmers, fishers, olive mill owners, tourism industry, policymakers, NGOs and scientists. During these workshops, participants and scientists use mental maps and causal loop diagrams to co-create a system dynamics model of the area. During these, participants showed enthusiasm and were happy to be given the opportunity to discuss common issues within their sector and in many cases showed awareness of how their activities affected other sectors. Similar discussions have never happened before as it was pointed out. Agriculture and olive-oil production, and partly tourism were recognised as putting the higher pressures on the marine and coastal ecosystems while the overall feeling was that the lack of communication and cooperation, together with issues linked to the lack of education of the local population are major obstacles to advances in local economy.

Short title (native language):

ΝΔ ΜΕΣΣΗΝΊΑ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΟΧΙΚΆ ΕΡΓΑΣΤΉΡΙΑ ΕΝΔΙΑΦΕΡΌΜΕΝΩΝ ΜΕΡΏΝ

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Το διάστημα μεταξύ Ιούνιο 2018 - Ιούνιο 2019 πραγματοποιήθηκαν στην Μεσσηνία συμμετοχικά εργαστήρια με στόχο την κατανόηση των κοινωνικο-οικολογικών δυναμικών που δημιουργούν πιέσεις στα οικοσυστήματα της περιοχής. Η κατανόηση αυτή είναι σημαντική για την δημιουργία κοινής και ολοκληρωμένης γνώσης αναφορικά με την περιοχή και τις ανθρωπο-περιβαλλοντικές αλληλεπιδρασεις, αναγνωρίζοντας ότι οι τοπικοί παράγοντες μπορούν να προσφέρουν χρήσιμες πληροφορίες και τοπική γνώση στα χαρακτηριστικά και τις αλληλεπιδράσεις του συστήματος. Επιπλέον, η συμμετοχή τοπικών παραγόντων αυξάνει την αποδοχή των αποτελεσμάτων και την αποτελεσματικότητα των διαχειριστικών σχεδίων με στόχο των περιορισμό των συγκρούσεων και των πιέσεων στο περιβάλλον. Στη Μεσσηνία τα εργαστήρια συμπεριλάμβαναν τον αγροτικό τομέα, την αλιεία, τα ελαιουργεία, τον τουρισμό ΜΚΟ, αρμόδιους χάραξης πολιτικής και διοίκησης και επιστήμονες. Κατά τη διάρκεια αυτών οι συμμετέχοντες χρησιμοποίησαν νοητικούς χάρτες και διαγράμματα αιτιωδών βρόχων για να συν-δημιουργήσουν ένα δυναμικό μοντέλο του συστήματος της περιοχής. Οι συμμετέχοντες έδειξαν ενθουσιασμό και δήλωσαν ευχαριστημένοι που είχαν τη δυνατότητα να συνομιλήσουν για ζητήματα που αφορούν τον τομέα τους, ενώ σε πολλές περιπτώσεις έδειξαν πως αναγνωρίζουν τις επιπτώσεις των δραστηριοτήτων τους σε άλλους τομείς. Στις καλλιέργειες την παραγωγή ελαιολάδου, και λιγότερο στον τουρισμό αποδίδονται οι περισσότερες ευθύνες, από τους συμμετέχοντες για τις πιέσεις στα θαλάσσια και παράκτια οικοσυστήματα ενώ κυριάρχησε η αντίληψη πως η απουσία επικοινωνίας και συνεργασίας σε συνδυασμό με την έλλειψη παιδείας αποτελούν τα πιο σημαντικά εμπόδια στην εξέλιξη της τοπικής οικονομίας.

Practice abstract 36

Short title (in English):

STATUS OF THE SMALL RIVERS OF WEST MESSINIA

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

HCMR has conducted several sample campaigns in the small rivers of West Messinia between January 2018 and August 2019. Specifically, physicochemical parameters were measured nine times, while biological ones three times, all at twelve river sites in total, including the river outlets to the sea and upstream locations. According to the measured physicochemical data (88 samples in total), the physico-chemical water quality, which is based on a combination of the nutrient and dissolved oxygen (DO) water conditions, ranged between high and moderate, whereas the majority of the examined stations scored good (86.1%) and high (10.1%) quality. There was not any sample site with quality scores Poor and Bad. Even the score Moderate has been recorded only three times, once at each site (three sites), when high nutrient and low DO concentrations were recorded. The reason could not be identified with certainty, but this moderate status could be connected either with point or non-point pollution sources, such as wastes from olive oil mills, agrochemicals runoff, etc. On the other hand, the biological parameters, namely macroinvertebrates and diatoms, have indicated many river locations at poor or bad status, showing that aquatic life can be disturbed even under good physicochemical conditions of river waters. Overall, the physicochemical quality of the small rivers in West Messinia is not characterized by any important problems within the period Jan 2018 – Aug 2019, however, the biological quality was much poorer and has revealed the real, pressured conditions of the area due to the local human activities.

Short title (native language):

Η ΚΑΤΆΣΤΑΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΡΕΜΆΤΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΜΕΣΣΗΝΊΑΣ

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Το ΕΛΚΕΘΕ διενήργησε αρκετές δειγματοληψίες στα μικρά ποτάμια της Μεσσηνίας μεταξύ Ιανουαρίου 2018 και Αυγούστου 2019. Συγκεκριμένα, οι φυσικοχημικές παράμετροι μετρήθηκαν εννέα φορές, ενώ οι βιολογικές τρεις φορές, σε σύνολο δώδεκα συνολικά θέσεις ποταμών, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των εκβολών τους στη θάλασσα και ανάντη θέσεων. Σύμφωνα με τα μετρούμενα φυσικοχημικά δεδομένα (συνολικά 88 δείγματα), η φυσικοχημική ποιότητα του νερού, η οποία βασίζεται σε συνδυασμό οξυγόνωσης του νερού (διαλυμένο οξυγόνο - DO) και συγκέντρωσης θρεπτικών, κυμάνθηκε μεταξύ υψηλής και μέτριας κλάσης, ενώ η πλειοψηφία των σταθμών κυμάνθηκαν μεταξύ καλής (86,1%) και υψηλής (10,1%) ποιότητας. Δεν υπήρχε δείγμα με βαθμολογία ποιότητας φτωχή και κακή. Ακόμη και η μέτρια βαθμολογία καταγράφηκε μόνο τρεις φορές, μία ανά θέση (τρεις θέσεις), όταν καταγράφηκαν υψηλές συγκεντρώσεις θρεπτικών ουσιών και χαμηλές συγκεντρώσεις DO. Ο λόγος δεν μπόρεσε να προσδιοριστεί με βεβαιότητα αλλά θα μπορούσε να συνδεθεί είτε με σημειακές πηγές είτε με μη σημειακές πηγές ρύπανσης, όπως ελαιοτριβεία, απορροές αγροχημικών κ.λπ. Από την άλλη πλευρά, οι βιολογικές παραμέτροι, δηλαδή τα μακροασπόνδυλα και τα διάτομα έχουν καταδείξει πολλές τοποθεσίες ποταμών με φτωχή ή κακή κατάσταση, φανερώνοντας ότι η υδρόβια ζωή μπορεί να διαταραχθεί ακόμα και κάτω από καλές φυσικοχημικές συνθήκες των ποτάμιων υδάτων. Συνολικά, η φυσικοχημική ποιότητα των μικρών ποταμών στη Δυτική Μεσσηνία δεν χαρακτηρίζεται από σημαντικά προβλήματα κατά την περίοδο Ιανουαρίου 2018 - Αυγούστου 2019, ωστόσο, η βιολογική ποιότητα ήταν πολύ φτωχότερη και αποκάλυψε τις πραγματικές, πιεσμένες συνθήκες της περιοχής λόγω των τοπικών ανθρώπινων δραστηριοτήτων.

Practice abstract 37

Short title (in English):

Urban development planning for reduced greenhouse gas emissions: development of new model tools and application in Stockholm region

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Increased urbanization with more people moving into urban regions, going on globally and entailing changes in land use, which in turn affects the climate. However, how interaction between urbanization and residential behaviors affects greenhouse gas emissions is not part of the traditional calculations of greenhouse gas emissions. To be able to support relevant scenario analysis, community planning and regional development decisions with regard to urbanization and related changes in land use and climate impact, development and testing of new model tools is required. The new model links socio-economic and ecological aspects of urbanization processes and the changes in land use and greenhouse gas emissions that they lead to. The application to the Stockholm region is relevant and important as it is a region with a high population and an estimated population increase of about 50 percent from 2015 to 2050. Modeling different scenarios for such development enables better planning and more informed decisions to limit and reduce future climate emissions through appropriate choice of areas for increased development. One way to reduce the climate impact from urban development is to develop a policy in the region that will counteract the construction of large and sparsely built residential areas. The results show that limitation of buildings in zones that now constitute important carbon sinks, such as natural land and parks, can significantly reduce emissions (by more than 70 percent) compared to a scenario of unlimited urban distribution. The new model tool includes an interface for decision support and simplified communication of results for practical use of community planners, which can also be adapted to and used for other regions and cities.

Short title (native language):

Samhällsplanering för minskade klimatutsläpp: utveckling av modellverktyg och tillämpning på Region Stockholm

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

En ökad urbanisering med allt fler människor som flyttar in till stadsregioner, pågår globalt och innebär förändringar i markanvändning, vilket i sin tur påverkar klimatet. Hur urbaniseringen påverkar utsläppen av växthusgaser är dock inte en del av de traditionella beräkningarna av klimatutsläpp. För att kunna stödja relevant scenarioanalys, samhällsplanering och beslut om regional utveckling med hänsyn till urbanisering och relaterade förändringar i markanvändning och klimatpåverkan krävs utveckling och testning av nya modellverktyg. Den nya modellen kopplar ihop socioekonomiska och ekologiska aspekter av urbaniseringsprocesser och de förändringar i markanvändning och utsläpp av växthusgaser som de leder till. Tillämpningen på Region Stockholm är relevant och viktig då det är en region med hög inflyttning och en uppskattad befolkningsökning med cirka 50 procent från 2015 till 2050. Modellering av olika scenarier för sådan utveckling möjliggör bättre planering och mer underbyggda beslut för att begränsa och minska framtida klimatutsläpp genom lämpliga val av områden för ökad bebyggelse. Resultaten visar att begränsning av bebyggelse i zoner som nu utgör viktiga kolsänkor, som naturmark och parker, kan minska utsläppsökningen betydligt (med över 70 procent) jämfört med ett scenario av obegränsad urban utbredning. Det nya modellverktyget inkluderar ett gränssnitt för beslutsstöd och förenklad kommunikation av resultat för praktisk användning av samhällsplanerare, som också kan anpassas till och användas för andra regioner och städer.

Practice abstract 38

Short title (in English):

Land-Sea interactions in the coastal-marine system of the Baltic Sea

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Both nutrient loads from land to coast, and coastal-marine flows and interaction dynamics on the sea side of coastal areas need to be accounted for, in order to understand the possible evolution and fate of coastal water quality and ecosystem status. This has been done in this study, comparatively for different hydro-climatic and Baltic coast conditions. Source conditions for coastal nutrient loads from Swedish catchments are identified as dominated by legacy sources, still remaining in the subsurface from previous/historic source inputs at the surface. Concentration levels in Swedish discharges to the coast show an expected pattern of increase from the northern, sparsely populated parts of Sweden to the southern, more densely populated parts that also have more extensive agriculture. Under different hydro-climatic conditions, the Baltic Sea itself has a stable flow structure in terms of flux directions between marine basins, but flux magnitudes change, in particular with changing wind conditions. The spreading patterns of solute (tracer, nutrient, pollutant) inputs from different land catchments into the Baltic Sea are mainly determined by the input amounts and not by specific local coastal flow conditions. Open sea conditions, and not just inputs from land, also greatly influence coastal water quality and ecosystem status. Overall, drier-colder hydro-climatic conditions (the opposite to projected forthcoming Baltic change) would be better for higher efficiency of various measures to improve these coastal conditions.

Short title (native language):

Land och hav interaktioner i Östersjöns kust- och havssystem

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Både näringsbelastningar från land till kust, och dynamiken i flöden och interaktioner mellan kust och hav behöver tas hänsyn till för att bättre förstå möjliga utvecklingsscenarier för kvalitet och ekosystemstatus i kustområden. Det har gjorts i denna studie, som också jämför olika klimatförhållanden och kustområden runt Östersjön. Näringsbelastningar från land längs svenska kusten har identifierats som främst dominerade av ärvda källor, som kvarstår i mark och grundvatten från tidigare/historiska källor på ytan. Koncentrationsnivåerna i svenska utsläpp till kusten visar ett förväntat ökningsmönster från de nordliga, glest befolkade delarna av Sverige till de södra, tätare befolkade delarna, som också har mer omfattande jordbruk. Under olika hydroklimat-förhållanden har Östersjön en stabil flödesstruktur i termer av flödesriktningar mellan marina bassänger, men flödesmängderna förändras, särskilt med förändrade vindförhållanden. Spridningsmönstren för utsläpp av ämnen (näringsämnen, föroreningar) från olika kustområden in till öppna havet bestäms huvudsakligen av utsläppsmängderna och inte av specifika lokala kustflödesförhållanden. Förhållandena i öppna havet - och inte bara belastningarna från land - påverkar till stor grad kusternas vattenkvalitet och ekosystemstatus. Torrare och kallare förhållanden (motsatta till förväntade förändringar i Östersjöregionen) skulle generellt vara bättre för högre effektivitet i åtgärder för att förbättra dessa kustförhållanden.

Practice abstract 39

Short title (in English):

Case study Framework agreement Oudlandpolder Belgium

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Oudlandpolder is a clearly demarcated polder area between Ostend, Blankenberg and Bruges. A Framework Agreement has been signed by 20 partners, and the aim is to enable more differentiated and climate-proof water management in the area. The operationalisation of the framework agreement takes place through the establishment of a land development project "Oudlandpolder" and the aim is to arrive at an easily manageable water model for the entire Oudlandpolder.
The framework agreement "Oudlandpolder" makes implementation-oriented agreements with regard to:
- further hydrological compartmentalisation of the polder, enabling more area-oriented water management;
- agreeing a more flexible and more area-specific water level management;
- the demarcation and realisation of natural and agricultural structure;
- the realisation of more storage capacity;
- the preservation of discharge possibilities at sea and this in coordination with the needs for coastal defence;
- the phasing of implementation.
This will be taken into account:
- The prioritisation of water use by the various users: water extraction, agriculture, nature, population, tourism, industry, etc.
- With the demand for more climate robustness for the Oudlandpolder due to drought/high water discharge, more intense rain showers.
In the COASTAL project (https://h2020-coastal.eu/) different policy options will be evaluated with the use of systems dynamic modelling.

Short title (native language):

Case study Raamakkoord Oudlandpolder België

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

De Oudlandpolder is een duidelijk afgebakend polder gebied tussen Oostende, Blankenberge en Brugge. Als polder vormt het een mooi voorbeeld van interacties tussen land en zee. Met het Raamakkoord ondertekend door 20 partners is het de bedoeling een meer gedifferentieerd en klimaatrobuust waterbeheer in de Oudlandpolder mogelijk te maken. De operationalisering van het raamakkoord gebeurt via de instelling van een landinrichtingsproject “Oudlandpolder” en het doel is te komen tot een goed beheersbaar watermodel voor geheel de polder.
Het raamakkoord Oudlandpolder maakt uitvoeringsgerichte afspraken m.b.t.:
•hydrologische compartimentering van de polder waardoor een meer gebiedsgericht waterbeheer mogelijk wordt;
•het afspreken van een meer flexibel en gebied specifiek waterpeilpeilbeheer;
• de afbakening én realisatie van natuurlijke en agrarische structuur;
• het realisaren van meer bergingscapaciteit;
• het behoud van de lozingsmogelijkheden op zee en dat in afstemming met de noden voor de kustverdediging;
• de fasering van de uitvoering.
Waarbij rekening gehouden wordt:
- de prioritering van het watergebruik door de verschillende gebruikers: waterwinning, landbouw, natuur, bevolking, toerisme, industrie, etc.
- de vraag naar meer klimaatrobuustheid voor de Oudlandpolder i.v.m. droogte/hoogwaterafvoer, intensere regenbuien
Binnen het COASTAL project (h2020-coastal.eu) worden de verschillende beleidsopties voor het gebied geëvalueerd met behulp van een systeemdynamisch model.

Practice abstract 40

Short title (in English):

Maritime innovation and development platform Blue Accelerator

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Blue Accelerator is an offshore maritime platform and test site of the Regional Development Agency West Flanders (POM West Flanders, Belgium) for blue economy research, development and innovation projects. Located at 500m off the port of Ostend, this offshore platform allows companies, organisations and knowledge institutions to organise a broad range of tests in real life sea conditions. Since March 2020, it is open for testing. Blue Accelerator consists of a monopile with a powerhouse on top, and a surrounding seabed test area of 220 m around the platform. The test platform allows testing above, on and under water. Potential cases include wave energy testing, materials testing, autonomous underwater vehicles, drones and robotics, offshore marine aquaculture and algae, ocean observation. The first use of Blue Accelerator is the testing of the prototype wave energy converter by the German developer NEMOS GmbH. Blue Accelerator offers fast and easy access from the port of Ostend, is a pre-approved test facility which is embedded in a large blue growth network consisting of industry, academics and government. In this way it connects directly to the economic onshore and offshore activities in the region and ensures further development of a knowledge economy at sea. POM West Flanders offers customised support for funding, consenting and advice for tests. Blue Accelerator was realised with the support of the European Union (ERDF), Flanders and the Province of West Flanders.

Short title (native language):

Maritiem innovatie- en ontwikkelingsplatform Blue Accelerator

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Blue Accelerator is een offshore maritiem innovatie- en ontwikkelingsplatform en testsite van de Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij West-Vlaanderen (POM West-Vlaanderen, België) voor onderzoeks-, ontwikkelings- en innovatieprojecten in de blauwe economie. Gelegen op 500m van de haven van Oostende biedt dit offshore testplatform aan bedrijven en kennisinstellingen de mogelijkheid een ruim scala aan testen in zeecondities uit te voeren. Blue Accelerator is open sinds maart 2020.
Blue Accelerator bestaat uit een monopile met powerhouse en een omliggende testzone van 220m. Het testplatform maakt testen boven, op en onder water mogelijk. Potentiële testen zijn golfenergietests, materiaaltesten, autonome onderwatervoertuigen, drones en robotica, offshore mariene aquaculture, oceaanobservatie,… De eerste test op Blue Accelerator een prototype golfenergieconverter van de Duitse ontwikkelaar NEMOS GmbH.
Blue Accelerator biedt een snelle toegang vanuit de haven van Oostende, is een vooraf reeds vergunde testfaciliteit, die ingebed is in een groot bluegrowth-netwerk. Op deze manier zorgt het voor een meerwaarde voor de onshore en offshore economische activiteiten in de regio en helpt het bij de uitbouw van een marine kenniseconomie. POM West-Vlaanderen biedt bovendien ondersteuning op maat voor financiering, vergunningen, advies en ondersteuning van testen.
Blue Accelerator werd gerealiseerd met steun van de Europese Unie (EFRO), Vlaanderen en de Provincie West-Vlaanderen.

Practice abstract 41

Short title (in English):

Use of bioreactors with wood for denitrification of brine in the field of Cartagena

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

This summary compiles the information obtained in various tests on brine denitrification from desalination plants using the system of wooden bioreactors set up by the Chair of Sustainable Agriculture of the Campo de Cartagena and the Task Force for Innovation in Irrigation Water Quality and Environmental Sustainability (AGUAINNOVA).
The system of bioreactors with biomass for denitrification is based on using wood chips or other low-cost ligno-cellulosic materials from the rejection of other activities (straw, cobs, husks, pruning remains, etc.) as a source of carbon so that the microorganisms can complete the denitrification in a container in which the brine is kept stagnant for a long enough time. The supply of carbon facilitates aerobic microbial respiration, which causes a decrease in the level of dissolved oxygen and activates the facultative anaerobic microorganisms, which, as they do not have sufficient oxygen, use nitrate (NO3-) as an electron-acceptor source, transforming it into N2 through the denitrification process.
After laboratory tests with different substrates for denitrification in bioreactors using carob pulp, olive pits, almond shells and citrus chips, two larger scale tests were designed.
The results obtained allow us to conclude that wooden bioreactors are a very efficient and sustainable system for the denitrification at source of brine in the Campo de Cartagena with retention times of only 24 hours and denitrification of 89%.
It is concluded that it is also necessary to implement an experimentation phase with this type of bioreactors in different farms with authorized wells that extract different flows and types of brine (with different salinity and nitrate concentration).

Short title (native language):

UTILIZACIÓN DE BIORREACTORES CON MADERA PARA DESNITRIFICACIÓN DE SALMUERAS EN EL CAMPO DE CARTAGENA

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

En este resumen se recopila la información obtenida en diversos ensayos de desnitrificación de salmuera de plantas desalinizadoras mediante el sistema de biorreactores de madera establecido por la Cátedra de Agricultura Sostenible del Campo de Cartagena y el Grupo de Trabajo para la Innovación en la Calidad del Agua de Riego y la Sostenibilidad Ambiental (AGUAINNOVA).
El sistema de biorreactores con biomasa para la desnitrificación se basa en la utilización de astillas de madera u otros materiales lignocelulósicos de bajo coste (paja, mazorcas, cáscaras, restos de poda, etc.) como fuente de carbono para que los microorganismos completen la desnitrificación en un recipiente en el que la salmuera se mantiene estancada durante tiempo suficiente. El suministro de carbono facilita la respiración microbiana aeróbica, y provoca una disminución del nivel de oxígeno disuelto y activa los microorganismos anaeróbicos facultativos que, al no tener suficiente oxígeno, utilizan el nitrato (NO3-) como fuente receptora de electrones, transformándolo en N2 mediante el proceso de desnitrificación.
Después de pruebas de laboratorio se diseñaron dos pruebas a mayor escala.
Los resultados obtenidos permiten concluir que los biorreactores de madera son un sistema muy eficiente y sostenible para la desnitrificación en origen de salmuera en el Campo de Cartagena con tiempos de retención de sólo 24 horas y una desnitrificación del 89%.
Se concluye que también es necesario implementar una fase de experimentación con este tipo de biorreactores en diferentes fincas con pozos autorizados que extraen diferentes caudales y tipos de salmuera (con diferente salinidad y concentración de nitratos).

Practice abstract 42

Short title (in English):

Conservation and revaluation of traditional salt-pans to protect ecosystem services

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

For centuries, salt extraction has been carried out in the salt-pans of San Pedro in South-eastern Spain. Its exploitation has undergone a profound change throughout history, considering its production, processing and marketing methods, resulting in an "artificial" ecosystem with great ecological value. This has resulted the protection of the territory according to different figures of regional, European and international category and made the saline activity essential for the sustainability of the ecosystem. The exploitation directly employs about 55 people and the average annual salt production can exceed 80,000Tn. LIFE-SALINAS seeks to improve the conservation of present species of fauna (e.g. Audouin's Gull) and habitats considered a priority in the EU (Mediterranean salt steppes) and to protect ecosystem services and increase the quality and production of salt through preparatory (e.g. voluntary agreements for the Custody of the Territory) and conservation actions: 1) increase the number of separation canals between salt ponds to give shelter to bird species during nesting and breeding, and resulting in the improvement of salt production; 2) the creation of a natural pond for the benefit of an endangered fish species, indicator of water quality; 3) the conservation and containment of the coastal dune by depositing dry organic matter of marine origin and planting typical dune species to help preventing sea water intrusions into the salines during storms; 4) monitoring the increase in salt productivity and the number of species; 5) dissemination of results to increase public awareness and valorisation of the salt-pans using product certification and quality labels.

Short title (native language):

Conservación y revalorización de salinas tradicionales para proteger servicios ecosistémicos.

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Desde hace siglos se realiza la extracción de sal en las salinas de San Pedro en el sureste de España. Su explotación ha experimentado un profundo cambio a lo largo de la historia en sus métodos de producción, procesado y comercialización que ha formado un ecosistema ‘artificial’ con un gran valor ecológico, que ha merecido la protección del territorio según distintas figuras de categoría regional, europea e internacional y que convierten a la actividad salinera en esencial para la sostenibilidad del ecosistema. La explotación emplea de manera directa a unas 55 personas y la producción media anual de sal puede superar las 80.000Tn. El LIFE-SALINAS busca mejorar la conservación de especies presentes de fauna (p.e. Gaviota de Audouin) y hábitats considerados prioritarios en la UE (estepas salinas mediterráneas) y poner en valor los servicios ecosistémicos además de aumentar calidad y producción de sal mediante acciones preparatorias (p.e. acuerdos voluntarios de Custodia del Territorio) y acciones de conservación: 1) incremento del número de motas (canales de separación entre balsas salineras) diseñadas para albergar durante la nidificación y cría especies de aves protegidas, resultando además en mejorar la producción de sal; 2) mejora del ciclo del agua en una charca natural para beneficio de un pez en peligro de extinción e indicador de la calidad del agua; 3) actuaciones para la contención de la duna costera, colocando materia vegetal de origen marino y plantando especies típicas de la duna, evitando así la entrada de agua de mar a las salinas ante fuertes temporales, 4) seguimiento del aumento de productividad de sal y del número de especies; 5) difusión de resultados para mayor sensibilización pública y puesta en valor con un sello de calidad.

Practice abstract 43

Short title (in English):

Effectiveness of land, coast, and sea-based nutrient management measures for improving coastal water quality and ecosystem status

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Increasing pressures from human activities decrease coastal water quality through increased amounts of, for example, nutrients, heavy metals, micro-plastics, antibiotics in the water and sediments. Achievement of good coastal water quality and ecosystem status, to comply with current environmental policies, requires more effective nutrient and pollutant management, considering a range of possible measures, e.g., in agriculture, wastewater treatment plants, fisheries, and other sectors on land, the coast, and in the open sea. These considerations also need to account for climate change and its effects on measure effectiveness. A recent study has simulated effects of different combinations of nutrient mitigation measures, under different climatic conditions, on the quality and ecosystem status in the Baltic waters of the MAL3 case. Results show that, at recent average hydro-climatic conditions, land-based measures that can considerably reduce nutrient loads to the coast from its local land catchment can substantially improve coastal water quality and ecosystem status. However, the effectiveness of such local land-based measures decreases with projected wetter and warmer climate conditions. This implies that a combination with sea-based measures of nutrient management is needed for robust and sustainable coastal improvements. The sea-based management measures involve reductions of nutrient loads from the large-scale land catchment of the whole Baltic Sea, and not just in the particular local land catchment of the considered coastal zone. These findings highlight essential multi-scale land and sea influences, challenging a simplistic local source-to-coast view of how to improve local coastal conditions.

Short title (native language):

Mark-, kust- och havsbaserade åtgärders effektivitet för minskning av närsalter och förbättring av kvalitet och ekosystemstatus i kustvatten

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Ökande belastning från mänskliga aktiviteter försämrar kustvattnets kvalitet genom att öka mängderna av, exempelvis, närsalter, tungmetaller, mikroplaster och antibiotika i vatten och sediment. För att uppnå god kvalitet och ekologisk status i våra kustvatten, i enlighet med gällande miljöpolicy, krävs effektivare hantering och kontroll av närsalts- och föroreningsbelastningarna, genom olika möjliga åtgärder i, t.ex. jordbruk, avloppsreningsverk, fiske och andra sektorer på land, i själva kusten och i det öppna havet. Val av åtgärdskombinationer måste också ta hänsyn till klimatförändringar och deras möjliga effekter på åtgärdernas effektivitet. Den nya studie som sammanfattas här har simulerat effekter av olika åtgärdskombinationer för närsaltsminskning, under olika klimatförhållanden, för kvalitet och ekologisk status i Östersjöns kustvatten inom MAL3-fallet. Resultaten visar att landbaserade åtgärder som kan betydligt minska både kväve- och fosforbelastning på kusten från dess lokala avrinningsområde kan väsentligt förbättra kustvattnets kvalitet och ekologiska status. Effektiviteten av sådana lokala landåtgärder minskar dock med våtare och varmare klimatförhållanden, som förväntas framöver. Det betyder att havsbaserade åtgärder också krävs för robust och hållbar förbättring av kustförhållandena. Havsbaserade åtgärder involverar och kräver samordnad minskning av närsaltsbelastningar från Östersjöns hela avrinningsområde och inte bara från den studerade kustzonens egna lokala avrinningsområde. Detta belyser och betonar väsentliga influenser i flera skalor från land och hav och utmanar en förenklad lokal källa-till-kust-syn på hur man kan förbättra lokala kustförhållanden.

Practice abstract 44

Short title (in English):

Projecting the decommissioning impact for offshore wind parks

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Belgian part of the North Sea is a densely used space, combining functions ranging from sea transport, fisheries, energy production, recreation, and nature to sand mining. The port of Ostend plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of offshore wind parks, contributing to the achievement of climate neutrality by the year 2050 as part of the EU Green Deal. Current offshore wind turbines have an operational lifetime of typically 20 years, with the first park having been installed in 2009. At the end of their lifetime, wind turbines need to be decommissioned, which is a complex process involving engineering, economic, regulatory, and infrastructural aspects. Simultaneously, decommissioning is an opportunity for regional development and employment. Services, skilled labor, and port infrastructure need to be adapted to handle the decommissioning challenges. By tackling these challenges, the port of Ostend aims to consolidate its key role in the offshore energy economy. An important factor in achieving this is to consider the impact of decommissioning the offshore wind parks. To assess this impact, local COASTAL partners developed a pilot model for forecasting the decommissioning rate, land use, infrastructural needs, and many more, until 2050. This model will serve as a basis for adding the operational, economic, and infrastructure aspects related to port activities demonstrating the strong interaction between land- and sea-based activities.

Short title (native language):

Voorspelling van de impact van de ontmanteling van offshore windparken

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

De Belgische Noordzee is een dichtbezette ruimte, die functies combineert van zeetransport, visserij, energieproductie, recreatie en natuur tot zandwinning. De haven van Oostende speelt een cruciale rol in de ontwikkeling en het onderhoud van offshore windparken en draagt zo bij tot het bereiken van klimaatneutraliteit tegen het jaar 2050 in het kader van de EU Green Deal. De huidige windturbines hebben een operationele levensduur van typisch 20 jaar, waarbij het eerste park werd in 2009 geïnstalleerd. Op het einde van hun levensduur moeten de windturbines worden ontmanteld wat een complex proces is, waarbij technische, economische, regelgevende en infrastructurele aspecten een rol spelen. Tegelijkertijd is deze ontmanteling een kans voor regionale ontwikkeling en tewerkstelling. Diensten, geschoolde arbeidskrachten en haveninfrastructuur moeten worden aangepast om de uitdagingen van de ontmanteling aan te kunnen. Door bij te dragen aan de aanpak van deze ontmantelinguitdagingen zal de haven van Oostende haar rol consolideren. Een belangrijke factor hierbij is om de impact van de ontmantelingsactiviteiten na te gaan. Hiervoor ontwikkelen de lokale COASTAL partners een testmodel die zal toelaten het tempo van ontmanteling, het landgebruik, de infrastructurele behoeften en nog veel meer, tot 2050. Dit model zal als basis zal dienen voor het toevoegen van de operationele, economische en infrastructurele aspecten in verband met havenactiviteiten, een demonstratie van de sterke relatie tussen activiteiten aan land en op zee.

Practice abstract 45

Short title (in English):

The development of the pilot system dynamics model for coastal-rural interactions – Danube’s mouths - Black sea case study

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Four collaborative workshops were organized by NIMRD during October 2018 - September 2019, focusing on Blue Growth (industry, transport and administration), Tourism and Fisheries&Aquaculture. In Constanta, the workshops included the municipalities from the Constanta and Tulcea counties, entrepreneurs, fishery farmers, tourism industry, NGO’s and academia. The participants showed high enthusiasm to give the possibility to discuss common issues like Agriculture, Fishery (freshwater and marine), Tourism, Rural development, and how their activities could impact the quality of the coastal waters. One of the strategic objectives of the Danube Delta Strategy is to keep the unique natural values through an environmental management guided by science and strengthening local communities in the role their proactive protectors of this unique world heritage. During workshops, participants and scientists use mental maps and causal loop diagrams to co-create a pilot system dynamic model, with the scope of maintaining natural capital (water quality, biodiversity) as both a provider of economic inputs and outputs. Therefore, we focused on five sub models: agriculture, freshwater and marine fishery, rural and coastal tourism, rural development in connection with a new sub model Ecosystem management.
Taking in view that approximately 65% of the Romanian coastline is in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve it is subject to legislative regulations, resulting in conflicts between nature conservation and economic development. Failing to resolve these conflicts has economic and political impacts, which calls for urgent co-creation effort between scientists and stakeholders acting in the Romanian Black Sea coastal zone-Danube Delta area.

Short title (native language):

Dezvoltarea unui model dinamic pilot privind interacțiunile dintre zonele rurale și costiere - studiu de caz gurile Dunării – Marea Neagră

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Patru workshop-uri au fost organizate în perioada octombrie 2018 - septembrie 2019, axate pe domenii de activitate: Creșterea albastră (industrie, transport, administrație), Turism și Pescuit și acvacultură. La întâlnirile organizate în Constanța au participat reprezentantii municipalităților din Constanța și Tulcea, antreprenori, fermieri, industria turismului, ONG-uri, mediul academic. Participanții au arătat entuziasm in discutiile privind abordarea unor probleme comune: Agricultura, Pescuitul (apă dulce și marin), Turism, Dezvoltare rurală și gestionarea ecosistemelor, și modul în care poate fi afectată calitatea apelor costiere. Un obiectiv strategic al Strategiei Deltei Dunării este păstrarea valorilor naturale printr-un management de mediu ghidat de știință și prin consolidarea comunităților locale. În cadrul workshop-urilor s-au utilizat hărți mentale și diagrame cauzale (CLD) in procesul de co-creare a modelului dinamic pilot privind interactiunile dintre zonele rurale si costiere. Pentru menținerea capitalului natural, dar si dezvoltarea economica au fost utilizate cinci sub-modele ale sectoarelor: agricultură, pescuit în apă dulce și marin, turism rural și costier, dezvoltare rurală, în conexiune cu un nou sub-model managementul ecosistemelor.
Având în vedere că aproximativ 65% din litoralul românesc se află în Rezervația Biosferei Delta Dunării făcând obiectul unor reglementări legislative, poate duce la conflicte între conservarea patrimoniului natural și dezvoltarea economică. Eșecul soluționării conflictelor are impact economic și politic, si necesită eforturi urgente ale oamenilor de știință și părților interesate care acționează în zona de coastă a Mării Negre si Deltei Dunării.

Practice abstract 46

Short title (in English):

Towards sustainable and innovative agriculture in the Charente river basin and adjoining coastal zone

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The MAL4 territory is home to a wide range of agricultural activities, which together cover some 70% of its surface area. To the northwest, integrated crop-livestock farming systems now account for less than a third of all farming. Further south, an increase in Cognac vineyards is affecting water quality through pesticide use. In the west and the east, extensive livestock breeding and associated pastures contribute positively. Land pressure, coupled with difficulties in transferring farms to future generations and farmers entering retirement, means that coastal wastelands and land-use changes could increase. Development of sustainable agriculture would be in synergy with a better-protected water resource: replacing intensive irrigation systems with diversified systems and improved practices; sustainable livestock breeding activities; ensuring at least 30% organic farming in the area. The current changes (30% farms) are positive and must be encouraged. Organic farming is developing strongly. This new agriculture adapts to climate change and is founded on demand for quality local produce. It also involves the relocation of processing sites and creating new supply chains, which brings its own added value. Such changes will also call on local authorities and policy-makers to be innovative in terms of economic and legal measures to promote a dynamic rural economy, generating jobs and supporting rural tourism and ports, and a collective management of water resources.

Short title (native language):

Vers une agriculture durable et innovante dans le bassin de la Charente et sa zone cotiere

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

L’agriculture est une activité économique majeure et occupe plus de 70 % du territoire. Au nord-ouest, les systèmes de polyculture-élevage représentent maintenant moins d’un tiers des agriculteurs. Au sud, l’expansion du vignoble du Cognac impacte fortement la qualité de l’eau (pesticides). A l’ouest comme à l’est, les élevages extensifs et les prairies associées sont un facteur positif. La forte pression foncière et les difficultés de transmission, accentués par les départs en retraite des agriculteurs, risquent de développer les friches côtières et les changements de destination. Le développement d’une agriculture durable est en synergie avec la protection de la ressource en eau : par une évolution des systèmes intensifs irrigués vers des systèmes diversifiés et une amélioration des pratiques, par le maintien de l’élevage et le développement de l’agriculture biologique jusqu’au moins 30% de la surface agricole. Aujourd’hui 30% des exploitations évoluent positivement et le taux de conversion à l’agriculture biologique est élevé. Cette nouvelle agriculture s’adapte au changement climatique et s’appuie sur la demande sociale en produits locaux de qualité et sur la création de filières locales avec de la valeur ajoutée. Des innovations techniques, économiques et réglementaires sont attendues pour favoriser le maintien d’un tissu rural dynamique créateur d’emplois, en lien avec le tourisme rural et les activités portuaires, ainsi qu’une gestion collective de la ressource en eau.

Practice abstract 47

Short title (in English):

Protection of the water resources and water uses in the Charente river basin and its coastal zone

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

In the Charente watershed and adjoining coastal zone, competition between water uses is becoming ever more apparent. French regulations already apply a defined hierarchy to these uses: 1) civil security and drinking water, 2) Ecosystems and water resource protection, and 3) Professional users. Currently, only the first-mentioned use would appear to have adequate access to water resources. For the other two, negotiations are required between stakeholders, who, faced with climate change and evolution of uses, find themselves obliged to:
-Uplift water when the regulations consider there is an excess, and store that water for use at a later date;
-Change their consumption habits to reduce the amount needing to be uplifted.
These two constraints can have different effects depending on the uses:
-For shellfish farming, the aims are to negotiate an appropriate amount of fresh water into the coastal zone to protect ecosystems and to adapt breeding density by a reduction in volumes or by moving some sites elsewhere.
-For agriculture, the aim is to use collective management to better regulate water quantity, thus helping to maintain a variety of farming activities, while also regaining control of water quality by encouraging a move to a more sustainable farming model.
-Tourist sites need to adapt the number of guests they can accept to better manage demand for drinking water and, in turn, the amount of water being uplifted from the water table.

Short title (native language):

Protection et usages de l’eau dans le bassin de la Charente et sa zone côtière

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Sur le Bassin Versant de la Charente et sa zone littorale associée, les concurrences entre usages se matérialisent dans les questions de quantité et de qualité d'eau. La réglementation hiérarchise ces usages : 1/ sécurité civile et eau potable, 2/ milieux aquatiques 3/ usages économiques. A l'évidence, Seul le premier point est satisfait, les deux autres faisant l'objet de conciliations entre acteurs, qui sous la contrainte du changement climatique et des variations du climat sont contraints à:
-Prélever de l'eau lorsqu'elle peut être considérée en excès et la stocker pour une utilisation décalée dans le temps.
-Changer les modalités d'usage pour diminuer les besoins et donc les prélèvements.
Ces deux préconisations peuvent s'appliquer différemment suivant les usages:
-Pour la conchyliculture, les objectifs sont d’une part d’obtenir par la négociation des apports d’eau douce visant au bon état des milieux aquatiques et d’autre part d’adapter les densités d’élevage par leur diminution ou par la délocalisation de certains.
-Pour l’agriculture, l’objectif est, par une gestion plus collective et intégrée, de gérer les quantités d’eau pour maintenir des productions alimentaires diversifiées et reconquérir la qualité de l’eau en amplifiant la transition agro-écologique des systèmes agraires du bassin.
-Pour le tourisme, la capacité d'accueil des sites doit permettre de contrôler la demande en eau potable et ainsi les prélèvements sur les nappes.

Practice abstract 48

Short title (in English):

Structure of agricultural production in Romania’s coastal area – Case study Tulcea County

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The economic development of Tulcea County is strongly influenced by the existence within the region of the Danube Delta Nature Reserve. Agriculture is an important source of income for the rural community in the region. However, the agricultural sector must comply with the environmental restrictions imposed by the legislation in force on protected areas. Knowledge on the structure of agricultural production will be used for predicting the effects of agricultural activities towards the case study area. In the last 30 years, the vegetable sector is characterized by extensive production systems, dominated by cereal cultivation. In Tulcea County, the evolution of cultivated area in the last three decades registered the lowest level in 2007 and the highest in 2012. In 2019, the cultivated area decreased by 5.06% compared to the level of 1990. In the structure of cultivated areas, in 2019, the largest share is held by cereals (167 thousand ha) and oilseeds (73 thousand ha). The average of the last three decades was 161 thousand ha of cereals and 65 thousand ha of oil plants. In the early 1990s, there were areas cultivated with tobacco and sugar beet, but these crops have been permanently abandoned since 1996. In 2019, the livestock was mainly represented by poultry (541 thousand heads), the average number between 1990-2019 being 964 thousand heads, and sheep (345 thousand heads), with an average of 307 thousand heads. In the same period, there was an increase in the goat herds, currently reaching over 83 thousand heads, the average being 48 thousand heads, after a strong decline in 2001 (29 thousand heads). It should be noted the drastic decrease in the number of pigs, due to the African swine fever: from 95 thousand heads in 2017 to 13 thousand heads in 2019.

Short title (native language):

Structura activităților agricole în județul Tulcea, România

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Dezvoltarea economică a județulului Tulcea, este puternic influențată de existența în imediata vecinătate a Rezervației Naturale Delta Dunării. Activitățile agricole generează venituri importante pentru comunitatea rurală din regiune. Sectorul agricol trebuie însa să respecte restricțiile de mediu impuse de legislația în vigoare cu privire la ariile protejate. Datele privind dinamica structurii productiei agricole din regiune vor fi utilizate pentru evaluarea efectelor activitatii agricole asupra dezvoltarii regiunii. În ultimii 30 de ani, sectorul vegetal a fost caracterizat prin sisteme de producție extinse, dominate de cultivarea cerealelor. În județul Tulcea, evoluția suprafeței cultivate a înregsitrat cel mai scăzut nivel în 2007 și cel mai ridicat în 2012. În 2019, suprafața cultivată a scăzut cu 5.06% față de nivelul din 1990. În structura suprafețelor cultivate, în anul 2019, ponderea cea mai mare este deținută de culturile de cereale (167 mii ha) si plante oleaginoase (73 ha). Media ultimelor 3 decade a fost de 161 mii ha cereale si 65 mii ha plante oleaginoase. La începutul anilor 90, au existat suprafețe cultivate cu tutun și sfeclă de zahăr, dar aceste culturi au fost abandonate definitiv, începând cu anul 1996. În 2019, sectorul zootehnic este reprezentat în primul rând prin efectivele de păsări (541 mii), media 1990-2019 fiind de 964 mii, si ovine (345 mii capete) respectiv media 307 mii. În aceeași perioadă a existat o tendință ascendentă a efectivelor de caprine, 83 mii de capete in 2019, după o perioadă de declin înregistrată în 2001 (29 mii de capete). De remarcat scăderea drastică a efectivului de porci, datorită pestei porcine africane, de la peste 95 mii de capete in 2017 la 13 mii de capete in 2019.

Practice abstract 49

Short title (in English):

Pilot system dynamics model for land-sea interactions in for Danube mouths region

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The conclusions of all COASTAL participatory workshops organized with Romanian Stakeholders of coastal rural area were in line with the 2030 vision for Danube Delta “An attractive area where people live in harmony with nature, integrating economies of tourism, farming and fishery”.
The goal of the model that will be developed for Romanian coastal area is to explore alternative scenarios to improve the quality of life and sustainability within Danube Delta Biosphere reserve and its marine waters (Black Sea) as one of the most impacted area along the Romanian littoral.
The land-sea interactions that are considered in the model are defined by the ecosystem-based management approach:
• Improve the sustainability of the area. Setting up coherent regulatory framework (legislation) on development strategies for land (agriculture, rural development, freshwater fisheries, tourism) and marine (fishery and aquaculture) activities will lead to proper implementation of ecosystem-based management principles.
• Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate change. As the Danube’s discharge receiver, the Black Sea is impacted by increased discharge of freshwater and pollutants (from agriculture and inadequate infrastructure of rural development) and seawater temperature increase (marine fishery).
• Use of Knowledge to improve sustainability and climate change impacts in the area- Education, training, and research at different levels – workforce, economic activities development, environmental monitoring, scientific research.

Short title (native language):

Model de simulare dinamică a interacțiunilor între uscat și mare, în regiunea Dunării

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Concluziile intâlnirilor cu stakeholderii, organizate în cadrul proiectului COASTAL au fost în concordanță cu viziunea pentru regiunea Delta Dunării (2030), definită ca ”o zonă atractivă, unde oamenii trăiesc în armonie cu natura; integrarea economiilor turismului, agricole și piscicole ”.
Scopul modelului care va fi dezvoltat pentru zona de coastă a României îl reprezintă explorarea unor scenarii alternative pentru îmbunătățirea calității vieții și a durabilității în regiunea analizată.
Interacțiunile dintre zona maritima si uscat avute în vedere, au fost definite astfel:
• Îmbunătățirea durabilității zonei. Stabilirea unui cadru legislativ coerent privind strategiile de dezvoltare pentru activitățile desfășurate pe uscat (agricultură, dezvoltare rurală, pescuit în apă dulce, turism) și în zona maritimă (pescuit și acvacultură) va duce la punerea în aplicare corespunzătoare a principiilor de management bazate pe servicii ecosistemice.
• Adaptarea /atenuarea schimbărilor climatice. Calitatea apelor din Marea Neagră este afectată de calitatea apei din Dunare și a posibilelor substante poluante (din agricultură și infrastructura inadecvată a zonelor rurale) iar temperatura apei de mare este în creștere (pescuitul marin).
• Utilizarea cunoștințelor pentru a încuraja dezvoltarea durabilă a regiunii și reducerea impactului schimbărilor climatice. Educația, formarea și cercetarea la diferite niveluri va conduce la creșterea calității forței de muncă, la dezvoltarea activităților economice și la imbunătațirea serviciilor de monitorizare a mediului.

Practice abstract 50

Short title (in English):

Marine fishery in Danube mouths region - Scenarios and future evolution

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The system dynamics sub-model that will be developed within COASTAL activities for marine fishery in Danube mouths region will calculate three main stocks, as follows:
•Marine fish stock,
•Marine aquaculture, which increases with in- and outflows as blue growth element, and
•Marine fishermen welfare.
Awareness and marketing are among the most important drivers for an increase in the consumption of aquaculture products. Thus, in our model, the marine fish stock’s dynamics is dependent on the education, training, and research as scientific support for policies and decision-makers (Legislation) regarding the fishing restrictions. Another critical aspect is illegal fishing and pollution, which are causing the marine fish stock to fall. Marine aquaculture production and the marine fish stock are increased by education, training, research, and the fish market as one of the main components of the growing fishermen’s welfare. All are influenced by pollution from land as one of the main land-sea interactions
The low level of funding was invoked by the stakeholders of the project as being a problem and this why, and it will be considered for creating a scenario for future analysis in the next steps of the COASTAL Activities. For example, the model will calculate how an increased level of funding will influence marine fishermen welfare progress in opposition with fish stock reduction due to pollution from land-based sources, illegal fishing and lack of organized fish market.

Short title (native language):

Pescuitul marin în regiunea gurilor Dunării - scenarii și evoluție viitoară

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Sub-modelul de simulare dinamică a sectorului de pescuit marin, care va fi dezvoltat în cadrul activităților COASTAL pentru regiunea gurilor Dunării va calcula valorile unor factori considerati importanti in ceea ce priveste interactiunea intre activitatile de pe uscat si cele maritime, după cum urmează:
•stocul de pești din apele mării
•productia din acvaculturii
•bunăstarea pescarilor
Conștientizarea și activitatile de marketing reprezintă unul dintre cei mai importanți factori pentru creșterea consumului de produse de acvacultură. Astfel, în modelul nostru, dinamica stocului de pești marini depinde de factori precum educație, formare și cercetare ca suport științific pentru reglementarile legislative cu privire la restricțiile activitatilor de pescuit. Un alt aspect important îl reprezintă pescuitul ilegal nedeclarat și nereglementat și poluarea care influenteaza negativ stocul de pești din apele mării. Creșterea producției de acvacultură și stocul de pești sunt sporite de factori precum educație, formare și cercetare și înfiintarea pietei de pește - una dintre principalele componente ale bunăstării pescarilor. Toti cei trei factori sunt influențati de poluarea existentă în regiunea analizată.
Sursele limitate de finanțare au fost invocate de catre stakeholderi ca un subiect de discuție, și, de aceea aceastea vor deveni un scenariu pentru analize viitoare în cadrul activităților proiectului. De exemplu, se va estima msura in care un nivel sporit de finanțare va influența progresul bunăstării pescarilor în opoziție cu reducerea stocului de pește din cauza poluării din surse terestre, a pescuitului ilegal și a lipsei unei piețe de pește organizate.

Practice abstract 51

Short title (in English):

Manure management as an essential condition for maintaining water quality

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Code of Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) for the protection of water against nitrate pollution from agricultural sources, imposes for the livestock sector a number of conditions regarding the management of manure. Moreover, the legislation in force is granting funds for agriculture if cross-compliance norms are observed. The cross-compliance rules also include references regarding the management of manure. In order to reduce the risk of water pollution with nutrients from effluent leaks, caused by improper storage of manure, both in households and on farms, the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests is carrying out extensive action to build platforms for communal manure storage, and awareness of GAP compliance. In Tulcea County, there are three such platforms, each with a capacity of 1200 t in the localities of Greci, Jurilovca, Mihai Bravu. For 2021, the construction of a platform in Valea Nucarilor is scheduled to start. For GAP compliance, farmers will either contract communal platforms or build individual platforms. The individual platforms must respect the optimal sizing, they must not be built on lands located near watercourses or with groundwater at shallow depths. They must be located at least 50 m from homes and drinking water sources. Proper management of manure will help maintain water quality and soil fertility, while having beneficial effects on ensuring the health of the local population.

Short title (native language):

Gestionarea gunoiului de grajd - conditie esentiala pentru pastrarea calitatii apei

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Codul de bune practici Agricole (CBPA) pentru protecţia apelor împotriva poluării cu nitraţi din surse agricole, impune pentru sectorul zootehnic o serie de conditii referitoare la gestionarea gunoiului de grajd. Mai mult, legislatia in vigoare conditioneaza acordarea unor fonduri pentru agricultura de respectarea normelor de ecoconditionalitate care includ si referiri cu privire la gestionarea gunoiului de grajd. În scopul reducerii riscului poluării apelor cu nutrienţi proveniţi din scurgerile de efluenţi, cauzate de depozitarea necorespunzătoare a gunoiului de grajd, atȃt în gospodăriile populaţiei, cȃt şi în ferme, Ministerului Mediului, Apelor şi Pădurilor are in desfasurare o ampla actiune de constructie a unor platforme comunale pentru depozitarea gunoiului de grajd, si de constientizare a importantei respectarii (CBPA). In Judetul Tulcea, exista trei astfel de platforme, fiecare cu o capacitate de 1200 de t in localitatile Greci, Jurilovca, Mihai Bravu). Pentru anul 2021 este prevazuta demararea constructiei unei platforme in localitatea Valea Nucarilor. Pentru conformitatea cu CBPA, fermierii fie vor contracta platforme comunale fie vor construi platforme individuale. Platformele individuale trebuie sa respecte dimensionarea optima, să nu fie amplasate pe terenuri situate în apropierea cursurilor de apă sau cu apă freatică la mică adâncime. Acestea trebuie amplasate la o distanţă de cel puţin 50 m faţă de locuinţe şi sursele de apă potabilă. Gestionarea corectă a gunoiului de grajd va contribui la mentinerea calitatii apei si a fertilitatii solului, avand in acelasi timp si efecte benefice în asigurarea sănătății populației locale.

Practice abstract 52

Short title (in English):

A vision for a sustainable and environmentally friendly Messinia

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

During a visionary workshop held with the stakeholders of SW Messinia, MAL participants agreed that they would like to see Messinia portrayed and branded as a Sustainable Area. This vision includes all economic sectors and activities, but if identified and promoted it would create a brand name for the area that could give it an advantage in the tourism and olive making industries. A Sustainable Messinia Brand Name would ensure: a) the maintenance of the Messinian Landscape – Seascape Identity, on which the Brand will be based, b) a good environmental status of the local sensitive ecosystems c) viability of small scale farms and olive oil producers and d) socially and environmentally friendly tourism activities These are not easy tasks and several challenges, as well as barriers, have been identified need to be overcome for reaching a full sustainability transition that can create this brand name. The MAL team is working on identifying these transition pathways, which include radical changes in agricultural practices and the tourism industry. The stakeholders have recognised that such a transition needs: a) reduction on the use of chemicals and in water abstraction in the olive groves, b) full compliance of all olive mills with recent policies regarding the treatment of mill wastewater, c) improvement of the ecosystem status of Gialova Lagoon whilst maintaining viable fishing activity, d) managing the effect of seasonal population increase on local resources (water demand, waste collection and wastewater treatment, beach space), e) opportunities for fishers and farmers to better connect with the tourism industry. COVID-19 mobility restrictions have also highlighted the need for rethinking the high dependence on external sources of capital.

Short title (native language):

Ένα όραμα για μια Μεσσηνία βιώσιμη και φιλική προς το περιβάλλον

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Κατά τη διάρκεια εργαστηρίου με τους φορείς της ΝΔ Μεσσηνίας οι συμμετέχοντες συμφώνησαν ότι θα ήθελαν να δουν τη Μεσσηνία να σηματοδοτηθεί ως Βιώσιμη Περιοχή. Το όραμα τους περιλαμβάνει όλους τους οικονομικούς τομείς και δραστηριότητες, και αν προωθηθεί, θα μπορούσε να δημιουργήσει ένα εμπορικό σήμα για την περιοχή δίνοντάς της ένα πλεονέκτημα στον τουρισμό και την ελαιοπαραγωγή. Μια βιώσιμη εμπορική ονομασία της Μεσσηνίας θα διασφάλιζε: α) τη διατήρηση του Μεσσηνιακού Τοπίου, στην οποία θα βασίζεται η επωνυμία, β) την καλή περιβαλλοντική κατάσταση των τοπικών ευαίσθητων οικοσυστημάτων γ) την βιωσιμότητα μικρών εκμεταλλεύσεων και των μικρών παραγωγών ελαιόλαδου και δ) τουριστικές δραστηριότητες φιλικές προς το περιβάλλον και την κοινωνία. Αυτοί δεν είναι εύκολοι στόχοι, και έχουν εντοπιστεί αρκετές προκλήσεις, καθώς και εμπόδια, για την επίτευξη μιας μετάβασης, ικανής να δημιουργήσει αυτό το εμπορικό σήμα. Οι συμμετέχοντες στο MAL2 εντοπίζουν ότι η μετάβαση αυτή απαιτεί την ανάγκη ριζικών αλλαγών στις γεωργικές πρακτικές και την τουριστική βιομηχανία. Έχοντας αναγνωρίσει ότι μία τέτοια μετάβαση χρειάζεται: α) μείωση της χρήσης χημικών ουσιών και στην άντληση νερού στους ελαιώνες, β) πλήρης συμμόρφωση όλων των ελαιοτριβείων με τις πρόσφατες πολιτικές για την επεξεργασία λυμάτων, γ) βελτίωση της κατάστασης του οικοσυστήματος της λιμνοθάλασσας της Γιάλοβας διατηρώντας παράλληλα μια βιώσιμη αλιευτική δραστηριότητα, δ) Διαχείριση της επίδρασης της εποχικής αύξησης του πληθυσμού στους τοπικούς πόρους, ε) Σύνδεση των αλιέων και των αγροτών με την τουριστική βιομηχανία. Ενώ, οι περιορισμοί κινητικότητας COVID-19 έδειξαν ότι υπάρχει και ανάγκη επανεξέτασης της υψηλής εξάρτησης από εξωτερικές πηγές κεφαλαίου.

Practice abstract 53

Short title (in English):

Cloud-based satellite image classification tools to distinguish irrigated agricultural areas

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

As water in semi-arid regions becomes scarcer and food demands rise with population growth, the need for closely managing water resources used for irrigated agriculture increases. A study at CEBAS-CSIC developed a methodology for unsupervised land cover classification using satellite imagery to distinguish irrigated agricultural areas in the Campo de Cartagena area (Murcia, Spain). Expansion of irrigated agriculture in this area is particularly important in semi-arid regions since it is often related to overexploitation of water resources and nonpoint source pollution of water bodies by the use of excessive nutrients and agrochemicals. In the classification methodology, a set of multi-variable thresholds is used to automatically generate training areas based on characteristic spectral signatures of different land cover classes for the summer and winter seasons. Then, supervised classification is performed using several indices derived from Landsat and Sentinel satellite imagery, after which the irrigated land areas from the seasonal land cover maps are combined to create a map of irrigated areas for a given year. The method was calibrated using existing land cover maps for the years 1997, 2000 and 2009 in the Campo de Cartagena area. So far, validation of the methodology using two independent datasets for the years 2005 and 2017 resulted in accuracies of 74% and 71%, respectively. The study uses Google Earth Engine for image processing, and a simple user interface was developed to allow its use by public administrations or other institutions. These kinds of methodologies can support the identification of irrigated agricultural areas over time

Short title (native language):

Herramientas de identificación de áreas agrícolas irrigadas utilizando imágenes satelitales en la nube.

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

A medida que el agua en las regiones semiáridas se vuelve más escasa y la demanda de alimentos aumenta con el crecimiento de la población, aumenta la necesidad de administrar mejor los recursos hídricos. Un estudio del CEBAS-CSIC desarrolló una metodología para distinguir áreas agrícolas irrigadas en el Campo de Cartagena (Murcia, España) de manera automática utilizando imágenes de satélite. La expansión de la agricultura de regadío es particularmente importante en las regiones semiáridas, ya que a menudo está relacionada con la sobreexplotación de los recursos hídricos y la contaminación por fuentes difusas de los cuerpos de agua. En esta metodología de clasificación se generan automáticamente áreas de entrenamiento basadas en firmas espectrales características de diferentes clases de cobertura terrestre para las temporadas de verano e invierno. Luego, se realiza una clasificación supervisada utilizando varios índices derivados de imágenes de los satélites Landsat y Sentinel, después de lo cual las áreas de tierras irrigadas de los mapas de cobertura terrestre estacionales se combinan para crear un mapa de áreas irrigadas para un año determinado. El método se calibró utilizando mapas de cobertura terrestre existentes para los años 1997, 2000 y 2009. Hasta ahora, la validación de la metodología utilizando dos conjuntos de datos independientes para los años 2005 y 2017 resultó en precisiones mayores del 70%. El estudio utiliza Google Earth Engine para el procesamiento de imágenes y se desarrolló una interfaz de usuario para permitir su uso por parte de las administraciones públicas u otras instituciones. Este tipo de metodologías pueden apoyar a la identificación y monitorización continua de áreas agrícolas irrigadas.

Practice abstract 54

Short title (in English):

Towards the co-creation of a Business and Policy Roadmap building on coastal-rural synergies for sustainable development around the Mar Menor coastal lagoon.

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Stakeholders and researchers from the COASTAL project are developing a Business and Policy Roadmap to transition towards the Future Vision they designed for the Mar Menor coastal lagoon building on coastal-rural synergies. The Roadmap, developed through an intensive participatory process, identifies four milestones: 1) rural ecotourism, 2) coastal ecotourism, 3) sustainable agriculture, 4) integrated sustainable management. Each milestone consists of several solutions creating coastal-rural synergies. Most tourists currently only visit the coastal areas. At the same time, there is a high potential for rural tourism if the infrastructures and facilities are created and promoted, for example, through agro-tourism. The development of ecotourism and small scale photovoltaic energy production will create jobs and economic benefit supporting the well-being of local populations. Since the tourist sector is negatively affected by the environmental degradation of the lagoon, nutrient export from agriculture towards the Mar Menor needs to be reduced through sustainable agriculture, including vegetation barriers, crop diversification, reduction in fertilizer use, and denitrification of brine waste. Increased water availability from desalinized seawater, decreased water demand, diversified income and commercialization of sustainable high quality produce for local and international markets strengthen the agriculture sector. Integrated sustainable management based on policies promoting education and compliance with environmental regulation is crucial to incentivize most of the solutions.

Short title (native language):

Hacia la co-creación de una hoja de ruta empresarial y política basada en sinergias costero-rurales para el desarrollo sostenible en torno a la laguna costera del Mar Menor.

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Agentes sociales e investigadores del proyecto COASTAL están elaborando una hoja de ruta empresarial y política para la transición hacia la Visión de Futuro que han diseñado para la laguna costera del Mar Menor. La hoja de ruta, elaborada mediante un intenso proceso participativo, identifica cuatro hitos: 1) ecoturismo rural, 2) ecoturismo costero, 3) agricultura sostenible, 4) gestión sostenible integrada. Cada hito consta de varias soluciones creando sinergias entre la costa y el entorno rural. En la actualidad, la mayoría de turistas visitan las zonas costeras, pero existe un gran potencial para el turismo rural si se crean y promueven infraestructuras e instalaciones (p.e. agroturismo). El desarrollo del ecoturismo y pequeñas instalaciones de energía fotovoltaica crearían puestos de trabajo y beneficios económicos, apoyando el bienestar de las poblaciones locales. Dado que el sector turístico se ve afectado negativamente por la degradación ambiental de la laguna, es necesario reducir la exportación de nutrientes agrícolas al Mar Menor mediante una agricultura más sostenible, incluyendo barreras vegetales, diversificación de cultivos, reducción del uso de fertilizantes y desnitrificación de salmueras. El aumento de la disponibilidad de agua de mar desalinizada, la disminución de la demanda de agua, la diversificación de ingresos y la comercialización de productos sostenibles de alta calidad para mercados locales e internacionales fortalecerían al sector agrícola. La gestión sostenible integrada basada en políticas que promuevan la educación y el cumplimiento de la normativa medioambiental es crucial para incentivar la mayoría de las soluciones.

Practice abstract 55

Short title (in English):

Parliamentary hearing concerning Belgian Aquaculture

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The hearing in the Flemish Parliament on 24thMarch 2021, with input from Flemish experts, demonstrated once again the possibilities of aquaculture in Flanders. Various projects, both on land and at sea, were discussed; however, project progress has been slow. This could be due to difficult regulations by the various administrations involved and lengthy start-up procedures. For aquaculture on land, five project components are mentioned which must all harmonise for a successful project. These components are: a suitable location; knowledge of the organic product; technological know-how; marketing; and investment opportunities. These are also listed for aquaculture in the Belgian North Sea, for which the location possibilities are already known as they are determined in the Maritime Spatial Plan (MSP). This MSP also states that only extractive aquaculture, i.e. which does not require additional feeding, is allowed in the Belgian North Sea. This includes the cultivation of shellfish and macroalgae. A major advantage of extractive aquaculture is that it helps to reduce the level of eutrophication and the effects of climate change. Although current initiatives at sea are still in testing phases aimed at producing niche products, they will have to be scaled up in the future to ensure profitability. The sector also noted there will be a need for quality basic training for marine aquaculture to support this increase in scale. The presence at Ostend of different research and educational institutes (VLIZ, ILVO and Marine@Ugent) specialized in marine fauna and flora could be a framework for a marine aquaculture formation. This would attract more people to the MAL1 region for training and provide future marine workers.

Short title (native language):

Parlementaire hoorzitting Belgische aquacultuur

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

De hoorzitting in het Vlaams parlement van 24 maart 2021, met inbreng van Vlaamse experten, toonde opnieuw de mogelijkheden aan van aquacultuur in Vlaanderen. Verschillende projecten, zowel op land als op zee, kwamen aan bod. Maar de projecten verlopen traag mogelijks door de moeilijke regelgeving van verschillende administraties en te lange startprocedures. Zowel voor aquacultuur op land als op zee wordt gewag gemaakt van vijf puzzelstukken die in elkaar moeten passen voor een geslaagd project, nl. geschikte locatie, kennis van het biologisch product, technologische knowhow, marketing en investeringsmogelijkheden. Voor de Belgische Noordzee zijn de locatiemogelijkheden al bekend aangezien ze bepaald worden in het Maritiem Ruimtelijk Plan (MRP). In dit MRP staat aangegeven dat er alleen aan extractieve aquacultuur, dus zonder bij te voederen, mag gedaan worden in de Belgische Noordzee. Hierbij wordt gedacht aan de kweek van schelpdieren en macroalgen. Het voordeel van extractieve aquacultuur is dat het meehelpt aan het verminderen van het eutrofiëringsniveau en de effecten van de klimaatsverandering. Hoewel huidige initiatieven op zee eerder testfases zijn gericht op productie van niche producten, zullen die in de toekomst een schaalvergroting moeten ondergaan om rendabiliteit te garanderen. Om deze schaalvergroting te ondersteunen, zal er nood zijn aan een kwalitatieve basisopleiding voor mariene aquacultuur. Oostende huisvest verschillende onderzoeks- en opleidingscentra gespecialiseerd in de mariene fauna en flora, die samen een geschikt netwerk kunnen zijn voor deze opleiding. Hierdoor zou de regio rond MAL1 meer mensen kunnen aantrekken voor opleiding en toekomstige mariene werknemers kunnen leveren.

Practice abstract 56

Short title (in English):

Regenerative Agriculture for restoration of semi-arid rural and coastal landscapes

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration starts in 2021. There are 2 billion hectares of degraded land that can be restored, including agricultural land. Soils provide the basis for many ecosystem services, including food supply; climate regulation, water quality and quantity; biodiversity; and prevention of soil erosion and floods. Healthy soils are therefore essential to the well-being of people in rural and coastal areas. Regenerative Agriculture (RA) aims to restore farmland based on four principles: minimize soil disturbance, improve soil fertility, minimize bare soil, diversify crops, and integrate livestock. Beyond organic farming, RA incorporates practices like reduced/no-tillage, organic amendments, natural covers, and cover crops. To support the transition to RA, CSIC initiated a participatory monitoring project in SE-Spain, involving local farmers applying different combinations of RA practices in 9 almond farms. Together, they compared physical, chemical and biological soil properties and the nutritional status of almond trees under RA and conventional management. Reduced tillage with green manure improved physical soil properties, while reduced tillage with organic amendments improved chemical and biological soil properties. Reduced tillage with green manure and organic amendments showed better soil quality than each individual practice. No-tillage combined with natural covers and organic amendments presented the greatest soil quality improvements. The crop nutritional status was not affected by RA. RA has strong potential to restore the soil quality of Mediterranean farmland without compromising crop performance, thereby enhancing resilience of soils to climate change and long term sustainability.

Short title (native language):

Agricultura Regenerativa para la restauración de paisajes rurales y costeros semiáridos

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

La Década de Restauración de Ecosistemas de la ONU comienza en 2021. Hay 2 mil millones de hectáreas de tierras degradadas que pueden restaurarse, incluidas las tierras agrícolas. Los suelos proporcionan la base para muchos servicios ecosistémicos. La Agricultura Regenerativa (AR) tiene como objetivo restaurar las tierras agrícolas en base a cuatro principios: minimizar la alteración del suelo, mejorar la fertilidad del suelo, reducir el suelo desnudo, diversificar los cultivos y/o integrar el ganado. Más allá de la agricultura orgánica, la AR incorpora prácticas como labranza reducida (LR) o cero (LC), enmiendas orgánicas, cubiertas naturales y cultivos de cubierta. Para apoyar la transición a la AR, el CSIC inició un proyecto de monitoreo participativo en el sureste de España, involucrando a agricultores que aplican diferentes combinaciones de prácticas de AR en 9 fincas de almendros. Juntos compararon las propiedades físicas, químicas y biológicas del suelo y el estado nutricional de los almendros bajo AR y manejo convencional. La LR con abono verde mejoró las propiedades físicas del suelo, mientras que la LR con enmiendas orgánicas mejoró las propiedades químicas y biológicas del suelo. La LR con abono verde y enmiendas orgánicas mostró una mejor calidad del suelo que cada práctica individual. La LC con coberturas naturales y enmiendas orgánicas presentó las mayores mejoras en la calidad del suelo. El estado nutricional del cultivo no se vio afectado por la AR. La AR tiene un gran potencial para restaurar la calidad del suelo de las tierras agrícolas mediterráneas sin comprometer el rendimiento de los cultivos, mejorando así su resistencia al cambio climático y la sostenibilidad a largo plazo.

Practice abstract 57

Short title (in English):

Implementation of ecological solutions for sustainable agriculture

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The IDEAS Operational Group is composed of companies, associations, non-governmental organizations and research centres of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Its objective is a more sustainable horticulture by implementing agri-environmental measures, which maximize crop productivity through the intensification of ecological processes by means of functional biodiversity. Six plots of cooperatives in Campo de Cartagena associated with FECOAM have been studied, both with outdoor and greenhouse crops. The studies involved monitoring the associated auxiliary fauna, the evolution of pests and diseases in the farms, and the biological response of shrub plants established as hedges. The presence of arthropods was evaluated by tapping branches, phytophagous and predators by visual sampling and flower collection, the abundance of pollinating insects by sampling shrub hedges, and companion plants by direct observation. The main groups of natural enemies in the installed hedgerows with a relevant role in agricultural ecosystems were: heteropterans, ants, parasitic hymenopteran mites, spiders, and predatory thrips. In relation to the shrubby plants sampled, predators were mostly observed on the plant Achillea millefolium, while parasites and parasitoids were more evenly distributed among the plants Rhamnus alaternus, Lavandula dentata and Periploca angustifolia. In conclusion, results were generally positive for the different plants sampled, with Achillea millefolium, Ballota hirsuta, Lobularia maritima, Periploca angustifolia, Salvia officinalis and Thymus vulgaris used as biological controllers.

Short title (native language):

IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE MEDIDAS ECOLÓGICAS PARA UNA AGRICULTURA SOSTENIBLE

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

El Grupo operativo IDEAS está formado por empresas, asociaciones, organizaciones no gubernamentales y centros de investigación del litoral mediterráneo español. Su objetivo es una hortofruticultura más sostenible implementando medidas agroambientales que maximicen la productividad de los cultivos a través de la intensificación de los procesos ecológicos mediante la biodiversidad funcional. Se han estudiado 6 parcelas de cooperativas del Campo de Cartagena asociadas a FECOAM, tanto de cultivos al aire libre como en invernadero, realizando seguimiento de fauna auxiliar asociada, evolución de plagas y enfermedades en las explotaciones, y de la respuesta biológica de las plantas arbustivas establecidas como setos. Se ha evaluado presencia de artrópodos por golpeo de ramas, fitófagos y depredadores por muestreo visual y recogida de flores, y la abundancia de insectos polinizadores por muestreo en setos arbustivos y en plantas acompañantes, por observación directa. Los principales grupos de enemigos naturales en los setos instalados con papel relevante en ecosistemas agrarios fueron: heterópteros, hormigas, ácaros himenópteros parásitos, arañas y trips depredadores. En relación con las plantas arbustivas muestreadas se observan los depredadores, mayoritariamente en la planta Achillea millefolium, mientras que parásitos y parasitoides se distribuyen más equitativamente entre las plantas Rhamnus alaternus, Lavandula dentata y Periploca angustifolia, concluyendo unos buenos resultados generales para las distintas plantas muestreadas y resaltando como controladores biológicos a las especies Achillea millefolium, Ballota hirsuta, Lobularia maritima, Periploca angustifolia, Salvia officinalis y Thymus vulgaris.

Practice abstract 58

Short title (in English):

Business roadmap solutions for the improvement of coastal-rural areas in Romania

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

At the beginning of March 2021, an online, multi-actor workshop took place to develop business roadmaps and policy solutions for enhancing the synergies between coastal-land in the Danube Mouth region, Romania. Stakeholders who attended the event belonged to multiple sectors including: agriculture, tourism, fisheries, academia, university professors and policymakers. One of the business solutions identified by the stakeholders was “Promoting the integration of producers in the agri-food sector in the value chain, increasing the efficiency of agricultural activity” (e.g. value-added products obtained in organic production systems or planting forest belts).
The proposed solution is expected to bring a positive effect on the coastal-rural area through three areas of impact: (i) the environment - preventing losses of biodiversity and ecosystem services, improving environmental management, and enhancing the local communities’ responsivity to environmental issues; (ii) the economy - development of the local green economy based on sustainable consumption and production; (iii) social component - improving production systems to produce healthy food.
The key steps considered for implementing this solution were:
-Organising information/awareness campaigns on the advantages of organic production systems
-Set up advisory services network for farmers
-Development of market analyses regarding consumer behaviour
-Development of market access strategies
-Improving access to a qualified workforce (training programmes relating to agro-ecology, project management, funding instruments, and how to write a business plan)

Short title (native language):

Soluții pentru îmbunătățirea sinergiilor in zona rurală costieră din România

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

La începutul lunii martie 2021, a avut loc online un workshop pentru dezvoltarea foilor de parcurs de afaceri și a unor soluții politice pentru îmbunătățirea sinergiilor dintre terenurile de coastă din regiunea Gurile Dunării, România. Stakeholderii prezenți provin din sectoare de activitate diverse, cum ar fi agricultura, turism, pescuit, administratia locală, mediul academic, profesori universitari. Una dintre soluțiile de afaceri identificate de părțile interesate a fost „Promovarea integrării producătorilor din sectorul agroalimentar în lanțul valoric și creșterea eficienței activității agricole (de exemplu, produse cu valoare adăugată obținute în sistemul de producție ecologic sau înființarea de perdele forestiere).
S-a apreciat că soluția propusă va aduce un impact pozitiv asupra zonei rurale de coastă pe trei direcții: (i) mediu: conservarea biodiversității și furnizarea serviciilor ecosistemice; îmbunătățirea managementului de mediu și a capacității de răspuns a comunităților locale la problemele de mediu; (ii) economie: dezvoltarea economiei ecologice locale bazată pe consum și producție durabile; (iii) componenta socială: îmbunătățirea sistemelor de producție către producerea de alimente sănătoase.
Pașii cheie pentru implementarea soluției au fost considerați ca fiind:
-Organizarea de campanii de informare / sensibilizare cu privire la avantajele producției agro-ecologice
-Crearea unei rețele de servicii de consultanță pentru fermieri
-Dezvoltarea analizelor de piață privind comportamentul consumatorului de produse ecologice
-Dezvoltarea strategiilor de acces pe piață
-Îmbunătățirea accesului la forța de muncă calificată (programe de formare pentru: agro-ecologie, management de proiect, instrumente de finanțare, modul de redactare a unui plan de afaceri).

Practice abstract 59

Short title (in English):

Deep Stakeholder Integration

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

When stakeholders co-produce the development of policy actions that directly or indirectly affect them, they are more likely to comply with said regulations – even when the action points may be contrary to their preferred options.
Through participating in this process, end-users – whether in sectors or in policy or as a representative of the general public - will be better equipped to understand the delicate nature of weighing options at the policy level and how ranking sustainability options at times may have contradictory outcomes where choices may have to be made. For example, do you choose to develop aquaculture in an area where a commercial fisher may have a vested interest? What if this development could lead to more jobs, which could fund a local sports team and lead to higher social satisfaction in the area and therefore discourage outward migration? Or do you encourage tourism in your region because of its potential for increased income – when it could also lead to lower water quality for the agriculture sector because of the high number of users of the system during peak periods? What are the potential challenges, and what are the potential synergies between businesses in coastal and rural areas? How do they affect one another – positively or negatively – and what can be done to encourage the former and mitigate against the latter.
Models developed by first identifying the real challenges on the ground, with farmers, olive oil producers, wineries, fishers, or aquaculture industry can help not only policymakers – but also other related sectors - uncover possibilities when working together. It can open our eyes to synergies between sectors and even future job opportunities. Written by Rachel Tiller (SINTEF Ocean)

Short title (native language):

Dyp Brukergruppeintegreing

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Når sluttbrukere av en gitt regulering som vil påvirke dem enten direkte eller indirekte er med på å utvikle denne, økes sannsynligheten for at reguleringen vil følges. Selv om den ikke nødvendigvis er i tråd med deres foretrukne valg.

Ved å delta i en slik prosess vil sluttbrukeren ha en dypere forståelse for hvor delikat prosessen av vekting av forskjellige muligheter er. De vil også forstå hvor utfordrende det kan være å måtte rangere bærekraftsmål som alene kan være logiske, men når sett i sammenheng, kan ha tidvis motsigende resultat.

Hvordan velger du for eksempel mellom det å utvikle lakseoppdrettsnæringen i et område hvor det også er historiske fiskeriinteresser? Hva om utviklingen kan føre til flere jobber, ringvirkninger, som også kan finansiere lokale idrettslag og føre til at det jevnt over blir flere fornøyde beboere i en kommune – noe som igjen kan føre til mindre fraflytting? Er det da verdt å ofre en annen næring? Hva er mulighetene og hva er utfordringene, og hva er potensialet for synergier mellom kyst- og innlandsnæringer? Hvordan påvirker de hverandre – positivt eller negativt – og hva kan gjøres for at det ene kan minske risikoen for den andre?

Vi har utviklet modeller ved å involvere sluttbrukerne helt fra begynnelsen av prosjektet slik at vi sammen kunne identifisere de virkelige utfordringene og mulighetene - der de skjer. Vi har snakket med bønder, olivenoljeprodusenter, vinprodusenter, fiskere, havbruksnæringen og mange flere. Disse modellene er utviklet slik at de ikke bare er til hjelp for forvaltningen – men også for næringen. Modellene kan avdekke muligheter ved å jobbe sammen og de kan åpne øynene våre for synergier mellom næringer – og nye fremtidige jobbmuligheter. Skrevet av Rachel Tiller (SINTEF Ocean)

Practice abstract 60

Short title (in English):

Systems modelling of rural gentrification

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Rural gentrification is defined as the process where farms and farming land are being converted to serve other purposes, such as residential and recreational use. This inflates the prices of farms and farming land, and results in less farms and farming land being available for agricultural production. In 2015, approximately 10 % of the statutory farming land in Flanders was estimated to be used for non-agricultural purposes [1]. This figure is growing, posing policy issues related to food production, employment opportunities for starting farmers, and land-use planning. By itself, this gentrification is a complex process involving aspects relating to spatial planning policy, the real-estate market, nature restoration, demographic changes, and cultural aspects. COASTAL, together with the Flemish Land Agency (VLM) and the Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Research (ILVO), is examining which factors are interacting and how. System Dynamics (SD) models provide added value for testing the sensitivity of different policy actions, where linear extrapolation of historic patterns is inadequate. Current expertise and historic data will be exploited further to develop a better understanding of the long-term impacts on farm prices, farming profitability, and the number of farms. [1] Verhoeve A, Dewaelheyns V, Kerselaers E, Rogge E and Gulinck H. Virtual farmland: grasping the occupation of agricultural land by non-agricultural land uses. Land Use Policy 42, 547-556, 2015. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.09.008

Short title (native language):

Systeemmodellering van rurale gentrificatie

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Rurale gentrificatie wordt gedefinieerd als het proces waarbij boerderijen en landbouwgrond worden omgevormd om andere doeleinden te dienen, zoals gebruik voor bewoning en recreatie. Hierdoor stijgen de prijzen van boerderijen en landbouwgrond, en zijn minder boerderijen en landbouwgrond beschikbaar voor landbouwproductie. In 2015 werd geschat dat ongeveer 10 % van de wettelijke landbouwgrond in Vlaanderen een niet-agrarisch gebruik had [1]. Ondertussen neemt dit cijfer verder toe, wat beleidsvraagstukken opwerpt in verband met voedselproductie, tewerkstellingskansen voor startende landbouwers en ruimtelijke ordening. Op zichzelf is deze gentrificatie een complex proces, dat in verband staat met het ruimtelijke-ordeningsbeleid, de vastgoedmarkt, natuurherstel, demografische veranderingen en culturele aspecten. COASTAL, samen met de Vlaamse Landmaatschappij (VLM) en het Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedselonderzoek (ILVO), onderzoekt welke factoren op welke manier op elkaar inwerken. System Dynamics (SD) modellen hebben een toegevoegde waarde voor het testen van de gevoeligheid van verschillende beleidsacties wanneer lineaire extrapolatie van historische patronen ontoereikend is. De huidige expertise en historische gegevens zullen verder worden benut om een beter begrip te ontwikkelen van de effecten op lange termijn op de landbouwprijzen, de rendabiliteit van de landbouw en het aantal landbouwbedrijven. [1] Verhoeve A, Dewaelheyns V, Kerselaers E, Rogge E and Gulinck H. Virtual farmland: grasping the occupation of agricultural land by non-agricultural land uses. Land Use Policy 42, 547-556, 2015. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.09.008

Practice abstract 61

Short title (in English):

Inland and coastal water quality improvement in the semi-enclosed Baltic Sea region

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

There is fragmented understanding of the interactions and feedbacks that affect inland and coastal water quality in coastal areas around the world. Coastal water quality is impacted by both local land catchment and marine conditions. Socio-economic factors also affect inland and coastal water quality, highlighting the need for local and scientific knowledge integration for synergistic planning and management of coastal water quality. For the Swedish water management district of Northern Baltic Proper, including its main Norrström drainage basin and associated coastal areas (the MAL3 case), we have conducted a semi-quantitative analysis of stakeholder-identified land-sea system interactions of relevance for inland and coastal water quality. This aimed to explore various possible management strategies for improving water quality, considering the impacts of both human pressures and climate change. The results show that synergistic local management measures, including long-lived nutrient legacy sources, are needed to improve inland water quality. For coastal water quality improvement, management measures need to be synergistic over both various spatial and temporal scales; as coastal water quality is affected by both inland water quality and nutrient/pollutant management over the whole Baltic Sea and its total drainage basin. Source: Seifollahi-Aghmiuni, S., Kalantari, Z., and Destouni, G. Use of co-created causal loop diagrams and fuzzy-cognitive scenario analysis for water quality management. European Geoscience Union (EGU) General Assembly (Online) (2021). https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-5210

Short title (native language):

Förbättring av söt- och kustvattenkvalitet i Östersjöregionen

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Förståelsen är fragmenterad för de interaktioner och återkopplingar som påverkar söt- och kustvattenkvalitet i kustområden över världen. Kustvattenkvaliteten påverkas av förändringar i både det lokala avrinningsområdet och det öppna havet. Socioekonomiska faktorer påverkar också inlands- och kustvattenkvaliteten och belyser behov att integrera lokal och vetenskaplig kunskap för synergistisk planering för hållbar hantering av kustvattenkvaliteten. För det svenska vattenförvaltningsområdet norra Östersjön och dess huvudsakliga avrinningsområde Norrström med tillhörande kustområden (fallet MAL3), har vi genomfört en semi-kvantitativ analys av intressent-identifierade interaktioner mellan land och hav med betydelse för söt- och kustvattenkvalitet. Analysen syftade till att undersöka olika möjliga strategier för att förbättra vattenkvaliteten med tanke på effekter av både mänskliga belastningar och klimatförändringar. Resultaten visar att synergistiska lokala hanteringsåtgärder, inklusive för långlivade ärvda källor, behövs för att förbättra sötvattenkvaliteten. För att förbättra kustvattenkvaliteten måste hanteringsåtgärderna vara synergistiska över både olika rumsliga och olika tidsmässiga skalor, då den påverkas av både sötvattenförhållandena och näringsämnes/förorenings förhållanden i hela Östersjön och dess totala avrinningsområde. Seifollahi-Aghmiuni, S., Kalantari, Z., and Destouni, G. Use of co-created causal loop diagrams and fuzzy-cognitive scenario analysis for water quality management. European Geoscience Union (EGU) General Assembly (Online) (2021). https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu21-5210

Practice abstract 62

Short title (in English):

Synergistic policy and technical solutions in coastal-rural collaboration for improving Baltic coastal water quality

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Our integrated land-sea system analysis for the Baltic coast (MAL3) aims to promote collaborative coastal-rural synergistic solutions in strategic business and policy decision making for addressing water quality and eutrophication problems in Baltic coastal areas. Four key solution alternatives are highlighted by stakeholders from inland, coastal and sea-based sectors for this case. These include “improved knowledge transfers between sectors”, “integrated risk assessment of nutrient losses from agricultural soil to surface water”, “nutrient recovery in wastewater treatment plants”, and “changed municipal monopoly planning policy”. They represent a combination of technical and policy solutions, and synergistic planning measures to address water quality and eutrophication problems across local coast and regional Baltic scales. These will further be considered as a basis for co-designing action plans and roadmaps to mitigate Baltic coast eutrophication and pollution – a general goal of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) for the Baltic Sea region. Authors: Samaneh Seifollahi and Georgia Destouni - Stockholm University

Short title (native language):

Samverkande policy- och tekniska lösningar i land-kust-samarbete för att förbättra Östersjöns kustvattenkvalitet

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Vår integrerade land-hav-analys för Östersjökusten (MAL3) syftar till att förbättra samverkande lösningsstrategier i strategiska affärs- och beslutsbeslut för kust- och landsbygdsområden för att hantera vattenkvalitets- och övergödningsproblem i Östrsjöns kustområden. Fyra lösningsalternativ har lyfts fram av intressenter från inlands-, kust- och havsbaserade sektorer för detta fall. De inkluderar "förbättrad kunskapsöverföring mellan sektorer", "integrerad riskbedömning av närsaltsförluster från jordbruksmark till ytvatten", "återvinning av näringsämnen i reningsverk" och "ändrad policy för kommunalt planeringsmonopol". Dessa representerar en kombination av tekniska och policy-lösningar och synergistiska planeringsåtgärder för att ta itu med vattenkvalitets- och eutrofieringsproblematiken i Östersjöns kustområden på lokal och regional skala. De kommer vidare att användas som grund för gemensam utformning av handlingsplaner och färdplaner för lösning övergödnings- och föroreningsproblemen i Östersjöns kuster - ett allmänt mål för Helsingforskommissionen (HELCOM) för Östersjöregionen.

Practice abstract 63

Short title (in English):

Policy and research recommendations for nutrient management in the Baltic Sea region

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The Baltic Sea is particularly vulnerable to nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) loads from agriculture and wastewater. Although the region has reduced the use of conventional fertilizer and improved wastewater treatment since early 1990s, for example, phosphorus levels still remain high in the Baltic Sea. Phosphorus-driven annual algae blooms fix more nitrogen from the atmosphere than what originates from anthropogenic riverine loads. Further reductions in phosphorus and nitrogen loads are therefore necessary to abate the current levels of Baltic Sea eutrophication. A key policy recommendation is that harmonized regulations of both phosphorus and nitrogen are needed to manage and balance agriculture surpluses. Although nitrogen reuse in agriculture within the EU is regulated by the Nitrates Directive, phosphorus is only regulated nationally in just some EU countries. Eco-technologies for capturing and reusing nutrients should be promoted to reduce their losses and loads to inland and coastal waters by closing the nutrient loops upstream in their catchments. Research should focus on identifying hotspots of nutrient leakages and locations where management and mitigation measures would be most effective. Source: BONUS RETURN – Reducing emissions to the Baltic Sea by turning nutrients and carbon into benefits, Final project report – results, conclusions and recommendations, December 2020. https://www.bonusreturn.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BONUS-RETURN-Final.... Authors: Samaneh Seifollahi and Georgia Destouni - Stockholm University

Short title (native language):

Policy- och forskningsrekommendationer för närsaltshantering i Östersjöregionen

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Östersjön är särskilt utsatt och känslig för näringsämnen (kväve och fosfor) från jordbruk och avloppsvatten. Även om regionen har minskat användningen av konventionella gödselmedel och förbättrat avloppsreningen sedan början av 1990-talet, är till exempel fosforhalterna fortfarande höga i Östersjön. Fosfordrivna årliga algblomningar fixerar mer kväve från atmosfären än vad som kommer från antropogena källor med flodavrinningen. Ytterligare minskningar av fosfor och kväve behövs därför för att minska övergödningen i Östersjön. En viktig policyrekommendation är att det behövs harmoniserade regler för både kväve och fosfor för att hantera och balansera deras överskott from jordbruket. Även om återanvändning av kväve i jordbruket inom EU regleras av nitratdirektivet, så regleras fosfor endast nationellt i bara vissa EU-länder. Naturbaserade lösningar för att fånga upp och återvinna näringsämnen bör främjas för att minska förluster och belastning till söt- och kustvatten, genom att stänga näringskretslopp uppströms i avrinningsområdena. Forskning bör fokusera på att identifiera hotspots för näringsläckage och platser där hanteringsåtgärder skulle vara mest effektiva. BONUS RETURN – Reducing emissions to the Baltic Sea by turning nutrients and carbon into benefits, Final project report – results, conclusions and recommendations, December 2020. https://www.bonusreturn.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/BONUS-RETURN-Final.... Authors: Samaneh Seifollahi and Georgia Destouni - Stockholm University

Practice abstract 64

Short title (in English):

Paradigm shift needed in policy and strategies for coastal water quality improvement and eutrophication mitigation in the Baltic Sea coasts

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Despite various policy frameworks developed and applied in the Baltic Sea region to improve coastal water quality and mitigate eutrophication, opposite change trends are still seen in the Baltic coastal waters. Our recent data-driven investigation of Baltic coastal conditions finds and highlights the coastal waters and their quality to be melting pots of impacts from both the local land-catchment of each coast and whole-sea water quality conditions. These findings challenge simplified unidirectional source-to-sea paradigms for coastal water quality and eutrophication policy and management strategies. They point at a required paradigm shift in coastal policy and strategy to account for the mixed local-catchment and whole-sea influences on coastal conditions and the possibilities to improve coastal water quality and combat eutrophication. In addition, they show that coastal water quality in more isolated coasts (less open-sea exchange) are more related to phosphorus concentrations, while it is more related to nitrogen concentrations in less isolated coasts. In both cases, dual (nitrogen and phosphorus) policy and management strategies are still needed to improve coastal and marine water quality and combat eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Source: Vigouroux, G., Kari, E., Beltrán-Abaunza, J.M., Uotila, P., Yuan, D., Destouni, G. (2021) Trend correlations for coastal eutrophication and its main local and whole-sea drivers – Application to the Baltic Sea. Science of the Total Environment, 779, 146367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146367

Short title (native language):

Paradigmskifte behövs i policy och strategier för att förbättra vattenkvalitet och minska övergödning i Östersjöns kuster

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Trots flertal policys och förvaltningsstrategier som utvecklats och tillämpats för att förbättra vattenkvalitet och minska eutrofiering i Östersjöns kust- och marina vatten, ser vi fortfarande motsatta förändringar i Östersjöns kustområden. Vår aktuella data-drivna undersökning av Östersjöns kustförhållanden visar och belyser kustvattnet och dess kvalitet som en smältdegel av påverkan från både det lokala avrinningsområdet för varje kust och havets vattenkvalitetsförhållanden. Dessa resultat utmanar ett förenklat och enkelriktat källa-till-hav-paradigm i policy och strategier för förbättring av Östersjökusternas vattenkvalitet och minskning av deras övergödning. De pekar på ett nödvändigt paradigmskifte i policy och strategier, som tar hänsyn till den kombinerade påverkan från lokalt avrinningsområde och hela havet på kustförhållandena och möjligheterna att förbättra kustvattenkvaliteten och bekämpa övergödningen. De visar också att vattenkvaliteten i mer isolerade kuster (mindre utbyte med öppna havet) är relaterar mer till fosforkoncentrationer, medan den relaterar mer till kvävekoncentrationer i mindre isolerade kuster. I båda fallen behövs dock konsekventa policy och förvaltningsstrategier för både kväve och fosfor för att kunna förbättra kust- och havsvattenkvaliteten och bekämpa övergödningen i Östersjön. Vigouroux, G., Kari, E., Beltrán-Abaunza, J.M., Uotila, P., Yuan, D., Destouni, G. (2021) Trend correlations for coastal eutrophication and its main local and whole-sea drivers – Application to the Baltic Sea. Science of the Total Environment, 779, 146367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146367

Practice abstract 65

Short title (in English):

Shellfish farming in a globally sustainable system

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Global consumer demand is shifting towards oysters with a higher meat content. These founded the reputation of Marennes-Oléron when salt marshes were converted into oyster fattening marshes between 1860 and 1960. Growing consumer demand, coupled with the extinction of the Portuguese species due to disease, pushed 1970s oyster farmers to prioritise quality over quantity. Demand for quality prompted some Marennes-Oléron producers to relocate their farms to other European locations with better potential for high meat content, such as Ireland and Portugal. Over time, these producers have gradually abandoned quality labels, such as IGP Marennes-Oléron, to focus on more commercial branding. While a Europe-wide market and production system satisfy global demand, and are beneficial to companies whose setup allows them to take advantage of such a configuration, the more recent development of organic farming and direct sales places greater emphasis on the importance of a product’s origins, specifically the environment in which it was grown. The business roadmap for the COASTAL project shows that Marennes-Oléron oyster farms can produce oysters with a high meat content, thus satisfying consumer demand, while at the same time keeping their production rooted in their local area. By harnessing the unique know-how of producers, the specific climate of the territory, and its spatialized trophic capacity, the foundations are there to achieve a more sustainable mode of shellfish farming, in synergy with other local environments and economic activities.

Short title (native language):

La conchyliculture dans un système globalement soutenable

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

La demande mondiale des consommateurs évolue vers des huîtres à haute teneur en chair. Ce type de produit a fait la renommée des huîtres de Marennes-Oléron grâce au travail de reconfiguration des marais salants en marais d’affinage ostréicole entre 1860 et 1960. L’explosion de la consommation et la disparition par maladie de l’huître portugaise ont conduit dans les années 1970 les professionnels à privilégier la quantité au détriment de la qualité. Un renouveau de la demande de qualité par les consommateurs a conduit certains producteurs de Marennes-Oléron à délocaliser leurs élevages dans des sites européens aux eaux plus riches, par exemple l’Irlande et le Portugal. Ces professionnels ont délaissé des labels de qualité comme l’IGP Marennes-Oléron au profit de marques d’entreprise. Cette européanisation du marché et de la production permet de satisfaire la demande globale et certaines entreprises engagées dans ces mutations. Cependant le développement du bio et de la vente directe obligent à reconsidérer l’importance du territoire d’élevage dans la plus-value apportée au produit. Ainsi, la feuille de route du projet Coastal stipule qu’un fort taux de chair issu d’élevages localisés sur le territoire peut satisfaire la demande de produits à haute teneur en chair et aussi la cohérence d’un métier et d’un produit ancré sur un territoire. Les savoir-faire des professionnels, les particularités physiques, biologiques et climatiques de ce territoire, la capacité trophique temporalisée et spatialisée, le partage de la ressource trophique optimisée et à la bonne densité, tous autorisent une redéfinition des conditions de la durabilité de la conchyliculture en englobant plusieurs environnements différents et plusieurs activités.

Practice abstract 66

Short title (in English):

Towards a desirable future : changing agricultural systems and practices

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The development of new farming systems, in synergy with other activities, is a major step forward towards a desirable future for the territory. As a major economic activity, agriculture shapes the landscape and interacts with continental and marine hydrosystems. A switch to organic farming calls for diversification of crops, development of short supply chains (at least 20%) and employment, while reducing the environmental impact of agriculture (zero pesticide, less nutrient loads, more biodiversity). These new systems take into account the current market demand for more vegetable-based foods: more protein crops, field vegetables, food and feed production. Organic farming systems are more diversified and this incentive will continue within the new CAP. The CAP has already increased incentives for more diverse crop rotations and agri-environmental efforts (AEIs) via the green payment (30% of decoupled aid payments or approximately 80 €/ha). Diversification of crops also implies diversification of commercial outlets, both for food and non-food products. Economic operators and traders, are running initiatives to develop local supply chains (lentils, chickpeas, popcorn, vegetables, fruits, essential oils, aromatic herbs, etc.) or feed (soya, beans, legumes, etc.). They are also developing other commercial outlets, such as industrial hemp or plants for energy use. Farmers have to balance organic crop rotations and nutrient inputs must come from organic/sustainable agriculture. The choice for non-irrigated rotations is therefore limited (triticale, winter bean, sunflower, etc.). A proportion of alfalfa could be sold locally to livestock farmers, favouring the continuation of high-quality breeding and associated grasslands.

Short title (native language):

Vers un future désirable : changer les systèmes et les pratiques agricoles

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

L’évolution vers de nouveaux systèmes agricoles en synergie avec les autres activités est une étape décisive pour atteindre le futur désirable du territoire. L’agriculture, activité économique majeure, modèle les paysages et interagit avec les hydrosystèmes. Son évolution vers l’agriculture biologique implique de diversifier les cultures et les assolements, de développer les circuits courts sur le territoire (au moins 20%) et l’emploi tout en réduisant l’impact environnemental (zéro pesticides, moins d’azote, plus de biodiversité). Ces nouveaux systèmes répondent la demande soutenue pour une alimentation plus végétale : plus de protéagineux, de légumes de plein champ, de productions pour l’alimentation humaine et animale. Les systèmes en agriculture biologique sont plus diversifiés qu’en agriculture conventionnelle et cette incitation se poursuit avec la nouvelle PAC. La PAC incite déjà à plus de diversité des assolements et d’infrastructures agro-environnementales (IAE) via le paiement vert (30 % des aides découplées, environ 80 €/ha). La diversification des cultures suppose aussi celle des débouchés, alimentaires ou non : les opérateurs économiques d’aval multiplient les initiatives pour développer des filières locales pour la consommation humaine ou animale. Ils développent également des débouchés non alimentaires comme le chanvre ou à valorisation énergétique. Les rotations doivent être équilibrées en azote et les intrants issus de l’agriculture biologique/durable : le choix des cultures en sec reste donc limité (triticale, féverole d’hiver, tournesol, etc.). Une partie de la luzerne pourrait être vendue localement, permettant le maintien d’un élevage bio de qualité et des prairies associées.

Practice abstract 67

Short title (in English):

Management of irrigation and water efficiency

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Achieving the desirable future will call for major changes in water demand by human activities. Irrigation, still mainly focused on maize (around 60% of irrigated area), has already decreased due to summer shortages, representing a shortfall of 17% in certain areas. Current climate scenarios point to scarcer water resources and longer periods of shortage. Agriculture, like other local activities, will need to adapt to this new reality. Farmers need to develop and implement innovative practices, with improved water efficiency, to achieve water savings of at least 30% for the same yield. The key challenge here will be how to reconcile reduced water abstraction without reducing the surface area requiring irrigation. Current pressure on water resources, coupled with the cost of storage infrastructure, means that irrigation costs are likely to increase sharply in the future. Increased water storage as a concept remains a highly contentious issue. It would therefore appear that irrigation is only worthwhile for high-profit crops. The business roadmap aims to assist in the re-development of the irrigated area, introducing new crops such as soybeans, vegetable seeds, field vegetables, arboriculture and spring crops. The new make-up of the area will depend on several drivers: water availability, regulations (authorisations, quotas and subsidies), price, quality of territorial dialogue, and new synergies in the territory. There could also be the opportunity to introduce mixed crop systems, including some more drought-resistant varieties, such as sorghum. Less irrigation, but with a wider spread across farms could become the new normal. Climate change could also mean irrigation of vineyards, not currently favoured by producers.

Short title (native language):

Irrigation et utilisation efficace de l’eau

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Atteindre le future désirable pour le territoire demande des changements majeurs dans la demande en eau des activités humaines en général. L’irrigation concerne encore largement le maïs (environ 60% de la sole) et les surfaces ont diminué en raison de la contrainte sur la ressource jusqu’à 17% localement. Les prévisions climatiques indiquant une contrainte plus forte sur la ressource et de plus longues périodes de déficit hydrique, l’agriculture comme les autres activités devra s’adapter. Les agriculteurs doivent développer et généraliser des pratiques innovantes qui permettent d’économiser 30% de volume supplémentaire en préservant les rendements. Cependant, un challenge sera de gérer la diminution des prélèvements face aux surfaces à irriguer. Compte-tenu de la contrainte sur la ressource en eau et des coûts du stockage (qui reste controversé) les couts d’irrigation devraient augmenter sensiblement. L’irrigation devient réservée aux cultures à forte valeur ajoutée. La feuille de route tient compte de cette reconfiguration de la sole irriguée. Plusieurs cultures annuelles ou permanentes sont envisageables : soja, maraîchage, légumes de plein champ, arboriculture, cultures de printemps… Cette nouvelle sole dépend de la disponibilité en eau, de la réglementation (autorisations, quotas, incitations), du prix, de la qualité du dialogue territorial et des nouvelles synergies. Des systèmes mixtes où certaines cultures sont irriguées, des cultures plus économes en eau (sorgho) peuvent émerger. Moins d’irrigation plus largement répartie pourrait devenir le nouveau normal. Le changement climatique pourrait enfin conduire à devoir irriguer les vignes, bien que cette solution ne soit actuellement pas favorisée par la profession.

Practice abstract 68

Short title (in English):

An attractive and diverse territory, promoting local products

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

To achieve the desirable future for the territory, development of sustainable shellfish farming and agriculture must be accompanied by equally sustainable forms of tourism (e.g. green tourism, pescatourism, rural tourism, gastronomy…). Moving agriculture and shellfish farming towards a more sustainable model benefits both the people working in these professions and local residents, with the latter being able to continue to live and work in an economically and environmentally balanced setting. Increasing the attractiveness of the territory will also mean that local produce will be better promoted, combining seafood and other produce to create a truly diverse food and drink offering, including fruit and vegetables, shellfish, salt, wine and cognac, and other high-quality products. This strategy goes hand in hand with territorial food projects or "zero carbon territory" projects, supported by local authorities, which provide for the development of plant (50%) and high-quality animal production. Another key factor in the success of this desirable future will be the creation of alliances between proponents of various sectors, with the aim of collectively promoting the territory and its produce. These should focus in particular on: i/ high-quality local food and drink, and their inherent health benefits ii/ features of the territory in terms of sustainable tourism and iii/ marketing local produce for new and emerging markets.

Short title (native language):

Un territoire diversifié et attractif, avec des produits de qualité

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Le futur désirable du territoire s’appuie sur la durabilité des principales activités économiques comme la conchyliculture, l’agriculture et en parallèle le développement d’un tourisme plus soutenable (tourisme vert, tourisme rural, pescatourisme, autour de la gastronomie et du pineau/cognac…). L’évolution de l’agriculture et de la conchyliculture vers des activités durables bénéficient à ces professions mais aussi aux habitants qui peuvent rester vivre et travailler sur place, dans un territoire harmonieux. Le renforcement de l’attractivité du territoire sera profitable pour la valorisation des produits locaux dans une logique de synergie terre mer (produits locaux, fruits et légumes, pineau cognac, coquillages, sel, salicorne, etc.). Cette stratégie est cohérente avec les projets alimentaires territoriaux ou les projets de "territoire zéro carbone", soutenus par les collectivités locales, qui prévoient entre autre le développement de la production végétale (50%) et animale de qualité. Des alliances entre secteurs d’activité sont à trouver pour promouvoir en commun des produits différents : offre de qualité se référant à une dimension santé environnement, offre du territoire, associé à un tourisme « durable », offre multi-produits de meilleure qualité, nouveaux marchés.

Practice abstract 69

Short title (in English):

Towards a more water efficient and resilient territory

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Access to a quality water resource is crucial for the main economic actors in the territory, and a prerequisite for sustainable development. This issue will only become more complex when combined with that of climate change. Two key notions come into play here: water supplies are by no means infinite, and the treatments needed to keep water safe for human consumption are difficult and costly. To achieve a harmonious territory, it is necessary to adjust requirements to what can realistically be generated and to consider the land-sea system as one single entity. However, the resolution of water use conflicts should not be based on the level of blame to be attributed to each party, but rather by measuring added value at the territorial level, i.e. the development of a win-win situation in which a new synergy offers guarantees to the various stakeholders. Individual saving actions, collective actions, laws and regulations, education, urban planning, and landscape and resources management are all levers that can be activated. Increased pressure on resources must go hand in hand with stronger governance, independent of private interests, which can consider and prioritise uses based on the public interest and the interest of the territory as a whole. Another key issue is managing competition for space in the coastal zone. This is a major challenge in the face of climate change and rising sea levels, which may lead to a retreat of part of the territory by the end of the roadmap. This managed retreat should take into account demographic pressures, by preserving high-value biological and natural areas ahead of any potential urbanisation.

Short title (native language):

Vers un territoire plus résilient et économe

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

L’accès à une ressource en eau de qualité est une préoccupation importante pour les principales activités économiques du territoire (agriculture, conchyliculture, tourisme…) et une nécessité pour le maintien et le développement durable de ces activités. Le problème va s’aggraver avec les perspectives du changement climatique. En effet, les fortes augmentations des besoins en eau et les effets du changement climatique font émerger deux notions clé : la ressource n’est pas infinie et les contraintes de sécurité alimentaire obligeraient à des traitements coûteux et complexes. Pour retrouver un territoire harmonieux, il convient d’une part d’ajuster les besoins aux potentialités de la ressource et d’autre part de considérer le système eau-territoire comme un tout indissociable. Ainsi, la résolution des conflits liés à l'utilisation de l'eau ne doit pas être basée sur le niveau de responsabilité de chaque partie, mais plutôt sur la mesure de la valeur ajoutée au niveau territorial, c'est-à-dire le développement d'une situation gagnant-gagnant dans laquelle une nouvelle synergie offre des garanties aux différents acteurs. Les actions d’économie, l’adaptation des lois et règlements, l’éducation, l’urbanisme, la gestion des paysages, la protection des ressources, autant de leviers à actionner pour atteindre cet objectif. Gérer la compétition pour l'espace sera également un enjeu majeur face au changement climatique et à la montée du niveau de l’océan qui peut conduire à un repli d’une partie du territoire. Ce repli stratégique devra tenir compte de la pression démographique en préservant en priorité les sols agricoles à forte valeur biologique et les espaces naturels, avant toute urbanisation.

Practice abstract 70

Short title (in English):

New policies to support the business roadmap

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Synergy within the territory can only be improved through a clear understanding of its complexity. This cannot be tackled simply by dividing it into sectors of human activity and environmental resources to be shared, as is currently the case. The roadmap proposes a change in logic, and thinking on a territorial scale, rather than that based on resource sharing and the balance of power. A need for more integrative policies was highlighted during collaborative workshops. There are still many policies (e.g. water) where upstream and downstream sectors are clearly not considered as a whole (“silo” policies). This is even worse when it comes to management of land-sea interface areas. Spatial planning can also better consider the need to preserve the proper functioning of ecosystems, water and carbon storage through various measures: "If there is no more water, that means no more for anyone" (quote from a workshop). Similarly, some aids or incentives are only aimed at professionals in a single sector of activity (farmers, shellfish farmers, tourism operators, etc.), whereas actions to strengthen land-sea synergies must be "territorial" and not sectoral, and therefore accessible to the full spectrum of economic actors. Beyond the individual or collective economic choices that activities can make, the business roadmap requires an ambitious plan at regional level and/or specific incentives at national level, with the possibility of state aid that transcends sectors. Training and the exchange of know-how, expertise, field experiments, shared information, cross-dialogues between stakeholders are also essential to the success of the roadmap.

Short title (native language):

De nouvelles politiques publiques en appui à la feuille de route

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

La synergie du territoire ne peut être améliorée que par la prise de conscience de la complexité du système. Cette complexité ne peut être abordée seulement par le découpage en secteurs d’activité humaine et de ressources à partager. La feuille de route propose de changer de logique et de réfléchir à l’échelle territoire au lieu de s’engager dans une logique de répartition et de rapports de force. Il a été souligné pendant l’ensemble des ateliers collaboratifs la nécessité d’avoir des politiques plus intégratives. Il reste encore beaucoup de politiques où les secteurs amont et aval sont clairement différenciés et ne sont pas considérés globalement. C’est encore pire pour les zones d’interface terre-mer. L'aménagement du territoire peut également mieux prendre en compte la nécessité de préserver le bon fonctionnement des écosystèmes, de l'eau et du stockage du carbone par diverses mesures : "S'il n'y a plus d'eau, il n’y en a plus pour personne" (citation). De même, certaines aides ou incitations ne s’adressent qu’aux professionnels d’un seul secteur d’activité (agriculteurs, conchyliculteurs, acteurs du tourisme etc.) or les actions propres à renforcer les synergies terre-mer doivent être pensées « territoire » et non sectorielles, donc accessible à différents acteurs économiques. Au-delà des choix économiques individuels ou collectifs que peuvent faire les acteurs, la feuille de route appelle un plan ambitieux à l’échelle régionale et/ou des aides adaptées qui transcendent les secteurs. La formation et l’échange de savoir-faire, l’accès à l’information partagée, les dialogues croisés et entre tous les acteurs du territoire sont également indispensables à la réussite de la feuille de route.

Practice abstract 71

Short title (in English):

Achieving synergy within the territory

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The COASTAL roadmap for a desirable future is provided for the watershed territory and its associated coastal zone. The notions of synergy, harmony, interface, and sustainability bring into play the spatial and temporal interactions between the different stakeholders with the capacity to act in that territory. These interactions, which are the object of public policies, are often based on old divisions which, by failing to define synergies, simply reproduce the same conflicts of use time and time again. Because of this, these conflicts are often managed by focusing on common resources. Is there a better way to manage this situation than simply forcing each sector to define its own sustainability based on constraints created by the sustainability of other sectors? The COASTAL project is based on the premise that achieving synergy within a territory is not simply the search for a resource-sharing summit, but rather a “modus vivendi”, where a win-win situation is the preferred outcome. Territorial management, for example, is often approached in a very fragmented way, with regional land-use planning, transport, ecology, tourism, and urban planning competing for attention. Our philosophy is to replace these spatial divides (and their associated fractures) with a “landscape”, which combines different geographical territories, and aims to understand the full spectrum of activities influencing the operation of those territories.

Short title (native language):

Quelles synergies pour le territoire

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

La feuille de route COASTAL pour un futur désirable se décline à l’échelle du territoire du bassin versant et de sa zone littorale associée. Les notions de synergie, d’harmonie, d’interface, de durabilité mettent en jeu les interaction spatiales, temporelles et entre différents acteurs ayant possibilité d’agir sur ce territoire. Ces interactions qui sont l’objet de politiques publiques s’appuient malgré tout sur des divisions anciennes qui, faute souvent de définir des synergies, redessinent plan après plan, schéma après schéma les conflits d’usage entre acteurs. Les politiques publiques sont donc souvent dans l’obligation d’organiser la gestion de ces conflits autour de ressources communes. Existe-t-il une manière de considérer qu’il y a mieux à faire que de forcer chaque secteur à définir sa durabilité sous contraintes de celles des autres ? Le projet COASTAL fait le pari que la synergie d’un territoire n’est pas que la recherche d’un « sommet » du partage des ressources mais plutôt d’un « modus vivendi », une manière de vivre ou les procédures du gagnant-gagnant sont recherchées. Cette démarche nécessite ipso facto une transversalité des connaissances et des politiques publiques. La gestion des espaces territoriaux, par exemple, est souvent abordée de manière fragmentée dans les schémas régionaux d’aménagement du territoire, de développement de l’agriculture, du tourisme, de l’urbanisme de la cohérence écologique, des transports ou même des plan locaux d’urbanisme. Au-delà de ces plans et schémas qui découpent l’espace à différentes échelles, y creusant ainsi des fractures, on peut imaginer de les compléter en utilisant, par exemple, les concepts de paysages qui lient les espaces géographiques et ce qui les fait vivre.

Practice abstract 72

Short title (in English):

Towards sustainability : management of densities in shellfish farming

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

The mission of achieving sustainable shellfish farming typically involves identifying maximum usable stocks, without exceeding the volume of trophic resources that the environment is able to supply. This "classical" interpretation of trophic capacity was scrutinised as part of the COASTAL project. The first point of note is that in coastal zones, the relationship between shellfish stocks and the environment does not work in a single direction (i.e. trophic resources to end user). In reality, living and non-living things establish their own network of relationships, and interact with each other on a regular basis. Shellfish affect their environment (through mobilisation of sediment, pseudofeces, etc), as much as their environment affects them. The spatial layout of shellfish farms will also have an effect on this delicate balance. While movement of sediment, resuspension, and phytoplancton production are difficult to control, the volumes of shellfish that can be produced within a farm are subject to regulations. The regulator can impose a number of limitations, such as volume of oysters per bag, number of bags per hectare, and maximum surface area per farm. With biodiversity in mind, this type of regulation aims to position oysters in such a way that trophic capacity is continually regenerated, and biodiversity is maintained. New technology (such as Australian baskets or new regulator measures (i.e. volume limits) ought to be developed in collaboration with stakeholders possessing the necessary know-how.

Short title (native language):

Vers plus de durabilité : gérer la densité des élevages conchylicoles

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

La durabilité de la conchyliculture passe par la définition du stock maximal exploitable sans mettre en péril la ressource trophique que le milieu aquatique peut lui mettre à disposition. Cette version classique de la capacité trophique mérite d’être discutée dans le projet COASTAL. Tout d’abord, dans les zones côtières les relations entre un stock de coquillages et son environnement ne sont pas à sens unique (ressources trophiques vers utilisateur). Le territoire est un espace ou les êtres vivants ou non vivants établissent des relations, interagissent les uns avec les autres. Ainsi les coquillages agissent autant sur leur environnement (remobilisation de sédiment, enrichissement par les pseudofeces, etc) que l’environnement agit sur eux (ressource trophique. De plus, cet équilibre est dépendant de la forme que peut prendre l’agencement spatial des élevages. En effet, si les mouvements de sédiments, la resuspension et la production de phytoplancton sont difficiles à maitriser et contrôler, les densités d’élevages sont soumises à réglementation. Densités d’huîtres par poche d’élevage, nombres de poches à l’hectare, surface des concessions sont autant de facteurs sur lesquels le législateur peut jouer pour optimiser les relations entre les coquillages et leur milieu. Dans un esprit de durabilité, il s’agit de positionner les animaux afin qu’ils permettent de régénérer continuellement une capacité trophique et une biodiversité ad hoc. Les solutions innovantes technologiques (par exemple, paniers australiens) ou règlementaires (densités) doivent être élaborées en concertation avec les acteurs dépositeurs des savoir-faire empiriques.

Practice abstract 73

Short title (in English):

System Dynamics modelling of groundwater resources management in SW Messinia.

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Implementing the Water Framework Directive is very challenging endeavour and achieving the target of Good Ecological Status is not easy when there simply is not enough water to cover current human uses and ecosystem function and services, as is the case in many areas in the most arid regions of South Europe. In the case of Messinia, a tourist destination with approximately 10.000 inhabitants and endless olive orchards, all water uses (agriculture, tourism, domestic and industry) depend on groundwater resources for their water supply. However, these water resources are also the main freshwater provider for Gialova lagoon, a coastal wetland with high ecological and commercial value. At present, the wetland is characterised as saline with hypersaline conditions for nearly 30% of the year. Salinity in the lagoon is expected to increase even more under drier and warmer future conditions, unless freshwater inputs are enhanced by restoring hydrologic connectivity between the wetland and the surrounding freshwater bodies. Balancing societal and ecological needs is the only solution to the problem. Under COASTAL EU project, we have developed Systems Dynamic (SD) models, following participatory modelling strategies which increases understanding about the issues and guides the co-creation of solutions hence increasing social approval during the implementation phase. The model describes how inland groundwater abstraction affects the salinity in the wetland and how the lack of freshwater inputs increases the risk of sea-water intrusion. The model was presented and validated by the MAL stakeholders during the March 2021 meeting and was used as a basis for discussion with stakeholders to promote sustainable decision-making and social learning.

Short title (native language):

Δυναμική μοντελοποίηση συστήματος διαχείρισης υπογείων υδάτων στη ΝΔ Μεσσηνίας.

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Η εφαρμογή της Οδηγίας Πλαίσιο για το νερό παρουσιάζει προκλήσεις, ενώ υπάρχουν περιπτώσεις όπου το νερό που φτάνει στα οικοσυστήματα δεν είναι αρκετό για να υποστηρίξει τις λειτουργίες και τις υπηρεσίες τους. Για την περίπτωση της Μεσσηνίας, ενός τουριστικού προορισμού, με περίπου 10.000 κατοίκους και ατελείωτες ελιές, η παροχή νερού για όλες τις χρήσεις (γεωργία, τουρισμός, οικιακή χρήση) εξαρτάται από τα υπόγεια ύδάτα. Ωστόσο, αυτοί οι υδάτινοι πόροι είναι επίσης ο κύριος πάροχος γλυκού νερού στη λιμνοθάλασσα της Γιάλοβας, ένός παράκτιου υγρότοπου με υψηλή οικολογική και εμπορική αξία. Προς το παρόν, ο υγρότοπος χαρακτηρίζεται ως φυσιολογικός με υπεραλίνο οικοσύστημα για σχεδόν 30% του έτους, και αναμένεται αύξησης της αλατότητας κάτω από ξηρότερες και θερμότερες συνθήκες, εκτός εάν οι εισροές γλυκού νερού αυξηθούν με την αποκατάσταση της υδρολογικής συνδεσιμότητας μεταξύ του υγροτόπου και των γλυκών υδάτων. Για να εξισορροπήσουμε τις ανάγκες της κοινωνίας και του οικοσυστήματος στο πλαίσιο του προγράμματος COASTAL, αναπτύξαμε μοντέλα Δυναμικών Συστημάτων σε επικοινωνία με τους τοπικούς ενδιαφερόμενους για τη βελτίωση των αλληλεπιδράσεων χέρσου και θάλασσας. Το μοντέλο διαχείρισης υπογείων υδάτων περιγράφει πως η άντληση υπόγειων υδάτων επηρεάζει την αλατότητα του υγρότοπου και επίσης πώς η έλλειψη εισροών γλυκού νερού αυξάνει τον κίνδυνο διείσδυσης θαλασσινού νερού. Το μοντέλο παρουσιάστηκε και επικυρώθηκε από τους ενδιαφερόμενους φορείς της MAL κατά τη συνάντηση του Μαρτίου 2021 και χρησιμοποιήθηκε περαιτέρω ως βάση για μια συζήτηση με τους ενδιαφερόμενους και τη συν-δημιουργία βιώσιμων αποφάσεων με ευρύτερη αποδοχή.

Practice abstract 74

Short title (in English):

Digital transition: Participatory activities in the times of COVID

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

COASTAL project is essentially a participatory project, where knowledge production and modelling processes are based on interactions between scientists and local stakeholders. Such interactions were heavily impacted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to contain it. For the case study of Messinia, where the stakeholder groups are also composed of farmers and fishers, many of whom were not familiar with digital technology and virtual meetings, the team was hesitant in organising a virtual MAL. As a result, the initial knowledge exchange meeting (planned for March 2020) had to be cancelled. However, the sudden need for adaptation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic lead to the increased use of innovative digital methods and approaches that are supportive of meaningful stakeholder engagement, such as those required for COASTAL. The stakeholders in MAL2 showed an increased adaptive capacity to the emerging conditions, despite a lack of knowledge in new technologies being identified as an issue by communities in previous meetings. Participation was facilitated during the registration to the event, at which digital literacy levels and ability to participate in online events were examined, and help was offered where needed. The discussions were fruitful, and interactive tools like polls and surveys allowed participants that might have been otherwise overshadowed to express their opinions. Overall, the emerging adaptive capacity resulted in a very successful MAL meeting, with online surveys and polls used to increase the interaction and participation of stakeholders rather than reduce it.

Short title (native language):

Ψηφιακή Μετάβαση: Συμμετοχικές δραστηριότητες στην εποχή του COVID

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Το προγραμα COASTAL είναι ουσιαστικά ένα συμμετοχικό έργο όπου η παραγωγή γνώσεων και η μοντελοποίηση βασίζονται στην αλληλεπίδραση μεταξύ επιστημόνων και τοπικών φορέων. Τέτοιες αλληλεπιδράσεις επηρεάστηκαν σε μεγάλο βαθμό το 2020 λόγω της πανδημίας COVID-19 και των μέτρων που λήφθηκαν για τον περιορισμό της. Για την περιοχή Μεσσηνίας, όπου οι ομάδες ενδιαφερομένων αποτελούνται επίσης από αγρότες και αλιείς, πολλοί από τους οποίους δεν ήταν εξοικειωμένοι με την ψηφιακή τεχνολογία και τις εικονικές συναντήσεις, η ομάδα δίσταζε να οργανώσει ένα εικονικό MAL. Ωστόσο, η ξαφνική ανάγκη προσαρμογής ως απάντηση στην πανδημία, οδήγησε στην αυξημένη χρήση καινοτόμων ψηφιακών μεθόδων και προσεγγίσεων χρήσιμες για την υποστήριξη της ουσιαστικής εμπλοκής των ενδιαφερομένων στις δραστηριότητες που απαιτούνται για ένα έργο όπως το COASTAL. Οι ενδιαφερόμενοι του MAL2 έδειξαν αυξημένη ικανότητα προσαρμογής στις νέες συνθήκες, παρόλο που ως μέρος των προηγούμενων συναντήσεων η έλλειψη γνώσεων στις νέες τεχνολογίες είχε αναγνωριστεί ως ένα από τα θέματα της κοινότητας, με αποτέλεσμα την ομαλή διεξαγωγή του 2ου διατομεακού εργαστηρίου. Η συμμετοχή διευκολύνθηκε κατά την εγγραφή, στην οποία εξετάστηκαν o ψηφιακος γραμματισμός και η δυνατότητα συμμετοχής και προσφέρθηκε βοήθεια όπου χρειαζόταν. Οι συζητήσεις ήταν καρποφόρες και η χρήση διαδραστικών εργαλείων, όπως οι δημοσκοπήσεις, επέτρεψε τη συμμετοχή και σε συμμετέχοντες που δυσκολεύονται να εκφραστούν. Συνολικά, η αναδυόμενη ικανότητα προσαρμογής οδήγησε σε μια πολύ επιτυχημένη συνάντηση MAL, κατά τη διάρκεια της οποίας ψηφιακά διαδραστικά εργαλεία χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για να αυξήσουν την αλληλεπίδραση και τη συμμετοχή των ενδιαφερομένων, αντί να τη μειώσουν.

Practice abstract 75

Short title (in English):

System Dynamic Model of the Stakeholders' Vision for a Sustainable Messinia

Short summary for practitioners (in English):

Following the challenges identified by MAL 2 stakeholders (PA 52) regarding the realisation of the Vision of Sustainable Messinia, the modelling team focused its efforts on quantifying the characteristics related to this vision. This resulted in a large social-ecological model of South-west Messinia comprised of three submodels, with which the identified challenges are being analysed from a dynamic-systems perspective. One of the submodels focuses on olive tree cultivation concentrating on the farmers' willingness to change agricultural practices from conventional to integrated, which would result in reduced nitrogen load in rivers and the Gialova lagoon downstream. The second submodel describes the issues affecting the ecosystem status of the lagoon, which is related to both the nutrient loads coming mainly from the agricultural activities and the increased water demand due to both irrigated agriculture and tourism during summer. The third submodel is used to study how heightened tourism development of the area puts strain on agricultural practices and the visual identity of the Messinian landscape, increasing urban water demand and coastal water quality degradation due to limited wastewater and waste management capacities.

Short title (native language):

Δυναμικό μοντέλο συστήματος του οράματος των ενδιαφερομένων για μια αειφόρο Μεσσηνία

Short summary for practitioners (native language):

Μετά την ταυτοποίηση του Οράματος της Αειφόρου Μεσσηνίας από τους ενδιαφερόμενους φορείς του MAL2 (PA XX) και των προκλήσεων για την υλοποιήσή του, η ομάδα μοντελοποίησης εστίασε τις προσπάθειές της στην ποσοτικοποίηση των χαρακτηριστικών που σχετίζονται με αυτό το όραμα. Αυτό οδήγησε σε ένα μεγάλο κοινωνικο-οικολογικό μοντέλο της Νοτιοδυτικής Μεσσηνίας, το οποίο αποτελείται από τρία υπομοντέλα, όπου οι προσδιορισμένες προκλήσεις αναλύονται μέσω μιας δυναμικής προοπτικής συστημάτων. Ένα από τα υπομοντέλα επικεντρώνεται στην καλλιέργεια ελαιόδεντρων και ασχολείται με την προθυμία των αγροτών να αλλάξουν τις γεωργικές πρακτικές από συμβατικές σε ολοκληρωμένες, γεγονός που θα είχε ως αποτέλεσμα τη μείωση του φορτίου αζώτου στα ποτάμια και στη λιμνοθάλασσα της Γιάλοβας κατάντη. Το δεύτερο υπομοντέλο περιγράφει τα ζητήματα που επηρεάζουν την κατάσταση του οικοσυστήματος της λιμνοθάλασσας, η οποία σχετίζεται τόσο με τα φορτία θρεπτικών ουσιών που προέρχονται κυρίως από τις γεωργικές δραστηριότητες, όσο και με την αυξημένη ζήτηση νερού λόγω της άρδευσης της γεωργίας και του τουρισμού κατά τη διάρκεια του καλοκαιριού. Το τρίτο υπομοντέλο χρησιμοποιείται για τη μελέτη της αυξημένης τουριστικής ανάπτυξης της περιοχής, η οποία ασκεί πίεση στις γεωργικές πρακτικές και την οπτική ταυτότητα του τοπίου της Μεσσηνίας, την αύξηση της ζήτησης αστικών υδάτων και την υποβάθμιση της ποιότητας των παράκτιων υδάτων λόγω περιορισμένης ικανότητας διαχείρισης λυμάτων και αποβλήτων.

Further details

Links to other website(s):

COASTAL Knowledge Exchange Platform

Description of the context of the project:

More than 90 % of the EU territory is covered by rural areas, where roughly half the EU population lives and works. The agri-food sector has a production worth 675 billion euro, and is the third largest employer in Europe. Rural development in the EU faces major, highly-dynamic challenges including global competition, decreasing population densities, lack of employment, desertification, land abandonment, and climate change. In the EU alone, the coastal regions contain half the population as well as half the GDP, and 23 of 28 EU countries have a coastline. The blue economy contributes to 5.4 million European jobs, and an added value of 500 billion Euro annually, and is a major driver of the European economy and clearly identified as prioritized area for growth .Existing research and policy still primarily address issues from either a coastal- or rural-based perspective, making it ill-adapted to support effective land-sea integration at the local, regional and macro-regional scale. User-friendly instruments for identifying and analysing problems from an integrated perspective and deriving effective policy recommendations are scarce. To be effective and accepted, tools for business and policy support and integration of coastal and rural development plans should be based on a participatory, multi-actor approach. This will enhance and exploit co-creation, taking into account the different levels of governance and systemic transitions, while being sufficiently flexible for adaptations.

Additional information:

The project is organised around six case studies or "Multi-Actor Labs":
• Belgian Coastal Zone & Hinterland (Belgium)
• South-Westh Messinia (Greece)
• Norrström/Baltic (Sweden)
• Charente River Basin (France)
• Danube’s Mouths - Black Sea (Romania)
• Mar Menor Lagoon (Spain)