New EU Project for Coastal Resilience
The new Horizon Europe project COAST-SCAPES explores coastal regions around the world and develops strategies to strengthen their resilience to climate change. The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon will be responsible for the Wadden Sea–Weser Estuary pilot region, one of nine sites worldwide selected as climate vulnerability hotspots. Here, researchers aim to test measures and models that can later be applied to other coastal regions. COAST-SCAPES is funded under the Horizon Europe “Climate, Energy and Mobility” cluster, with a total budget of almost 9 million euros. 31 institutions from Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas are participating. The whole project is coordinated by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in Barcelona, Spain.
Sea levels are rising, storms and storm surges are becoming more frequent and intense, and ecosystems are suffering from increasing temperatures and pollution. Coastal regions are under significant pressure from climate change. The new EU project COAST-SCAPES (Rethinking COASTal landSCAPES with climate-resilient interventions: systemic land-to-sea solutions) investigates the interactions between land, coastal, and marine systems and aims to enhance resilience. The focus is on nature-based solutions such as restoring wetlands, planting seagrass, salt marshes, and mangroves, and building sand dunes, that can protect coasts from flooding and erosion. The project combines knowledge from a wide range of disciplines, including ecology, engineering, economics, governance, and the social sciences.
Hereon coordinates pilot region
Nine pilot regions have been selected worldwide that are particularly affected by climate change. In these areas, researchers aim to test models and strategies that can later be transferred to other regions. One such pilot region — the only one in Germany — is the Wadden Sea–Weser Estuary. Hereon will lead research activities in this area. Scientists will measure biophysical variables such as water quality, sediment concentration, and biodiversity, while also examining socioeconomic factors such as the influence of fisheries and tourism. They will also analyze the current state of coastal protection and determine what measures are needed to improve it. Hereon will work together with the Coastal Research Station of the Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation Agency (NLWKN). Further, the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich will focus on governance, climatic justice and social equality, and the Global Climate Forum will prepare business models and long-term financial strategies.
The Wadden Sea–Weser Estuary is the only German pilot region in the EU project COAST-SCAPES. Hereon will coordinate the research activities in this area. Photo: Hereon/Wei Chen
Developing solutions together
“Hereon stands out as a key player in the new EU project COAST-SCAPES, leading the Wadden Sea pilot and bringing together scientists and regional stakeholders to co-develop”, says Dr Joanna Staneva from Hereon's Institute of Coastal Systems – Analysis and Modeling. She is the coordinator of the project at the center. “Through its expertise in coastal resilience and Nature-Based Solutions, Hereon contributes to developing innovative approaches that strengthen climate adaptation and promote sustainable coastal management.”
COAST-SCAPES is a European research project funded by Horizon Europe. This is a research and innovation program of the European Union that promotes science, technology, and sustainable development.
Cutting-edge research for a changing world
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon`s scientific research aims at preserving a world worth living in. To this end, around 1000 employees generate knowledge and research new technologies for greater resilience and sustainability - for the benefit of the climate, the coast and people. The path from idea to innovation leads through a continuous interplay between experimental studies, modeling and AI to digital twins that map the diverse parameters of climate and coast or human biology in the computer. This is an interdisciplinary approach that spans from the fundamental scientific understanding of complex systems to scenarios and practical applications. As an active member of national and international research networks and the Helmholtz Association, Hereon supports politics, business and society in shaping a sustainable future by transferring the expertise it has gained.
Contact & further links
Principal Investigation at Hereon (PI)
Institute of Coastal Systems - Analysis and Modeling
Phone: +49 (0) 4152 87-1804
Scientist
Institute of Coastal Systems - Analysis and Modeling
Phone: +49 (0)4152 87-1509