DesirMED General Assembly: Collaborating for a more resilient Mediterranean

Climate change poses an increasing threat to communities and ecosystems across the Mediterranean, making it essential to develop solutions that enhance adaptation and resilience. To address these challenges, IUCN Med is working closely with partners from across the region to advance the development of innovative and effective Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Through initiatives such as DesirMED, these collaborative efforts aim to protect biodiversity, support sustainable livelihoods, and strengthen the region’s ability to cope with environmental change. 

From 25 to 27 February 2025, IUCN engaged in insightful and productive discussions with our partners at the first General Assembly of the DesirMED project in Valencia, Spain,  hosted by Generalitat Valenciana. This EU-funded Horizon 2020 project brings together 34 partner organisations working within 5 Demonstrating Regions and 3 Replicating Regions across 10 Mediterranean countries, committed to accelerating climate adaptation and resilience in the region.  

IUCN facilitating the workshop on the IUCN Global Standard for NbS

At the General Assembly, the IUCN team led a dedicated session on the IUCN Global Standard for NbS and the IUCN online Self-assessment tool, raising awareness and promoting the appropriate use of the Standard as well as associated resources by project partners currently implementing NbS throughout the Mediterranean.

The third day was an Adaptation Day, dedicated to exchange and capacity building on NbS to promote climate adaptation. IUCN led a session on Regional Active Exchange and Practical Discussions around capacity needs in Plenary, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and experience that can be applied to NbS developed within the DesirMED project. During the session, the IUCN team showcased four inspiring and successful NbS case studies that comply with the IUCN Standard:  

• Network Grazing (Pastoreo en Red) – promoted by Redeia Red Eléctrica (Spain)

• REPRISE, Ecosystem restoration for risk prevention and ecosystem services (New Caledonia) - presented by the IUCN French Committee

• The sustainable restoration of coastal dunes for climate adaptation (Catalonia, Spain) from the EU Horizon 2020 IMPETUS project

• Integrated water resource management through NbS in Rwanda

Field visit to coastal dunes restoration in La Devesa del Saler in Valencia, an example of a Nature-based Solution to the coastal impacts of climate change.

Capacity building for climate adaptation in the Mediterranean: Sharing experiences from IMPETUS

The DesirMED General Assembly provided a platform for dynamic, action-oriented discussions on the development of NbS in the Mediterranean. The Adaptation Day provided an ideal opportunity to share results from other projects, such as Impetus: Dynamic Information Management Approach for the Implementation of Climate Resilient Adaptation Packages in European Regions, an EU-funded project closing in September 2025. One of IMPETUS´ key aims is to demonstrate the performance of potential NbS for biodiversity and environmental preservation, to support decision makers to implement climate change adaptation strategies. Within IMPETUS, IUCN has evaluated innovative solutions being tested within coastal dunes and wetlands in Catalonia (Spain), in collaboration with project partners, with the goal of assessing their alignment to the IUCN Global Standard for NbS and their potential for upscaling.  

A NbS developed within the IMPETUS project, Sustainable restoration of coastal dune systems for adaptation to global environmental change, was presented as a case study during the IUCN-led session. Coastal dune restoration is an effective and sustainable solution with multiple benefits, addressing the increasing threats of coastal hazards, erosion and sea-level rise, whilst simultaneously providing benefits for biodiversity, local economies and human wellbeing. The restoration of coastal dunes in Catalonia was presented as an example of a successful NbS for climate adaptation, which has significant potential for upscaling in other parts of the Mediterranean.  

The IMPETUS case study, along with the other NbS presented by IUCN, acted as the basis for subsequent discussions on capacity needs during the workshop. The lessons learned from these case studies allowed participants to identify aspects with potential transferability for their own demonstrating regions and reflect on their solutions within the IUCN´s framework for NbS. 

More information about this NbS case study can be found in the StoryMap on the sustainable restoration of coastal dunes, developed by IUCN and University of Girona within the framework of IMPETUS project (in Spanish): Restauración sostenible de sistemas dunares.

DesirMED: 

This work has received funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)

IMPETUS:

IMPETUS has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101037084.

This post reflects only the author's views and the European Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.