Expected Outcome:
This topic aims at directly engaging and supporting regional authorities in demonstrating and accelerating the transitions needed for achieving one or several objectives of the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters in their coastal and riparian areas. The participation of regional authorities [1]as full partners of the consortium is strongly encouraged.
Projects should work with regional authorities and other relevant competent authorities (e.g. authorities responsible for river, water and coastal management) in carrying out restoration activities in coastal zones[2] and riparian zones[3] on land, in the land-sea continuum as well as in their surface waters (rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal waters), which will contribute to achieving the Mission objectives.
Scope:
The project should test and demonstrate effective solutions to achieve the Mission’s specific objectives and targets in coastal and riparian areas. The project should thus test and demonstrate solutions that contribute to:
- protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and Nature Restoration Regulation, and/or
- preventing and eliminating pollution of our ocean, seas and waters, in line with the EU Action Plan Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil and/or
making the sustainable blue economy carbon-neutral and circular, in line with the European Climate Law and the holistic vision enshrined in the Sustainable Blue Economy Strategy.
Demonstration activities are expected to take place in at least [8] regions with at least [2] in each of the four sea and river basins 1. Atlantic and Arctic Sea basin, 2. Mediterranean Sea basin, 3. Baltic and North Sea basin, 4. Danube River basin, including Black Sea, with strong and meaningful involvement of relevant authorities.
The project should:
- Assess the economic, social and ecological impacts as well as the societal acceptance of the proposed measures to achieve the Mission objectives and targets in coastal regions and riparian areas;
- Identify, test and adapt innovative solutions to restore coastal and riparian areas, making a tangible and measurable contribution to one or several of the specific Mission objectives and targets;
- Encourage citizen and stakeholder involvement and uptake through active participation in the restoration initiatives of coastal regions and riparian zones (e.g. through living labs), and through the follow-up of the restoration process with citizen science initiatives;
- Develop new innovative funding approaches to implement innovative solutions for the restoration of the ocean and waters;
- Monitor with measurable parameters the effectiveness of the proposed solutions in relation to the Mission objectives and targets;
- Facilitate synergies with other R&I-relevant EU, national or regional programmes and leverage of funds through interactions with regional/local authorities and the private sector where relevant.