adapto+, Mainstreaming soft shoreline management for coastal adaptation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

There are 3 main obstacles to the implementation of flexible coastline management:

 

1. the lack of knowledge about the issues involved in adapting coastal zones, hindering the implementation of concrete actions or leading to poor adaptation practices
2. the rejection of adaptation practices (for economic, political or cultural reasons, etc.)
3. the regulatory rigidity that frames current practices

 

The Conservatoire du Littoral and BRGM launched LIFE Ad'Apto in 2017 (LIFE16 CCA FR 000131) to meet the challenge of adapting coastal areas to the effects of climate change, particularly rising sea levels. Between 2017 and 2022, LIFE Ad’Apto demonstrated the effectiveness and relevance of flexible coastal management based on nature. 

 

Although the project was an experimental pilot, it had significant local impact. Now its approach needs to be expanded and consolidated at regional, national and European levels, in order to benefit from wider recognition, application and integration into public policy. In this context, the experience gained from the first Ad'Apto project provides valuable insights for advancing action in several key areas including engineering for flexible coastal zone management; expanding the network of demonstration sites and stakeholders to facilitate the exchange; dissemination of experiences gained; and integrating flexible management approaches.

 

The results of LIFE Ad'Apto will serve as a basis for the adapto+ project, and will be expanded in terms of environments, types and duration of monitoring, educational and social approaches, to create a comprehensive and easily reproducible method.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the LIFE adapto+ project is to scale up the transition to flexible management of predominantly natural and agricultural coastlines. This in turn will lead to better adaptation of coasts to climate change and enable the preservation of biodiversity, ecosystem services and sustainable human activities.

 

The project’s specific objectives are to:

 

• develop a comprehensive, integrated and applied territorial engineering method for the implementation of a flexible coastline management project
• develop knowledge and acceptance of flexible coastline management as an effective means of adaptive coastline management
• mainstream flexible adaptation practices at French and European levels

 

The project plans a more extensive demonstration approach with 15 new sites, incorporating new environments and/or a wider territorial dimension.

RESULTS

The project’s expected results are described below.

 

 

Environmental and climate results:

• a reference map of the French coastline for the adaptation of territories, for decision-makers and public authorities
• a tool for evaluating flexible management scenarios for coastal sites, based on the global engineering methodology
• a methodological report on the engineering of flexible management of the coastal strip, integrating all technical, environmental, social, political and economic components
• 15 demonstration sites where nature-based solutions (NBS) are implemented, bringing the number of adapto+ sites to 25
• the application of the approach to a network of dune sites (3 dune sites in the Atlantic Arc, 2 dune sites in the Mediterranean)
• the protection of 230 km² of coastal territory partly by NBS, improving their resilience to major events
• 25% fewer vulnerable goods and services (including ecosystem services) in project areas exposed to coastal risks 
• the restoration of 5 km² of natural habitats (coastal interfaces dunes, maritime marshes and natural meadows)
• the capture of 150 tonnes/CO2/year. 

 

Socio-economic impacts:

• 30 000 people are less exposed to climate change risks
• 10 agreements signed with farmers to convert arable land to hay meadows, extensive grazing, carbon-storing agriculture or to experiment with new forms of agriculture on reconnected land
• 100% of agricultural land in reconnected areas compensated for the structures concerned.

 

Impacts on communication, awareness and governance:

• 75 000 people aware of the challenge of adapting to climate change in coastal areas and acknowledge the merits of flexible coastline management measures
• the set-up of and operation of a network of 25 adapto/adapto+ demonstrators
• training of 150 local stakeholders
• 200 students taking part in studies at the project's experimental sites, and 600 students trained