LIFE Ad'Apto

Two decades ago, erosion had already impacted 20% of European coasts. Today, traditional approaches to engineering have further exacerbated natural area loss, increasing submersion and erosion risks.

The project aimed to develop adaptive management strategies by restoring natural habitats and ecosystems to better mitigate the impacts of climate change in coastal areas, particularly sea level rise and submersion. The Ad’Apto project promoted community engagement, landscape understanding, and nature-based solutions to raise awareness of the problem and explore new approaches that support decision-making for sustainable coastal management.

To achieve this, the project focused on securing strategic land, implementing diverse restoration works, and involving local stakeholders. These efforts prepared 10 pilot territories for a future reconnection of parts of their land to the sea, enhancing the role of local natural habitats in mitigating climate change effects. This pioneering project reconnected polders to the sea, maximising the capabilities of marine habitats to reduce hazard risks. In addition to monitoring biodiversity, it performed social perception studies and in-depth economic analyses on the benefits of erosion management, weighing up the pros and cons of adaptive coastal management vs. engineering. Additionally, the project planned to transfer knowledge from the most advanced sites, which already have defined adaptation strategies, to the less advanced ones.