CLIMAREST, a Horizon EU project funded by the European Commission, is dedicated to exploring and enhancing restoration actions across diverse coastal areas on an Arctic-Atlantic scale. This initiative seeks to establish effective economic, social, political, and cultural standards that contribute to marine and coastal ecosystem restoration while boosting climate resilience in the Arctic-Atlantic basin. 

CLIMAREST will prioritize the development, testing, evaluation, and dissemination of a standardized framework grounded in rigorous research from demonstration sites, providing a scalable and efficient template for restoring degraded coastal habitats in associated regions such as Cyprus. Emphasis will be placed on scaling and integrating these solutions into tools and protocols accessible to local, national, and regional policymakers to facilitate their incorporation into management strategies. CLIMAREST’s ultimate goal is to create a comprehensive toolbox that supports ecosystem restoration and enhances coastal climate resilience by identifying and leveraging synergies across various solutions. This multifaceted approach is intended to set the foundation for enduring ecological health and adaptive management in coastal environments. 

The consortium meeting held on October 22-24, 2024, in Malaga, Spain, brought together leading scientists and showcased pioneering restoration efforts, marking a significant milestone for both demonstration and replication sites and launching associated regional projects. During the meeting, the Marine and Environmental Research (MER) Lab had the opportunity to connect with partners from Madeira, represented by ARDITI, to gain a deeper understanding of the pressures affecting their rocky reefs and discuss their community engagement strategies, stakeholder involvement, and the various restoration methodologies they have implemented. This exchange provided valuable insights and reinforced collaborative efforts. As part of these initiatives, MER will serve as a replication site of the Madeira Islands, focusing on the restoration of shallow rocky reefs severely impacted by invasive species, such as the Indo-Pacific Lessepsian migrants and the long-spined sea urchin, Diadema setosum. MER aims to test and replicate effective methodologies developed in Madeira, acting as a model and engaging stakeholders and local authorities to support long-term restoration efforts. 

Click here to learn more about our project and join us in our mission to restore coastal and marine ecosystems together!