EKLIPSE is happy to announce the release of the final knowledge synthesis report from the Eklipse Expert Working Group working on Nature-based Solutions and Empowerment Tools. This report was prepared by an Eklipse Expert Working Group (EWG) active from 2023 to 2024. The group undertook Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) to synthesise the current state of the evidence concerning the role of Nature based Solutions (NbS) and community Empowerment Tools (ET) in addressing coastal challenges such as climate change across Europe.
According to the report, the majority of studies (60%) addressed NbS and ET together, indicating that the integration of participatory approaches and ET at various stages and levels within NbS projects can effectively foster empowerment, and as a consequence, social ecological resilience. Coastal environments held the dominant presence in NbS studies, while the prevailing NbS approaches included Ecosystem-based Adaptation, Ecosystem-based Management. Most of these case studies favored a top-down governance process, focusing on informing or consulting communities rather than actively involving or empowering them.
The report delivers a catalogue of empowerment tools, describing 36 methods, actions and approaches to foster engagement and empowerment in the planning, design and implementation of NbS projects that are transferable and replicable to other geographic contexts, and useful for a multitude of purposes. It is aimed to foster engagement and ownership among coastal communities – a relevant source for planning future NbS projects and coastal Living Labs in Europe and across the world.
Using these results, the EWG formulated catalysts for enhanced resilience of coastal communities: a systemic approach; an involved community around a shared vision for the territory; integrated and multi-level governance; integrated and holistic approaches for environmental management; and effective consideration of socio-cultural and socio-environmental diversity as drivers to improve resilience, both in natural and in social spheres.
The full Eklipse knowledge synthesis report is available to view here.