Project Summary

The NATURED Project Offers Nature-based Solutions for the ADRION Region Facing Climate Change Crisis: The ADRION region is a hotspot of climate change. Spanning multiple countries and cities in the Adriatic-Ionian area, it is grappling with the severe consequences of climate change. Flooding, droughts, landslides, storms, and wildfires have become increasingly frequent, impacting vulnerable communities and exposing the urgent need for adaptation measures. In response to this pressing challenge, the NATURED project aims to empower policymakers and stakeholders to prevent the effects of climate change on urban areas, particularly flash floods, and urban heat islands. The project seeks to promote a just, safe, and inclusive resilience approach, prioritizing the most vulnerable groups, such as those living near rivers and those affected by heat waves. NATURED's approach is anchored in a series of interlinked activities, which include understanding the interactions between climate and cities, creating databases and digital maps for climate vulnerability and hazards in different urban zones, and engaging citizens and stakeholders to define action plans for Nature-based Solutions (NbS). These solutions will be tested in pilot actions and subsequently integrated into the public work plans of cities, with the ultimate goal of replicating the most effective solutions on a wider scale. The transnational approach is crucial, as climate change effects transcend geopolitical boundaries. The Adriatic-Ionian region shares common vulnerabilities that demand collective efforts and joint action. NATURED's originality lies in its place-based approach and the inclusion of NbS in city public work plans, which are currently dominated by grey infrastructure approaches. The project prioritizes Nature-based Solutions over traditional grey infrastructures. By embracing NbS, NATURED aims to create a more resilient and sustainable future for the ADRION region, leaving no one behind in the face of the climate crisis.