The SARCC Final Conference resources
The SARCC project conference took place on the 6th-8th of December, 2022 in Southend on Sea, England and was a great success with three days filled with informative talks and insightful panel discussions. The overall objective of SARCC (Sustainable and Resilient Coastal Cities) was to help mainstream nature-based solutions (NBS) into coastal management and policy making, whether that is as stand-alone projects or NBS-hybrids, where they are integrated into existing grey infrastructure and flood defences. The project builds the capacity of urban leaders, decision-makers and officers involved in coastal flood defences to deploy NBS and understand the additional benefits that they offer in comparison to traditional grey infrastructure.
The conference provided an overview of the SARCC project, detailing the outputs and results to disseminate results and address policy changes. It included panel discussions with stakeholders involved in coastal management, provided opportunity to interact with our 14 project partners and learn about specifics of the pilot NBS trialled across the project countries of UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Last but not least, we covered an essential aspect of mainstreaming NBS - mechanism to positively engage local communities that will be involved in public consultations, highlighting the value/benefits of NBS to coastal communities and supporting the approval process for the investment into NBS.
Day 1
John Bennett who is the SARCC Project Manager and Lead Partner. He spoke about the Pressures facing coastal cities. John can be contacted via JohnBennett@southend.gov.uk for further questions/clarification
Michal Nekvasil who is a Climate Change Adaptation Expert from DG CLIMA, European Commission. Michal presented on the EU instruments fostering nature-based solutions and climate resilient landscape approach. To contact Michal use michal.nekvasil@ec.europa.eu
Heather Hilburn the CEO of Thames Estuary Partnership presented on Funding nature-based solutions challenge or opportunity? To contact Heather use heather.hilburn@ucl.ac.uk.
Pippa Moore who is a Professor of Ecology from the Dove Marine Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University. Pippa presented on Quantifying success of NBS project evidence from marine artificial structures. To contact Pippa use pip.moore@ncl.ac.uk.
Garry Momber who is the Director of Maritime Archaeology Trust spoke about Engaging the public, a key for NBS mainstreaming. To contact Garry use garry.momber@maritimearchaeologytrust.org.
Jasmine Noble-Shelley and Marije Verlinde presented the Visualisation toolkit demo and roadshow feedback and Policy, funding and engagement panel. To contact Marije and Jasmine use mverlinde@vlissingen.nl and jns@maritimearchaeologytrust.org
Day 2
Amy Pryor, the Technical Director of Thames Estuary Partnership who presented Innovative ways of approaching NBS in coastal and estuarine cities. To contact Amy use a.pryor@ucl.ac.uk.
Jess Bone from MARINEFF who spoke on the Collaboration between Interreg projects and highlights of the Marineff project. To contact Jess use jbone@bournemouth.ac.uk.
Bert Van Severen and Elke Ramon from the Flemish Government presented on Engagement with decision makers in charge of coastal management. To contact Bert and Elke use bert.vanseveren@vlaanderen.be elke.ramon@vlaanderen.be
Marije Verlinde from Gemeente Vlissingen, Harriet Googe from the Environment Agency, Alain Mengé from the City of Blankenberge, Karel Vanackere from AGSO, Gussé Stijn from Gemeentebestuur Middelkerke, Jo Matthews from the Southend-on-Sea City Council gave lessons learned from the pilots at Netherlands, Newlyn, Belgium, Oostende, Middelkerke and South-on-sea city respectively.
For questions on the pilots, use: Vlissingen: jbeenhouwer@vlissingen.nl, Newlyn: harriet.googe1@environment-agency.gov.uk, Blankenberge: alain.menge@blankenberge.be, Oostende: karel.vanackere@agso-oostende.be, Middelkerke: Stijn.Gusse@middelkerke.be, Southend: LLFA@southend.gov.uk
Day 3
Garry Momber from the Maritime Archaeology Trust who presented on the Implementation of the WP1 longue durée Maritime Atlas. To contact Garry use garry.momber@maritimearchaeologytrust.org.
Fransje Hooimeijer from TU Delft presented on the Innovation in nature inclusive solutions in urban coastal landscapes. To contact Fransje use f.l.hooimeijer@tudelft.nl.
Hanne Van den Berghe from VIVES who presented on Ecosystem services. To contact Hanne use hanne.vandenberghe2@vives.be.
Flavia Simona Cosoveanu from HZ University of Applied Sciences who presented on some SARCC pilots research and key outcomes. This was one of the key Outputs of Work package 1 of the SARCC project. To contact Flavia use coso0002@hz.nl.
Jolyon Sharpe from Cornwall Council and Aikaterini (Kat) Konstantinou from the University of Plymouth presented on Building Community Resilience on a Dynamic Coast by Making Space for sand. To contact Jolyon and Aikaterini use MS4S@cornwall.gov.uk, a.konstantinou@plymouth.ac.uk.
Jo Matthews and Tom Palmer from the Southend City Council presented on the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. To contact Jo use joannematthews@southend.gov.uk.