By Dóra Leitner
From 27–30 October 2025, the REWRITE project gathered in Aveiro, Portugal, for its 3rd annual meeting, bringing together project partners, demonstrator site representatives, advisory board members, stakeholder Steering Committee members, and stakeholders to advance the vision of coastal rewilding across Europe. Over four days of scientific sessions, workshops, and interactive activities, participants explored innovative approaches to restoring intertidal ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and building climate resilience while promoting societal benefits along European shorelines.
Day 0: Early Career Researchers Take the Spotlight – 27 October
The meeting opened with a dedicated Early Career Researchers (ECR) Day, giving young scientists a platform to showcase their work and connect with peers. PhD students and postdocs presented their research on topics ranging from biodiversity and carbon sequestration to societal benefits of coastal rewilding.
“It’s inspiring to see so many young researchers thinking beyond disciplinary boundaries,” said Vona Méléder, REWRITE coordinator. “The ECR Day reminds us that the future of coastal rewilding lies in collaboration and fresh perspectives.”
Participants also had the chance to enter the “Frames of Nature” photo contest, capturing the beauty and complexity of intertidal ecosystems. The photographs will be featured on the REWRITE website, offering a visual narrative of the project’s focus on nature-driven solutions. The ECR Day not only provided opportunities for networking but also encouraged collaborative thinking about the future of coastal ecosystems in Europe.
Day 1: Official Opening of the 3rd Annual Meeting – 28 October
The official opening of the annual meeting brought together all REWRITE partners, representatives from the nine demonstrator sites, and members of the Advisory Board and Stakeholder Steering Committee. Dr. Ana Lillebo, Vice-Rector of the University of Aveiro, welcomed participants, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing coastal challenges. REWRITE coordinator Vona Méléder set the tone with inspiring remarks, emphasizing the project’s commitment to innovative, nature-driven solutions for European shorelines. Tamiris Moreno presented the meeting agenda, and new members of the Advisory Board and Stakeholder Steering Committee were introduced, reinforcing the project’s strong governance and stakeholder engagement.
The morning sessions offered a rich mix of presentations and discussions. REWRITE’s definition of coastal rewilding by Werner Krauss prompted participants to consider both ecological and social dimensions, leading to animated discussions on integrating policy, governance, and community perspectives.
Dedicated sessions dove into the science underpinning REWRITE’s approach, including:
- Carbon sequestration and stocks (Ana Sousa)
- Biodiversity and conservation (Koen Sabbe)
- Coastal flood protection (Iris Moeller)
- Cultural and societal ecosystem services (Evangelia Drakou)
- Governance frameworks and legal mechanisms (Gina Reinhardt)
“One of the highlights was seeing how interdisciplinary our discussions have become,” noted by a participant. “We’re moving from isolated research outputs to a real synthesis of knowledge that can guide coastal management.”
In the afternoon, sessions focused on integrating natural and social science perspectives: field assessments of ecosystem services, mapping narratives of change, remote sensing and modelling for upscaling, and assessing societal perceptions of rewilding. The interdisciplinary discussions addressed key questions, such as environmental justice, epistemological shifts from “rewilding” to “rewriting,” and translating local insights to global applications.
Following sessions concluded the day by exploring the integration of knowledge across the project into actionable strategies, including the MAL-loop methodology, which supports co-created solutions across scales.
Throughout the day, the ECR photo exhibition offered a creative interlude and inspiration throughout the day, highlighting the aesthetic and scientific value of coastal ecosystems.
Day 2: Vision building at the Global Multi-Actor Lab (GMAL) – 29 October
On 29 October, the REWRITE project hosted its first Global Multi-Actor Lab (GMAL) at , an the inspiring venue of, ECOMARE, the laboratory for innovation and sustainability of marine biological resources of the University of Aveiro. The GMAL brought together a diverse group of stakeholders for an intensive vision-building workshop focused on coastal rewilding. Participants engaged in interactive exercises, collaborative discussions, and scenario planning, ultimately developing three innovative visions for rewilding Europe’s and global shorelines. Read more about the GMAL here.
Alongside the GMAL, other activities included:
- The REWRITE Data Sprint, led by Lily Puspasari, where participants collaborated on data integration and visualization approaches.
- A workshop for demonstrator site leaders and representatives on objectives, needs, and impacts of the project.
- A field trip by boat to the Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon, providing hands-on experience of rewilding initiatives in situ.
- The Carbon Meeting, led by Ana Sousa, exploring the latest insights on carbon sequestration and ecosystem service valuation.
Evening discussions at a group dinner provided additional opportunities for informal networking, strengthening collaborations across the consortium.
Day 3: Reflecting, Synthesizing, and Planning Ahead – Second Annual Meeting Day – 30 October
The final day returned to the University of Aveiro, focusing on synthesizing lessons from the GMAL, identifying obstacles and drivers, and evaluating plural values of rewilding.
Sessions covered lessons learned from the first GMAL, socio-economic and technical drivers, and low-cost options for scaling rewilding practices. Feedback from demonstrator sites emphasized translating local experiences into a broader European Coastal Rewilding Network.
Afternoon sessions addressed governance frameworks, next steps, and strategic planning for the project’s continued progress. The meeting concluded with feedback from the Advisory Board and Stakeholder Steering Committee, followed by a wrap-up and official closure by Vona Méléder.
The 3rd REWRITE annual meeting demonstrated the project’s commitment to collaborative science, stakeholder engagement, and cross-disciplinary innovation. With inspiring workshops, rich discussions, hands-on experiences, and strong participation of career researchers, the project continues to pave the way toward a more resilient, biodiverse, and socially inclusive European coastline.