The REWRITE project, set to launch in October 2023, aims to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis in European coastal zones. With profound changes already occurring, including biodiversity loss, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels, urgent action is needed to mitigate these catastrophic consequences.
Intertidal areas in European coastal zones, covering over 10,000 km² along the 35,000 km of tidal coastline, provide vital ecosystem services and have the potential to address the biodiversity-climate crisis. However, these seascapes are disappearing, fragmented, and polluted, leading to a decline in their provision of goods and services.
The REWRITE project introduces the concept of rewilding as a nature-based solution to reverse this situation and restore the natural balance. Coordinated by the Nantes Université, REWRITE brings together a network of ten demonstrators and 25 partners from academic and private sectors, including experts in natural and coastal environments, social sciences, and humanities.
"We are excited to lead the REWRITE project and embark on this innovative journey to restore and rewild European coastal zones. By bridging scientific knowledge and societal engagement, we aim to create a sustainable future where nature thrives, contributing to climate resilience and biodiversity support." – Vona Meleder, Researcher at Nantes Université & Project Coordinator of REWRITE.
The challenges & the solutions REWRITE focuses on
The project's goal is to rewild European shores, ensuring climate resilience, biodiversity support, and societal benefits.
To achieve this, the project focuses on three key challenges:
Reducing uncertainty: By understanding the ecological and social functioning of intertidal seascapes, REWRITE can accurately project their future trajectories by 2050. This includes exploring restoration, rewilding, and "do nothing" options in the face of changing conditions.
Assessing cascading effects: REWRITE aims to understand how factors like CO2 increase, temperature rise, sea level rise, extreme events, and biodiversity loss impact these seascapes at both local and global scales. This knowledge will enhance the resilience of our European shoreline.
Engaging society: Identifying social and cultural drivers and barriers is crucial for ensuring local and national engagement and support. REWRITE will work with stakeholders to overcome trade-offs and conflicts, considering both environmental benefits and societal pressures.
By embracing rewilding as a nature-based solution, REWRITE aims to safeguard our natural heritage, promote climate resilience, and contribute to a prosperous, competitive, and climate-neutral economy.