Protect and restore coastal ecosystems, to address loss of land and livelihoods, due to rising sea levels

The project aims to protect seagrass meadows, which are vital habitats for the prey of resident dolphins and essential to the local fishing economy. The initiative involves local fisherwomen, called "Keepers of the Sea," in activities such as marine education, awareness campaigns, and monitoring the health of the seagrass meadows (Ref 1). Founded in 2015, Ocean Alive aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including ocean conservation, gender equality, quality education, and climate action (Ref 4). The project is supported by partnerships with UNESCO and other organizations, and it extends its efforts to Portuguese-speaking African countries. Ocean Alive’s activities also include advocacy for blue carbon ecosystems and programs that involve community engagement and social innovation (Ref 2, Ref 5).
One of several implementation projects targeted safeguarding the young seagrass meadow at Cambalhão Bay, at the entrance of the Sado estuary, as an Ocean Alive’s initiative in partnership with SeaTrees by Sustainable Surf (Ref. 2). The Cambalhão meadow is made up of 202 patches of seagrass. Unregulated shipping is one of the factors in the degradation of the prairie, and to protect it, Ocean Alive is running a campaign to raise awareness about recreational boating (Ref. 6).

The Dog River Watershed Restoration project aims to protect and enhance the chemical, biological, and cultural integrity of the Dog River Watershed in Mobile County, Alabama (Ref 1). Guided by the Dog River Watershed Management Plan (WMP), the project addresses key issues such as pollution, litter, stormwater management, and habitat degradation (Ref 2). Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund and completed in partnership with stakeholders, the project focuses on implementing targeted restoration activities to improve water quality, protect critical habitats, and increase public awareness and access to the watershed (Ref 2). The Dog River Watershed faces significant hazards, including pollution, sedimentation, erosion, and the impacts of urban development (Ref 3). These challenges are intensified by the watershed’s role as an urban estuary, where land use heavily influences water quality and habitat conditions (Ref 3). To mitigate these threats, the project incorporates pollution prevention measures, shoreline restoration efforts, and community engagement initiatives (Ref 4). By prioritizing scientifically supported actions and aligning with broader environmental goals, the project seeks to restore ecological balance and ensure the long-term health and resilience of the watershed and its connected ecosystems in Mobile Bay (Ref 4).
The Watershed Management Plan for the Dog River Watershed is a key component of the Mobile Bay Shore Habitat Conservation and Acquisition Initiative, which focuses on acquiring, restoring, and preserving habitats and wildlife species affected by the environmental disasters of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred in 2010 (Ref 6). The project spans three critical areas: 300 acres in the Dog River Watershed (as detailed in this project profile), 450 acres within the Three Mile Creek Watershed, and 40 acres in the Garrows Bend Watershed (not in focus here) (Ref 7).

The project at Poetto Beach in Cagliari, Italy, implemented by the municipality of Cagliari, began in 2022. It focuses on protecting and restoring the dune system while raising public awareness about the importance of preserving the coastal ecosystem. The project recognizes the delicate balance between environmental preservation and public enjoyment of Poetto Beach.
Key activities include installing barriers and signs to prevent trampling and littering, modifying beach access points to reduce erosion, and implementing significant interventions to restore the beach. These interventions involve strengthening anti-erosion measures with dune confinement and sand retention systems, as well as creating natural barriers (natural repopulation of native plants ) to protect the seashore. Public education initiatives aim to encourage responsible beach use and enhance understanding of the dunes' fragility. Additionally, new access walkways will be installed, and existing ones will be improved, including the creation of four wheelchair-accessible pathways to the water, designed for easy entry.
This comprehensive plan for protecting and enhancing Poetto's environmental resources is valued at €945,000 and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Overall, the goal is to enhance environmental quality, promote sustainable beach use, and prevent both natural and economic losses. By balancing enjoyment of Poetto's natural resources with their protection, the project aims to ensure the long-term preservation of this valuable coastal area (Ref. 1, 2 & 4).

The BASIC Cartagena Project is an applied research initiative focused on developing tools for integrated coastal water resource management in Cartagena, Colombia (ref 4). It is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, and EAFIT University leads it in collaboration with the University of Los Andes, the University of Cartagena, the Foundation H.E.O., and the Regional Corporation CARDIQUE (ref 4). The goals are to reduce pollution, conserve ecosystem services, and implement climate change adaptation strategies in the coastal area (ref 3). The studies focus on Cartagena Bay (Recognized as the most polluted body of water in the Caribbean), the Dique Canal and the Magdalena River watershed, the local communities in the areas surrounding Cartagena Bay, principally the communities of Ararca and Barú (ref 5). During its first phase (2014-2017), the project concentrated on diagnosing pollution levels and sources. This included extensive monitoring of water quality and the socio-economic conditions of local communities (with a public health focus). The second phase (2018-2021) focused on developing early warning systems for pollution, educational programs, and knowledge transfer through community engagement. The third phase (2023) plans to expand the same activities from phase 1 & 2 to the Rosario and San Bernardo Islands, with continued collaboration among scientists, authorities, and local communities​ (ref 2, 3). Among its most significant achievements are the production of high-level scientific knowledge and the training provided to communities and environmental authorities. A notable impact of the project is its contribution to the formulation of seven policies, including the creation of an intersectoral committee for the environmental management of the Bay of Cartagena. This committee, for the first time, brings together various stakeholders, including fishing and tourism communities, to make decisions about environmental management (3)

The Parque Lineal de Crespo in Cartagena, Colombia, is an urban green space built in 2016-2017 that had fallen into neglect (ref 4) and recently has undergone revitalization initiatives (ref 2). Announced in January 2024 by the Mayor of Cartagena, Dumek Turbay Paz, the project aims to reclaim and enhance this public park as a hub for recreation and community activities, fostering urban well-being and environmental stewardship​ (ref 2 and 3). The local government spearheads the intervention, and the Instituto Distrital de Deporte y Recreación (IDER) has been tasked with the park's management, ensuring its upkeep and the development of activities. The project was launched following an inspection by the Mayor and other local officials, who underscored the need for better infrastructure, safety, lighting, and green coverage through tree planting ​(ref 2 and 3). The primary objectives of the Parque Lineal de Crespo project include revitalising the park through enhanced maintenance, security, and the introduction of recreational and sports facilities. The project also aims to relocate weekend recreational activities, such as a popular bike path (ciclovía), from the congested Avenida Santander to the park, thereby reducing traffic disruptions and enhancing safety ​(ref 2 and 3). The park is relevant for the city because it combats coastal erosion caused by the rising Caribbean waters (Ref 1). The Park aims to be an icon of culture and recreation (ref 1). The project inspired a neighbours initiative, the Friends of the Crespo Linear Park, are a non-profit organization whose objective is to collaborate in the conservation of the Park by contributing awareness initiatives to the population, alerting authorities, and developing new ways to interact with the environment, such as guided bird watching activities and sports (ref 1).

Brookley by the Bay is a 98-acre new waterfront park project along Mobile Bay's western shore (Ref 1). The park aims to reconnect people with the Mobile waterfront and coastal ecosystem (Ref 2). The area, once an abundant mosaic of tidal marshes, forested wetlands, and shallow lagoons, became a port, leading residents to lose contact with the natural landscape (Ref 2).
The park serves both recreational and environmental purposes, aiming to create and restore areas that enhance habitat resilience and allow coastal ecosystems to thrive (Ref 1). It features sports facilities, including kayaking, volleyball, golf, and biking, along with social gathering and educational spaces such as an amphitheatre lawn, a performance pavilion, and picnic tables (Ref 3, Images 1-3). The park provides safe and equitable access for all Mobile residents to nature, beaches, tree canopies, open fields, and varied shorelines, all connected by pedestrian and bike lanes (Ref 2). The project also focuses on habitat enhancement and restoration for biodiversity (Ref 3, Images 1 & 4), as well as flood protection through shoreline get-downs, vegetated edges (Image 4), and undulating berms and swales that serve as a layered protection system against stormwater and coastal flooding (Ref 2).
The development of Brookley by the Bay was guided by input from over 300 community members (Ref 1), local stakeholder organizations, and project partners, with the goal of establishing a more resilient, accessible, and enduring space for generations to come (Ref 2).

Salines Beach, a popular destination for over a million visitors annually (Ref 9), is facing severe erosion due to rising sea levels and poor coastal management. Since 1995, the beach has lost more than 20 meters in width. This loss has been worsened by vehicle traffic and the introduction of coconut trees in the 1950s, which reduced the native root systems that once helped to stabilize the coast (Ref 5). Now, the encroaching sea threatens to swallow the road that runs along the beach.
In response, the Salines Conservation Committee—comprised of concerned community members and environmental groups—has been advocating for urgent action to halt the erosion. They have called for a renaturalization of the area through the replanting of endemic species and restrictions on car traffic, both aimed at restoring the beach’s natural resilience.
When part of the road collapsed in July 2022, the committee took immediate action, organizing community-based interventions. These efforts included blocking traffic, raising public awareness, and planting over 60 endemic plants in the damaged area. The aim was to reestablish a root network capable of anchoring the coastline and capturing shifting sands (Ref 1; 2). The intervention was described as "a response to the urgent need to rebuild the root network, an ecological engineering solution recognized as the most effective method for retaining beach sand and slowing coastal erosion" (Ref 2; 1). The intervention on this section of the coast was first completed, then discarded by the municipality of Sainte-Anne (Ref 2). Regional and National agencies are currently undertaking the restoration works but it is unclear the stage of completion (See Ref 3).

The mangrove area of Morne Cabri, located in the municipality of Le Lamentin and sharing the bay of Fort-deFrance, is the largest mangrove area in Martinique. Since 2011, the municipality has led efforts to understand and better manage the area (Ref 1). The natural regeneration of the mangrove is threatened by fresh water run-off (from waste and rainwater), invasive species and pollution. However, it is an important protection against extreme weather events, operates as a carbon sink for the island and provides recreational activities (Ref 1). The municipality has led several initiatives supported by volunteers, local businesses, national subsidies and private donations (See: Ref 2, 3, 4, 11).

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is one of 28 National Estuary Programs established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, focused on safeguarding and restoring the water quality and ecological health of nationally significant estuaries (Ref 2). One of the four main areas of work of the project (Ref 2) is focused on Ecosystem Restoration and Protection (ERP), aiming at restoring and protecting ecosystem function and services (Ref 4). One of the projects implemented in 2023-2024 in the ERP category is the Deer River Coastal Marsh Stabilization and Restoration project, aiming at restoring and protecting the saltwater marshes of the area (Ref 8).
The issues faced in the Deer River Shoreline are shoreline recession, marsh deterioration, and loss of natural function from erosion, apparently caused by heavy storms, tidal impacts, and wakes from cargo ships entering or exiting the Theodore Ship Channel (Ref 8). Indeed, the saltwater marshes of this area have started to erode at a rapid rate, up to 12 feet per year (Ref 7).
The project aims to enhance the natural function of ecosystem services to improve the area's resilience. It will restore the eroded marsh by creating offshore structures to protect the shoreline and attenuate the waves. The project also aims to restore the water quality of the Deer River by dredging it out, thus improving the water flow. The material dredged out will be used to nourish the marsh (Ref 9).