1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Athens
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Wetland adaptation
Short description of the intervention
Within the territory of the Region of Attica there are more than 100 wetlands including streams and their estuaries, coastal marshes and lagoons, lakes and constructed wetlands. They constitute “biodiversity islands” within a broadly degraded environment and offer the inhabitants of the Attica Region the opportunity to stay in touch with nature. A strategy and an action plan were developed for the conservation and restoration of these ecosystems in fighting climate change within the EU-funded OrientGate transnational co-operation project. (Ref. 1)
Climate Change is expected to put additional pressure on these habitats as, based on future climate projections, Attica’s vulnerability to drought is expected to rise from low to moderate by the year 2100. Drought episodes are expected to last longer and occur more frequently than in the past. This phenomenon is expected to have a serious impact on Attica wetlands as most of them are rain-fed. (Ref. 1)
Address

Greece

Location
The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature
Website of the intervention
http://www.orientgateproject.org/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2014
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2015
End date of the intervention
2020
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Goals of the intervention
The goal of the project was to produce a climate change adaptation strategy and an action plan, which: (i) involves monitoring and assessing the environmental quality of wetland areas in Attica Region, (ii) study drought deterioration in the future and (iii) put in force the implementation of a series of measures that reduce the regional vulnerability of wetlands to climate change (Ref 1), (iv) to assess the vulnerability of wetlands in Attica Region under projections of climate change, and (v) to support Region of Attica to formulate a wetland strategy for their conservation and climate change adaptation (Ref 2).  
Quantitative targets
To restore the ecosystem of 100 wetlands (Ref 1)
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of species protected, number of migratory birds, number of tourists (Ref 1)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
Marine and coastal research and/or education
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Improvements to water quality
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Inclusive governance
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Tourism support
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Reduce the impacts of climate risks events on urban places and communities
Build resilience
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect coastal and freshwater ecosystems to prevent coastal erosion and pollution
Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect native species
Undertake specific measures to protect endangered species
Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Means for conservation governance
Biodiversity offsets
Implementation activities
The following implementation activities were taken:
- Increase the connectivity of natural areas.
- Mitigate other threats, i.e. invasive species, fragmentation, pollution.
- Study response of species to climate change physiological, behavioral, demographic.
- Increase the number and size of protected areas.
- Increase and maintain monitoring programs.
- Initiate long-term studies of species responses to climate and model species ranges in the future.
- Practice adaptive management.
- Improve inter-agency, regional coordination.
- Increase interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Institutional capacity enhancement to address climate change.
- Create education programs for public about landuse practices and effects on and with climate. (Ref 1, 3)
Type of NBS project
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Coastal landscape management or protection
Protection of natural ecosystems
Strategy, plan or policy development
Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Amenities offered by the NBS
Swimming areas
Educational or biodiversity trails
Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations)
Viewing and outlook points
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Carbon storage/sequestration
Flood regulation
Water purification / filtration
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Tourism
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
National-level government
Researchers/University
Citizens or community groups
Please specify other local relevant strategy
National level environmental plan
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
• Scientific support: Greek Biotope Wetland Centre (EKBY)
• Political support: Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Climate Change (Ref 1)
Key actors - initiating organization
National government
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Researchers/university
Transnational network
Please specify other participatory methods
Citizens are given training and educations and encouraged to getting involve (Ref 1)
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Other
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
Case developed and implemented in line with the EU Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (Ref 1)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
• National Strategic Reference Framework 2014-2020: in protection of the region (Ref 1)
• The National Operational Plan for the environment (2014-2020), which covers objectives and priority actions for the waters and the implementation of the Water Management Plans. (Ref 1)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
• The Master Plan of Athens/Attica 2021: covers actions for their legal protection and their promotion as green infrastructures. (Ref 1)
• River Basin Management Plan: (in the context of the Water Framework Directive implementation. (Ref 1)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning law
Environmental regulation
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
The Master Plan of Athens/Attica 2021: covers actions for their legal protection and their promotion as green infrastructures. (Ref 1)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
General municipal plan
Other
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project was implemented within the framework of the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme “A structured network for integration of climate knowledge into policy and territorial planning” OrientGate (2012-2014). (Ref 1)
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Scientific support was provided to the project by the Greek Biotope Wetland Centre (EKBY) (Ref 1). A research has been conducted on the "Effects of climate change on the wetland ecosystems of Attica Region, Greece" in the Orientgate project (Ref 2).
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project was co-financed by the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme (Ref 1)
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
A fund / grant
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Already in place
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
€ 11.188.000,00 (Ref 3)
Source(s) of funding
Public national budget
EU funds
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Risk reduction model
Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Social
Policy innovation
Please specify social innovation
The goal of the project was to produce a climate change adaptation strategy and an action plan, which: (i) involve monitoring and assessing the environmental quality of wetland areas in Attica Region, (ii) study drought deterioration in the future and (iii) put in force the implementation of a series of measures that reduce regional vulnerability of wetlands to climate change (Ref 1). (iv) to assess the vulnerability of wetlands in Attica Region under projections of climate change, and (v) to support Region of Attica to formulate a wetland strategy for their conservation and climate change adaptation (Ref 2).
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Increased protection against sea level rise
Lowered local temperature
Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Environmental quality
Improved soil quality
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Increased protection against flooding
Reduced risk of damages by drought
Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
Green space and habitat
Increase in protected green space areas
Increased number of protection areas
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased protection of threatened species
Description of environmental benefits
The project is ongoing. When fully implemented the intervention is expected to mitigate the impacts on Attica wetlands of the combined effects of anthropogenic interventions and climate change. In specific, positive outcomes will be:
- improving knowledge about climate change and its influence on species, habitats and ecosystem functions;
- conservation actions: this includes, among others, conservation and restoration of wetlands, plants and animal species present;
- sustainable use of natural resources: strict enforcement of measures to prevent and combat pollution. Investments to promote efficient and sustainable water use;
- land-use planning for conserving wetlands in the context of promoting a coherent and non- polluting city;
- reduce the catastrophic consequences of floods;
- the vegetation stabilizes the coasts by reducing the effect of waves and currents;
- improve water quality by trapping sediments, nutrients and toxic substances (Ref 1, 3).
Economic impacts
Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
More sustainable tourism
Attraction of business and investment
Description of economic benefits
The implemented project is expected to allow for the development of economic activities through sustainable tourism and a place for industries to invest. The activities also created many jobs. The authority is also trying to fostering support from industries by encouraging them more into a sustainable business in the area (e.g. reduced emissions, biodiversity-friendly activities etc.) (Ref 1, 3)
Social and cultural impacts
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
Increased appreciation for natural spaces
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Description of social and cultural benefits
The project has the following social and cultural impacts:
- environmental interpretation: enhancing environmental awareness, development of information centres and other interpretation infrastructure, protection and restoration of monuments and landscapes related to water etc.
- governance: supporting environmental control mechanisms. networking and sharing of good practice, training. (Ref 1, 3)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Indicators
The indicators would be (i) measuring the effects of waves and currents (ii) quality of water (amount of sediments, nutrients and toxic substances) (iii) increase or decrease in economic activities (iv) number of visitors. (Ref 1)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Water management (SDG 6)
Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Paid employment positions
Voluntary work opportunities
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of July, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Focus groups
Measurements of biophysical aspects of the NBS (e.g. temperature, water flow)
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Wetland Vulnerability Matrix: to measure (i) Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI) (ii) Wetland Sensitivity (WS) (iii) Wetland Adaptive Capacity (WAC) (Ref 3).
Link to the output of assessments
http://www.orientgateproject.org/uploads/Press%20releases/results%20docs/pilot%…
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
Yes
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Questionnaire
Interview
Submission of monitoring data (citizen observation)
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
They were encouraged to take action through interviews, information meetings, workshops and training seminars. (Ref 1)
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Yes
Please specify
Based on the experiences of the citizens, weaknesses and good/bad practices in the management and protection of wetland wealth are being recorded; and the value of conserving wetlands and the need to adapt to climate change are being promoted. (Ref 1)
References
List of references
1. Wetland adaptation in Attica. European Climate Adaptation Platform. Available at: http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/wetland-adaptation-in-attica-region-greece-1. Accessed on 22nd July 2020.
2. Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre (EKBY). 2014. Wetland Vulnerability Indicator assessment for Attica Wetlands, Greece. Technical Report ORIENTGATE project. Thessaloniki.
3. The region of Attica. Available at: http://www.patt.gov.gr/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18412&Itemid=799. accessed on 22nd July 2020.
4. Orientgate (2014) Wetland adaptation in Attica region, Greece. Pilot study technical report 4. Available at: http://m.orientgateproject.org/uploads/Press%20releases/results%20docs/pilot%20study%20reports/WP5_Pilot%20Study%204_Report_WEB.pdf. Accessed on 22nd July, 2020.
Comments and notes
Public Images
Wetland adaptation in Attica Region, Greece
Wetland adaptation in Attica Region, Greece
Source: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/wetland-adaptation-in-attica-region-greece-1
Wetland adaptation in Attica Region, Greece
Wetland adaptation in Attica Region, Greece
Source: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/metadata/case-studies/wetland-adaptation-in-attica-region-greece-1