Keywords: land-sea interactions, blue growth, rural development, scenario analysis, System Dynamics, multi-actor analysis, participatory modelling, business road maps

The general goal of the COASTAL project (2018-2022) was to develop evidence-based business road maps and policy guidelines aimed at improving the coastal-rural synergy to foster rural and coastal development while preserving the environment. The project partnership consisted of the coordinator (VITO, Belgium) and 28 partners. Six case studies or Multi-Actor Labs in Sweden, Belgium, France, Spain, Greece and Romania addressed land-sea interactions in a systemic manner. Project outcomes collected in this repository include:

• scientific publications

• marine and coastal water quality samples

• causal loop diagrams and fuzzy cognitive maps co-developed by stakeholders in six European Multi Actor Labs 

• narrative scenarios of business roadmaps and policy guidelines for synergistic sustainable development of coastal and rural areas. 

• System Dynamics (stock-flow) models with the data used

• best practices and evidence-based policy guidelines.   

In addition, a Knowledge Exchange Platform (https://coastal-xchange.eu) has been set up to create a durable legacy of the outcomes of COASTAL and support services and interactions between researchers, stakeholders and administrations adopting the methodology and tools of the project.  Please feel free to visit the platform or project website (https://h2020-coastal.eu).  COASTAL was funded by the Horizon 2020 Programme under Grant number 773782.   

More information:

Jean-Luc de Kok (project coordinator)

Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO)
2400 Mol (Belgium)

jeanluc.dekok@vito.be

Rural development in the EU is increasingly affected by changing market developments, decreasing population densities, urban sprawl, lack of employment, desertification and other environmental, economic and social pressures. On the other hand, coastal areas provide interesting business opportunities but are also influenced by economic activities in the hinterland and face important environmental challenges. The general goal of the COASTAL project (2018-2022) was to develop evidence-based business road maps and policy guidelines aimed at improving the coastal-rural synergy to foster rural and coastal development while preserving the environment. The project partnership consisted of the coordinator (VITO, Belgium) and 28 partners. Six case studies or Multi-Actor Labs in Sweden, Belgium, France, Spain, Greece and Romania addressed land-sea interactions in a systemic manner. Participatory multi-actor analysis and System Dynamics modelling were combined to analyse the feedback structures governing the dynamics, vulnerabilities, limitations, and business opportunities at the local, regional and macro-regional scale level. This resulted in a toolbox with a broad range instruments, guidelines and data  supporting co-creation of evidence-based policy recommendations. The applicability of this toolbox surpasses the domain of coastal-rural systems, it’s strongest merit lies in the integration of qualitative and quantitative methodologies.  

Please feel free to visit the COASTAL Knowledge Exchange Platform (https://coastal-xchange.eu) - a durable legacy of the outcomes of COASTAL and support services and interactions between researchers, stakeholders and administrations adopting the methodology and tools of the project. 

COASTAL was funded by the Horizon 2020 Programme under Grant number 773782.   

More information:

Jean-Luc de Kok (project coordinator)

Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO)
2400 Mol (Belgium)

jeanluc.dekok@vito.be