Climate Action

Oyster Farm Visit (Brazil) [2025]

Country: Brazil

Site: Late Clube de Santa Catarina-Centro

Target: Practitioners, Professionals, Local communities and residents

Short Description

The Blue Flag Program Management Committee of the Iate Clube de Santa Catarina organized a technical visit to an oyster farm in Santo Antônio de Lisboa, Florianópolis, to explore the links between mariculture, the environment, and climate change. Santa Catarina, Brazil’s largest oyster producer, relies heavily on environmental stability, yet oyster farmer Leonardo highlighted rising mortality rates caused by El Niño, connecting the climate crisis directly to economic losses. Through direct engagement with farmers, observation of cultivation structures,and technical discussions, participants gained insight into how climate variations affect ecosystems, livelihoods, and food security.

To extend the impact, an educational video will share the lessons learned with the wider community, positioning mariculture as both a key element of the ocean economy and a symbol of climate urgency.

The activity served as an effective awareness-raising method and will be replicated as a model for future educational actions.

Goals

  • Understand the connection between climate change and the impacts on mariculture.

  • Value the oyster production chain as part of the coastal economy.

  • Encourage sustainable attitudes based on knowledge acquired in the field.

Reproducibility

  • The activity resulted in strong involvement among the members of the Management Committee and reinforced the Yacht Club's role in promoting coastal sustainability. The technical visit has already directly mobilized more than 40 participants, including staff and employees.

  • The message now has the potential to reach thousands of people on the club's digital platforms.

Beach SOS (Denmark) [2025]

Country: Denmark

Site: Køge Bugt Strandpark

Target: Tourists and visitors, Practitioners, Students and schools, Teachers and Educators, Local communities and residents, Families and Kids

Short Description

Køge Bugt Strandpark, part of the Interreg Beach-SOS project, strengthens coastal resilience with 200,000 m³ of sand nourishment and reinforced dikes to combat erosion and rising sea levels. Sustainable facilities enhance tourism while minimizing environmental impact.

Havhytten, a marine biology center, is expanding with new classrooms and recreational spaces to integrate learning and conservation. It hosts community engagement activities, including workshops and educational programmes promoting climate adaptation.

Following the 2023 storm surge, the project underscores the urgency of proactive coastal protection. Strandparken stands as a model for sustainable, climate-smart coastal adaptation worldwide.

Goals

  • Reinforce dikes and add sand to prevent erosion

  • Develop sustainable facilities with minimal impact

  • Provide workshops on climate adaptation

  • Enhance pathways and recreational spaces

  • Upgrade Havhytten for marine biology learning

Reproducibility

  • Invest early in long-term solutions to mitigate storm surge damage.

  • Plan ahead, as comprehensive coastal initiatives require time and resources.

  • Maintain and modernize learning centers to support long-term climate education.

Environmental Volunteering to Restore the Dunes (Spain) [2025]

Country: Spain

Site: Municipality of Denia, Punta del Raset beach

Target: Students and Schools, Teachers and Educators, Local communities and residents

Short Description

A beach regeneration project at Punta del Raset combined sand traps, informational signs, and community action to combat erosion, protect ecosystems, and promote sustainability. Sand traps stabilized sediment, reducing coastal erosion while preserving dunes and seagrass beds essential for biodiversity and climate resilience. Informative signs raised public awareness, encouraging responsible tourism and long-term conservation. An environmental volunteer day engaged 60 participants in restoring the dune system and improving the Kentish plover’s habitat. Volunteers planted 352 native seedlings, removed 75 kg of invasive species, and cleared 2 kg of waste, enhancing ecosystem health.

Goals

  • Remove invasive species to allow native plants to thrive and protect local wildlife.

  • Replant native species to support natural habitats and provide food and shelter for fauna.

  • Remove debris to reduce pollution, protect wildlife, and maintain dune functionality.

Reproducibility

  • Regular awareness programmes ensure volunteers understand dune ecosystems, fostering long-term commitment.

  • Teamwork among volunteers, experts, and communities enhances effectiveness in habitat restoration.

Dune Awareness-Raising Workshops on the Beach (Spain) [2025]

Country: Spain

Site: Municipality of Teulada, Playa de la Ampolla de Moraira

Target: Tourists and visitors, Families and Kids, Local communities and residents

Short Description

A series of environmental education days highlighted the crucial role of seagrass beds and seaweed in coastal protection. These natural barriers reduce erosion and safeguard beaches from wave impact. Raising awareness among visitors is essential to promoting conservation and resilience against climate change. Held on three days during the tourist season, workshops engaged 90 participants. By emphasizing the importance of seagrass accumulation, the initiative fostered respect for natural processes.

Key messages included:

  • “Marine phanerogams and algae are natural barriers that protect our beaches."

  • "Every small action counts to protect our coastline."

  • "Nature plays a key role in the fight against climate change."

Goals

  • Inform visitors about the natural protection of coasts and their resilience to extreme weather

  • Promote good environmental practices and respect for the coastal environment.

  • Highlight the role of seagrass meadows and accumulated biomass on the shore

Reproducibility

  • Community involvement through educational days strengthens environmental commitment and promotes good practices on beaches.

  • Workshops and participatory dynamics are key tools to transmit knowledge and generate a positive impact on visitor behaviour.

Coastal Green (Mexico) [2025]

Country: Mexico

Site: Hotel Viva Azteca By Wyndham

Target: Tourists and visitors

Short Description

The Viva Azteca By Wyndham Hotel has launched a coastal restoration project, planting 400 native plants to stabilize sand, prevent erosion, and promote biodiversity. By restoring the beachfront ecosystem, the initiative strengthens resilience against climate change. Beyond conservation, the project engages tourists and locals through environmental education. Workshops, talks, and hands-on activities highlight the importance of native flora and ecosystem restoration.

Goals

  • Select and plant native flora for coastal restoration

  • Implement maintenance of coastal vegetation.

  • Raise awareness on the protection and conservation of beaches.

Reproducibility

  • The survival rate of the plants was analyzed showing positive results

  • Guests have expressed positive feedback on the initiative

  • The project has been replicated at the Viva Maya By Wyndham Hotel