Northern Hemisphere

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.

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Pocket Parks and Pollinator Gardens (USA) [2025]

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Country: United States of America, Florida

Site: City of Delray Beach, Florida

Target: Students and Schools, Tourists and Visitors, Staff, Local communities and residents, Families and Kids

Short Description

The Pocket Parks and Pollinator Gardens initiative has expanded green spaces in Delray Beach, benefiting both wildlife and the community.Through a partnership with the National Wildlife Refuge and local residents, the City has created 10 pollinator gardens, supporting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These gardens promote biodiversity while serving as public learning spaces.

The City hosts Pollinator BioBlitz and planting events, encouraging residents to document species on iNaturalist and contribute to the wildlife atlas. Community engagement, through events, social media, and volunteer opportunities, has led to increased awareness and private pollinator gardens.

A key lesson learned is the importance of ongoing public communication about seasonal garden maintenance. To address concerns, the City is adding signage explaining plant life cycles. With a 95% survival rate for installed plants, this initiative is fostering long-term environmental stewardship.

Goals

  • Increase pollinator-friendly habitats to support biodiversity in Delray Beach

  • Create gardens that provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

  • Encourage residents to participate in Pollinator BioBlitz events and plantings

  • Maintain high plant survival rates and improve public understanding of garden life cycles

Reproducibility

  • Partnerships with local organizations and residents ensure project success

  • Pollinator gardens require minimal investment but provide lasting ecological benefits

  • Platforms like iNaturalist facilitate species documentation and community involvement

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Pollinator Friendly Schools Network (Portugal) [2025]

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Country: Portugal

Site: Municipality of Leiria, Pedrogao Centro beach

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

Short Description

This project, in partnership with Quercus, engaged schools in tackling pollinator decline through hands-on solutions. Students learned about the importance of pollinators, insect hotels, and biodiverse grasslands. As a result, 45 myrtles, 45 rosemary plants, and various honey-producing species were planted in six schools, enhancing local biodiversity. The project aligned with SDG 2 by promoting sustainable agricultural practices that support ecological resilience and regeneration. Beyond education, the initiative contributed to ecological restoration by creating pollinator-friendly habitats. Schools became active agents of change, fostering awareness and implementing real-world solutions for environmental conservation.

Goals

  • Engage schools in planting pollinator-friendly species and creating insect hotels

  • Improve school environments with native plants that support pollinators

  • Align with SDG 2 by promoting ecological resilience and regeneration

  • Empower students and teachers to take real-world action in conservation efforts

Reproducibility

  • Can be replicated in schools worldwide

  • Engaging students in planting and building insect hotels ensures active learning

  • Selecting region-specific pollinator-friendly species enhances local biodiversity

  • Collaboration with environmental organizations like Quercus ensures expertise and scalability

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Bio Platges Met (Spain) [2025]

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Country: Spain

Site: Municipality of Gavá

Target: Students and Schools, Families and Kids, Tourists and Visitors, Local communities and residents

Short Description

Gavá City Council, in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Sciences and CSIC, launched a citizen science project to monitor pollinators at the beach’s natural area. Informative posters invite visitors to photograph and report local flora and fauna, helping document species diversity and conservation status. This initiative raises public awareness of pollinators’ vital role in ecosystems while generating valuable scientific data. Signage effectively reaches a broad audience, but digital platforms further enhance participation. The project highlights the power of community involvement in biodiversity conservation and the importance of pollinators in maintaining environmental balance.

Goals

  • Educate the public on the vital role of pollinators in ecosystems through signage and digital platforms

  • Encourage visitors to photograph and report local flora and fauna to document species diversity

  • Collect valuable information on species conservation status to support research efforts

  • Enhance engagement and broaden reach through online participation tools.

Reproducibility

  • Monitor pollinators through simple, accessible reporting methods

  • Combine physical signage with digital platforms

  • Foster active public participation in monitoring local flora and fauna for data collection

  • Replicate efforts to track and report species diversity

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