Partners

Rijkswaterstaat is the executive agency of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. Safety, mobility and quality of life in the Netherlands. That’s what Rijkswaterstaat is working on. So people are protected against flooding. They can get from A to B quickly and safely, live in a country with sufficient green space, and enough clean water and drinking water for everyone.

Rijkswaterstaat is the lead partner of Interreg NS project MANABAS COAST. Rijkswaterstaat is actively engaged in climate change adaptation through various projects centered around Nature-based Solutions. These initiatives involve sediment nourishments (e.g., the Sandmotor project), innovative dike concepts (e.g., Wide Green Dike), and the Afsluitdijk.

The Danish Coastal Authority (Kystdirektoratet, DCA) consistently contributes to the knowledge base in coastal-related topics, including coastal morphology, the design and impact of coastal protection, monitoring, and analysis. This evidence is utilized to manage the risk of the most exposed 110 km coast in Denmark and to provide advice to various stakeholders regarding coastal dynamics. DCA maintains long-term collaborations with universities and Danish municipalities.

As an advisor to the Danish government, the acquired knowledge is continuously integrated into DCA's counsel. Presently, it forms a crucial part of climate adaptation efforts. The North Sea Coastal Managers Group shares the insights gained with other countries to collaboratively address the management of diverse coasts in the context of climate change adaptation.

The County Administrative Board (CAB) of Vastra Gotaland (Länsstyrelsen Västra Götaland) is a government authority serving as a crucial link between the public and municipal authorities on one side, and the government, parliament, and central authorities on the other. The commission of the County Administrative Board is to work for development where the environment, economic growth and good living conditions go hand-in-hand.

Among many other assignments the CAB coordinates efforts in climate adaption, flood risk management, and managing protected nature areas. This involves generating knowledge, analyzing the county's vulnerability to climate change, planning, and adaptation activities in close collaboration with other stakeholders.

The Flemish Department of Mobility and Public Works (Vlaams Departement Mobiliteit en Openbare Werken, MOW) aims to continue implementing the Masterplan Coastal Safety, ensuring a safety level against at least a 1000-year storm until 2050.

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are favored measures to ensure coastal safety in Flemish coastal towns. Beach nourishments have been the most widely implemented NbS in recent years. A comprehensive study, involving all stakeholders in a co-creation approach, has been initiated with the goal of identifying adaptation strategies.

French Coastal Conservancy Agency (The Conservatoire du littoral, CdL) is a key player in French littoral management through all coastlines in France, who owns more than 215.000 ha of coastal lands. It is active in the field of climate change adaptation and risk management by conducting different activities: leading reflection processes and conducting specific studies on the subject for 15 years; conducting climate change adaptation implementation projects on its land, based on BwN (dune and beach nourishments, salt marsh restoration and dyke realignment, ecosystem restoration and spatial land-use recomposition); and address this subject with the public and local authorities.

The Swedish Geotechnical Institute (Statens Geotekniska Institut, SGI) is an expert agency that works for a safe, efficient, and sustainable use of land and natural resources. SGI collaborates with municipalities and regions to address coastal management and climate adaptation. SGI conducts vulnerability mapping for erosion in coastal areas and water bodies across Sweden, along with landslide risk analyses. The institute actively promotes Nature-based Solutions for managing erosion along coasts and watercourses.

Many of SGI's projects focus on proactively adapting to a changing climate in the North Sea and Baltic Sea basins. This involves engaging stakeholders from both urban and rural areas and aligning with regional development needs to address challenges related to flooding, erosion, and landslide risk. SGI takes on the responsibility of coordinating erosion issues at a national level along the coast and in watercourses. Furthermore, the institute manages and coordinates regional coastal cooperation initiatives in southern Sweden.

The Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal Protection, and Nature Conservation Agency (Niedersächsischer Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz, NLWKN) is the responsible federal state agency for strategic coastal protection planning, as well as planning measures for foreland protection along the East Frisian mainland coast and the East Frisian Islands (sandy barrier islands). NLWKN has extensive experience in planning, executing, and monitoring coastal protection measures. The Norden division of NLWKN specifically focuses on erosion protection works and the integrated management of salt marshes, as well as nourishments and other Nature-based Solutions for sandy coastlines. These activities are carried out by technical and scientific senior experts in the fields of coastal engineering, landscape planning, and biology.

NLWKN operates under the supervision of the Lower Saxony Ministry for Environment, Energy, and Climate Protection and serves as a competent advisor for policy and various stakeholders.

The HZ University of Applied Sciences (HZ UAS) has a proven track record in applied research within the field of climate change adaptation, disaster mitigation, and the resilient development of coastal and estuarine areas. The research groups participating in MANABAS COAST have been valuable partners in projects addressing strengths and challenges in the North Sea region. Their focus encompasses technical, ecological, and societal aspects of coastal and delta development, spanning across the southwest Netherlands, the cross-border Scheldt estuary, and various locationswithin the North Sea region.

The research group at the Dutch University of Twente (Universiteit Twente, UT) is dedicated to enhancing our comprehension of bio-physical processes in the North Sea region and globally. This understanding is essential for refining the management of extensive surface water systems, including estuaries and shallow seas. The group's objective is to advance our understanding of these bio-physical processes and appropriately model their behavior—striking a balance between simplicity and accuracy tailored to the water management challenges under consideration. Addressing uncertainty stemming from the impacts of climate change is a crucial aspect of accurate modeling and, consequently, a significant focus of the research.

The Regional Water Authority of Hollands Noorderkwartier (Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier, HHNK) is tasked with overseeing flood risk and protection in both the constructed coastal environment and the natural reserves of the North Sea and Wadden Sea region. In response to climate change, HHNK engages in collaboration with various stakeholders and governance bodies to determine the most adaptive approach for the entire coast. The wealth of experience HHNK possesses in monitoring and collaborating with diverse stakeholders will be a valuable contribution to the project.

The German Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for Coastal Protection, National Park, and Marine Conservation (Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein, LKN.SH) is a public federal state authority responsible for coastal protection on the baltic sea and North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein. It also manages the national park “Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Hostein” and is responsible for the protection of the Halligen Islands.

The LKN.SH has a long-lasting expertise and experience in developing the technical foundations for climate adaptation concepts such as "Hallig 2050" and "Strategy for the Wadden Sea 2100." Additionally, the agency actively pursues concepts like Nature-based Solutions in coastal flood and erosion risk management.

The County Administrative Board of Skåne (Länsstyrelsen Skåne, LS) is a government authority serving as a crucial link between the public and municipal authorities in the county of Skåne on one side, and the government, parliament, and central authorities on the other.

The organization carries a diverse range of responsibilities, primarily falling under the three main categories of environment, agriculture, and social and building issues.

Among many other assignments LS is tasked with coordinating regional efforts in climate adaptation, flood risk management, and developing plans for protected nature areas. This involves generating knowledge, conducting planning, analyzing the county's vulnerability to climate change, and assisting other stakeholders in adaptation activities.

The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS) supports, facilitates, and coordinates cooperation for the protection of the Wadden Sea by the three Wadden Sea states: Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands (Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation, TWSC). Since 1998, the TWSC has been actively engaged in developing policies and management strategies to address the potential impacts of increased sea-level rise. This has involved close collaboration among authorities responsible for nature protection, coastal defense, and spatial planning.

The Dutch Resilience Services (RSE) provides support and expert advice to enhance society's resilience to climate change. RSE operates at the intersection of knowledge, policy-making, and learning to facilitate effective adaptation. With a portfolio that includes the publication of over 75 journal and conference papers, collectively cited almost 2,000 times, including contributions to journals such as Ecology & Society and Climatic Change, RSE has established itself as a true authority in the field.

RSE has also developed policy papers for the Interreg NSR projects FAIR and C5a, both addressing adaptation. With extensive experience, RSE has been instrumental in fostering collaborative networks that facilitate organizational and professional learning on adaptation. Examples of such networks include the Dutch City Deal on Climate Adaptation and the KANS network (Climate Adaptation in Dutch Cities).