Last week 12&13 May, Lisbon became a meeting point for cooperation and innovation as it hosted the Interreg Euro-MED Natural Heritage Mission meeting.
The event brought together projects, experts, institutions, and organisations from across the Mediterranean region to exchange experiences, share knowledge, and strengthen collective action in response to growing environmental and climate challenges withing the Mediterranean region.
Among the participating initiatives, Wetland4Change project lean Stanimari Ivanova of the University of Forestry | Bulgaria and project partner Christoph Schröder of the European Topic Center of the University of Malaga ETC/UMA had the opportunity to present the latest progress and results achieved through the project’s activities.
During the amplification room sessions, the project highlighted key outcomes from its five pilot sites, demonstrating the important role wetlands can play in both flood mitigation and carbon sequestration. These results reinforce the value of nature-based solutions as effective tools for increasing climate resilience while simultaneously supporting biodiversity and ecosystem restoration.
Wetland4Change also presented its transfer model, designed to facilitate the replication of successful practices in additional territories across the Mediterranean. The development of new collaborations and partnerships reflects the growing interest in scaling up sustainable approaches that can address shared regional challenges through coordinated action.
The project’s contribution was further recognised during discussions related to the Nature-Based Solutions & Flood Regulation
Cluster meeting recently held in Greece. This collaboration between projects and stakeholders continues to strengthen knowledge exchange and foster integrated approaches to water management, ecosystem protection, and climate adaptation throughout the region.
Another important highlight of the meeting was the official launch of the
#SolveTheChallenge2026 campaign. This annual initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage public engagement around sustainability and the preservation of Mediterranean natural heritage. The 2026 edition will focus on the increasingly urgent issue of water crisis, promoting dialogue and collective action around one of the region’s most pressing environmental concerns.
As climate pressures continue to intensify across the Mediterranean, initiatives such as Wetland4Change demonstrate the importance of cooperation, innovation, and shared responsibility. By connecting territories, institutions, and communities, these collaborative efforts are helping to build more resilient ecosystems and a stronger, more sustainable future for the Mediterranean region.
