The Ecologic Institute hosted a virtual scoping workshop on February 2025 as part of the TROPICAL ADAPT project: Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Coastal Regions Worldwide. This workshop brought together members of the Advisory Board and other stakeholders to explore challenges and opportunities for EbA, refine project strategies, and foster collaboration. The workshop provided a platform to share insights on challenges and opportunities for EbA in coastal regions, refine strategic priorities for the project, and foster collaboration among experts. Additionally, it helped to identify key questions to guide future workshops. 

Workshop Highlights

The event commenced with a warm welcome and introductions from Grit Martinez (Ecologic Institute), Anke Wolff (BMUV), and Simone Wulf (BfN). Nico Stelljes and Gregory Fuchs (Ecologic Institute) then presented the TropicalAdapt project, setting the stage for collaborative discussions.

Participants benefited from a series of impulse presentations:

• Margaux Monfared (ICRI): Highlighted global partnerships for coral reef conservation.
• Andrew Ross (Seascape Caribbean): Shared practical insights on coral reef restoration.
• Rolf-Dieter Sprung (WWF): Discussed community-based EbA in mangrove restoration.

Breakout Sessions: Key Themes & Outcomes

With the use of a whiteboard, three thematic topics were explored regarding coastal EbA. Some of the results are displayed here:

1. Stakeholder Engagement, Governance & Communication

• Challenges: Unclear private sector roles, stakeholder conflicts, and varying priorities.
• Good Practices: Participatory planning and multi-sectoral analysis.
• Actions: Improve stakeholder mapping and communication strategies; engage local champions.

2. Monitoring & Effectiveness of EbA

• Challenges: Limited long-term funding, data gaps, and technical barriers.
• Good Practices: Adaptive management and participatory monitoring.
• Actions: Develop standardized monitoring frameworks and leverage technology (e.g., remote sensing).

3. Financing & Private Sector Involvement

• Challenges: Inadequate funding mechanisms and uncertainty around private sector engagement.
• Good Practices: Early consideration of scaling strategies and sustainable business models.
• Actions: Explore innovative financing (e.g., blue bonds) and public-private partnerships.

Next Steps & Closing Remarks

The workshop concluded with a plenary discussion to prioritize outcomes and formulate key questions for future workshops, focusing on scaling solutions, policy integration, and long-term sustainability.

TropicalAdapt will build on these insights to foster resilient coastal communities through collaborative, science-driven EbA initiatives. These will be delivered through three upcoming workshops and policy briefs. 

We thank all participants for their valuable contributions and look forward to continued collaboration.

This initiative, running from August 2024 to April 2027, is led by the Ecologic Institute on behalf of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV).