Between September 30 and October 2, the CCDR Alentejo, I.P., in Évora, hosted the General Assembly of the European project DRYAD. This initiative, funded by the European Union, brings together entities from various Mediterranean countries to develop, test, and promote nature-based solutions for enhancing territorial resilience against the impacts of climate change.
The meeting was part of a broader program that included a workshop for Portuguese stakeholders and the project's mid-term event, fostering knowledge sharing among researchers, public entities, agricultural sector organizations, and institutional partners involved in the DRYAD implementation.
The General Assembly took place in the auditorium of the CCDR Alentejo, I.P., gathering representatives from the various partner organizations of the European consortium. The opening session featured welcome remarks from the Vice-President of the CCDR Alentejo, Aníbal Reis Costa, followed by a general presentation of the work and main objectives of the meeting.
Over three days of work, participants reviewed the progress of the project's different work packages, analyzed advancements in demonstration and replication regions, and debated strategies for the adoption and dissemination of nature-based solutions capable of addressing challenges posed by droughts, ecosystem degradation, and climate change.
The program also included technical sessions and thematic workshops focused on decision support tools for stakeholders, cost-benefit analysis of implemented solutions, intellectual property valorization, stakeholder engagement strategies, real-world technological demonstrations, and methodologies for replicating and scaling up the solutions developed by the project.
Prior to the General Assembly, participants had the opportunity to visit the Companhia das Lezírias, where they learned firsthand about environmental monitoring and sustainable natural resource management approaches contributing to the project's objectives.
Hosting this international meeting in Évora reinforces the Alentejo region's role as a benchmark for promoting innovation, sustainability, and European cooperation in climate adaptation, positioning it as a living laboratory for developing and demonstrating innovative solutions applicable to different territorial contexts.
The DRYAD project brings together partners from several European countries with the mission to support the implementation of sustainable water and ecosystem management solutions, contributing to more resilient, competitive communities prepared for future climate challenges.
