PRTR PAPEL DE LAS PRADERAS SUBMARINAS EN LA MITIGACION DE IMPACTOS DEL CAMBIO CLIMATICO

[Cod. TED2021-132132B-C22 PRTR SEAFRONT]

Global warming is a major threat for coastal environments. It has induced a significant sea level rise during the last century which will continue for the coming decades at even higher rates. Higher sea levels will imply the permanent flooding of low-lying areas and will strongly enhance the impact of marine storms on the coast. In Mediterranean countries, with socioeconomic systems relying on coastal environments, this may have dramatic consequences in terms of human safety, infrastructure damages or economic development. Protecting the coast from this threat is a major challenge and the different options have to be properly assessed and their potential benefits accurately quantified before setting up any adaptation plan.  In this context, the SEAFRONT project focuses on the analysis of a nature based solution to reduce the impacts of sea level rise in the Spanish coasts. The project will assess to what extent the presence or absence of seagrasses can significantly modify the coastal impacts in terms of coastal flooding and economic losses. Different alternatives for seagrass restoration will be analysed to set up seagrass areal extent scenarios that will also take into account the expected evolution of different species in a warmer ocean. Those seagrass scenarios will be combined with several future climate scenarios to establish the cost-benefit analysis of different adaptation pathways. The results of SEAFRONT will be transfered to stakeholders and coastal managers at local, regional and national level to support the future plans for the adaptation of coastal areas to climate change. Also, an educational program oriented to secondary school students will be put in place to rise awareness of climate change and the marine environment.