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The final meeting in Barcelona marked not just the conclusion of the REST-COAST project, but the beginning of a new approach to managing Europe’s coastlines. For MEDSEA, which has closely supported the evolution of pilot sites as a technical partner, this milestone represents a crucial shift—from experimentation to structured, long-term governance.

As highlighted by Bruno Boz, environmental biologist at MEDSEA and expert in ecosystem restoration, who attended the meeting in the Catalan capital, the true value of these years of research lies not only in the data collected, but in building a solid knowledge framework capable of guiding large-scale restoration across very different coastal contexts.

The message that clearly emerges is simple: effective restoration must be systemic.

“The post REST-COAST challenge,” Boz explains, “is to turn the technical and digital tools developed—ranging from monitoring platforms to sediment management models—into medium- and long-term policy action.”

Across the Mediterranean, where shared challenges take very different forms—from sediment shortages in the Ebro Delta to excess sediment in the Ems-Dollard estuary—the project provides decision-makers with a comprehensive “toolbox” for action.

With the new EU Nature Restoration Regulation now in force, REST-COAST offers a solid foundation for upcoming National Restoration Plans: a roadmap that combines Nature-based Solutions (NbS), innovative financial models, and governance approaches capable of bringing together fishermen, farmers, scientists, and public authorities.

1. What is the key takeaway from the project?

One of REST-COAST’s most important achievements—also reinforced during the final meeting in Barcelona—is its contribution to building a robust knowledge framework for scaling up coastal ecosystem restoration across Europe.

The project has identified and classified the main barriers limiting large-scale restoration; developed shared indicators to measure impacts in terms of ecosystem services; promoted innovative and practical governance and financing models; built synergies with other Horizon projects (SUPERB, WaterLANDS, MERLIN), creating a common language across ecosystem restoration initiatives.

As a result, REST-COAST now stands as a key reference for future initiatives, particularly in supporting the implementation of National Nature Restoration Plans under the EU Regulation (2024/1991).

2. What does “large-scale restoration” really mean in Europe?

Large-scale approaches are essential when dealing with coastal ecosystems, which are shaped by complex and interconnected factors such as sediment supply, water and nutrient flows from river basins, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and increasing coastal erosion.

• restoration of coastal wetlands (salt marshes and seagrass meadows),
• dynamic sediment management,
• re-establishing river-sea connectivity,
• creation of artificial habitats (such as bird islands),
• integration of resilient food production systems,
• flood protection strategies adapted to climate change.

3. Preparing for the post REST-COAST phase

While REST-COAST included hands-on interventions and monitoring activities, its primary goal was to provide a comprehensive set of tools to support future large-scale restoration initiatives.

The key challenge now is to use these tools to design medium- and long-term strategies that integrate Nature-based Solutions into coastal management.

Future project developers can rely on REST-COAST outputs to identify the most suitable technical solutions, monitor and measure impacts, structure governance models, attract and secure funding.

The project also made a significant effort to support EU Member States and the European Commission with practical knowledge for developing National Nature Restoration Plans, expected in the months following the project’s conclusion.

Given the complexity of coastal systems, further research initiatives building on REST-COAST are also likely to emerge.

 

In the Ebro Delta (Spain), sediment deficits caused by upstream dams intensify coastal erosion. Without restoring sediment flows, coastal interventions (such as sand dunes) can only slow—not solve—the problem. In the Ems-Dollard estuary (Netherlands), excess fine sediment requires removal, engineered structures, and sediment-trapping lagoons. In the Venice Lagoon (Italy), reducing eutrophication requires combining lagoon restoration with upstream measures such as constructed wetlands to intercept nutrients.

5. What are the main barriers?

REST-COAST identified several categories of barriers, which can be of different type. On a technical point of view, the lack of space for NbS in highly urbanized areas, the sediment imbalance (deficit or excess), the accelerating erosion and sea-level rise, the nutrient overload leading to eutrophication.

In terms of methodologies, there are limited tools to measure ecological impacts, long response times, and few large-scale best practices. About financial barriers, the long return times for investments, the uncertainty for private investors and underdeveloped markets (e.g. carbon credits, PES schemes). Finally about Governance, the weak institutional coordination, the lack of long-term vision, stakeholder conflicts, communication challenges and regulatory frameworks not adapted to new needs.

6. What’s the next technical priority?

The priority is to expand the “toolbox” of available solutions.

As climate impacts intensify, more ambitious and innovative approaches are needed, including: removing barriers that block sediment flows, developing large-scale buffer systems to control nutrients, converting agricultural land (as tested in the Venice watershed), designing ecosystem-based coastal erosion solutions at large scale (as in the Rhône Delta, France).

However, such ambitious technical solutions must be embedded in equally ambitious long-term strategies, supported by effective governance frameworks and adequate financing mechanisms.