On Tuesday 7 January, the Green Deal Projects Support Office of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) published a report on 17 projects funded by the Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call.
The initiatives demonstrate the impact of the projects funded on managing climate risks and preserving biodiversity. In 24 European countries, they are also encouraging the integration of public policies and the involvement of stakeholders, with training courses on communication and civic engagement.
Four areas are being developed: wildfire management, ecosystem restoration, information-driven climate adaptation and regional resilience.
The FIRE-RES project, developed in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, tested innovative technologies to prevent and manage fires. More than 50 early detection sensors have been installed and modelling tools have been used to reduce high-risk areas by 30%.
TREEADS, a complementary project, has mapped flammable vegetation over 15,000 hectares in Italy and Spain, making it easier to prevent disasters.
In addition, the SUPERB project has restored 10,500 hectares of degraded forest in 12 countries, including Germany, Sweden and Romania. It has also planted 1.2 million trees to improve biodiversity.
MERLIN, which operates in Belgium, France and the Netherlands, has revitalised 2,500 kilometres of watercourses, while raising public awareness through a podcast listened to by 20,000 people.
The TransformAr project, focusing on the coastal areas of Galicia (Spain) and Sardinia (Italy), has identified 49 invasive tropical species threatening fisheries. It has developed adaptation plans covering 500 kilometres of coastline, including natural dams and warning systems.
The report looks at cross-border collaboration, with more than 200 researchers involved and 14 workshops organised to share best practices. Training courses on engaging decision-makers and communicating results were attended by 300 participants.
The Support Office will continue to assist these projects until 2026, focusing primarily on innovation and the dissemination of results for a sustainable future.
To read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/eyb (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)