First round of consultations launched for MITERD project. At this occasion, MedCities Secretary General Josep Canals stressed the importance of integrating the views and needs of the local stakeholders in the Strategy and the crucial role of applying an ecosystem based approach.

The meeting was dedicated to officially present the work under development by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Challenge Demographic (MITERD) towards the definition of a Strategy for the protection of the coast in the Balearic Islands considering the effects of climate change, a document that aims to become a tool for diagnosis and planning to identify the most effective coastal protection measures suitable for the archipelago for the years to come.

The development of this Strategy, which will be ready by the beginning of 2022, is financed by the Structural Reforms Support Program of the European Union (EU) following the request of the Spanish Directorate General for the Coast and the Sea (DGCM) of MITERD.

The DGCM introduced the work ongoing and presented the results of the diagnosis phase of the Strategy, which includes the analysis of the climate change scenarios in this area of the Mediterranean and the risk reduction measures that will proposed and prioritized. This project aims to apply an integrated approach that considers physical, environmental and institutional factors with the evolution of the coastline, the risk of flooding, the occupations of the public domain, erosion problems, and the effects of climate change. Once established, it will identify the most appropriate coastal protection measures for the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Cabrera and Dragonera).

At this occasion, MedCities Secretary General Josep Canals stressed the importance of integrating the views and needs of the local stakeholders in the Strategy and the crucial role of applying a ecosystem based approach. MedCities leads the communication and stakeholders’ engagement component of the project.

The next step which is starting right after this meeting will consist of a round of public consultations with local institutions and key economic and social agents in the region about their perception of the problems of managing the protection of the coast. It will also consider the best practices and lessons learned about the actions already implemented in the Balearic Islands. and the city of Palma – MedCities member – will be engaged in the consultation together will over 30 coastal municipalities.