The ENHANCE project is proud to announce the release of its first two case study factsheets, offering a closer look at how the project is addressing pressing challenges in Mediterranean coastal zones.
Coastal areas are vital spaces for biodiversity, recreation, and local economies, but they face growing pressures from human activity and climate change. With a One Health approach, ENHANCE combines Earth Observation, citizen science, and stakeholder engagement to better understand these complex systems and support more sustainable coastal management.
Case Study 1 – Barcelona and the Ebro Delta (Spain)
Led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), this case study focuses on the Barcelona Metropolitan Area’s urban beaches and the Ebro Delta.
- Urban beaches: visited by nearly 10 million people annually, these beaches are under intense human pressure, suffering from erosion, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of frequent storms.
- Ebro Delta: one of Spain’s most important agricultural areas, heavily influenced by rice farming and aquaculture, which affect water quality and local ecosystems.
By combining Copernicus satellite data with participatory biodiversity monitoring, the case study aims to track eutrophication, sand erosion, and the impacts of agriculture and aquaculture on coastal waters
Read the factsheet here: English / Catalan
Case Study 2 – Pagasitikos Gulf (Greece)
Led by the University of Thessaly (UTH), this case study explores how ecosystems recover from extreme climate events. In September 2023, catastrophic floods devastated Thessaly, washing pollutants, debris, and pathogens into the Pagasitikos Gulf.
- The floods left severe ecological damage, with sediments, agrochemicals, and bacteria threatening both marine life and public health.
- Researchers and citizen scientists are now monitoring how long it takes the Gulf’s ecosystem to “bounce back” — or whether it shifts permanently to a new, degraded state
This case study provides crucial knowledge for climate resilience, linking environmental monitoring with human and animal health concerns.
Read the factsheet: English
Stay tuned for upcoming releases as ENHANCE continues to work with local communities, scientists, and policymakers to co-create solutions for more sustainable and resilient coasts.