Digital Knowledge System
Cork County
Ireland
The southwest of Ireland, particularly the coastline of County Cork County, is home to several internationally and European-protected sites due to their ecological significance, providing essential habitats for species such as seabirds and cetaceans. However, this coastal region faces multiple challenges, including coastal erosion exacerbated by climate change, as well as seasonal fluctuations in visitor numbers and land use pressures. To address these challenges, in this DEMO, the A-AAGORA project will:
(i) Deploy innovative remote sensing techniques to support coastal protection at local and regional scales;
(ii) Implement nature-based restoration actions in coastal dunes and saltmarsh habitats while promoting citizen science and participatory initiatives to engage communities in coastal management and planning;
(iii) Enhance the knowledge base to support informed decision-making and foster partnerships at local and regional levels.
Volunteer-led activities for wetland restoration
Volunteer-led activities for wetland restoration: (1) Enhance local engagement for the preservation of biodiversity. (2) Increase biodiversity conservation through bottom-up approach (which involves volunteer participation and citizen science). (3) Create a replicable blueprint for community-driven wetland restoration.
Resilience to coastal erosion for people and nature
The innovative solution will provide nature-based measures to mitigate coastal erosion while ensuring sustainability and economic viability, preserving coastal activities and infrastructures. The solution is supported by the scientific understanding of coastal processes and sediment dynamics in terms of diminishing the risk of failure and to amplify the positive impacts. The collection of data methods, including DGPS surveys and cameras, aid the development of a decision support system ready to help resilient coastal management.
The innovative solutions will be completed by social innovation to promote citizen science and enhance citizen engagement in biodiversity restoration and climate-change adaptation: (1) engage with citizens and stakeholders to enhance understanding of needs and challenges of the coast; (2) engage with beach users to enhance understanding of coastal (physical) processes and of impact of storms and erosion; (3) build a trust-based relationship with local communities.