Main Achievements

1. The adoption of co-creation tools and approaches, including Stakeholder Engagement Plans, has been informed by cross-border learning with project partners, led by the Open University. Partners have worked together to discuss shared audiences, approach to engagement and co-creation, and opportunities to learn from each other’s projects and teams. A seminar on Nature Based Solutions was delivered to over 70 international stakeholders
2. FWAG, SCC and SWT worked together to hold a series of workshops with local politicians in each target area, and an all day, public drop-in event in each of the 2 target areas. The information from these was compiled and made publicly available, and received local media coverage.
3. The National Trust have worked with key project partners, regional and national stakeholders and the local community to develop a suite of approaches to implement ground-breaking projects. There has been excellent media coverage of the beaver release and the First Stage 0 stream restoration project. Site monitoring has been installed to monitor and evaluate the work.
4. Technical work on the Culm Catchment project has progressed significantly. DCC have innovated and adapted their engagement activities to overcome the challenges presented by the covid pandemic. This has involved many digital, visual, video, and interactive elements to engage the public online – bringing people on a journey to develop understanding and become active in the project. Their website - https://connectingtheculm.com/ has been the main backbone of this
5. The Province of Antwerp has initiated a steering group for the coordination of the investment at the Laak river, begun the co-creation process, and installed 2 water level measuring systems.
6. Work in the West Brabant pilot area has started with the joint development of a cooperation plan for all relevant parties in the area (village councils, waterboard, municipality and province).
7. The SYMSAGEB and the CIPE are working on solutions to continue begin the co-creation process in Carly and to continue the one initiated in Echinghen.
8. Vlissingen has applied an innovative approach to allow non-experts and experts to jointly develop climate adaptive measures in an area that is prone to flooding
9. VLM worked together with local bodies (local communities, waterboards, farmers, nature organisations( in 4 regions to develop test or sites. They set up local coalitions which have developed a plan of action and stakeholder engagement plans.

Other achievements

1. The Adapt the Levels team held a meeting to inform regional Members of Parliament about the project, and proposed pathway forwards. This meeting was attended by local MP’s and by a Defra minister responsible for flood risk management. The team were later contacted by Defra’s Futures and Horizons scanning department, to discuss how the approach might inform work in other areas of the country.
2. PNB and OU have used their experience in Co-Adapt to be selected to join a Horizon 2020 project, EIFFEL, which will foster the co-design of Climate Change adaptation policies and mitigation strategies and monitor Climate Change effects in the respective regions.
3. SCC, OU and VLM were invited to give presentations on Co-Adapt to two international networks 1) a meeting of Drielandenpunt, the region in Germany, the Netherlands and Flanders. 2) a meeting of MICCA - Meuse International Watershed. The Co-adapt framework with crossborder reviewing of tooling on climate adaptation has been highly appreciated, including an overview of the nature-based solutions of the eight Co-Adapt catchment areas. The EU MeuseRhin would like to be in close contact with Co-Adapt for the next designing of crossborder collaboration in this region hard hit by the effects of extreme weather.
4. In a well viewed program (Code Groen) by the regional broadcaster on the theme of 'flooding', the Co Adapt pilot in Claverveld, Vlissingen, was portrayed as an excellent example of co-creation tasks in the context of climate change. The results of the Co pilot are thus disseminated to a very large audience.
5. The National Trust has implemented innovative floodplain reconnection methodology for the first time in the UK. It is proud of receiving consent for the floodplain reconnection work, which has entailed significant assessment, feasibility and design for this trailblazing work.
6. The Co-Adapt Laakbeek project in Prov Antwerp has been selected as a case for a study of the University of Antwerp within the SOLARIS project. SOLARIS focuses on climate change adaptation policies. Linked to this, the University of Antwerp will publish “Handbook of Nature-Based Solutions to Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change”, including a chapter on the Laakbeek project.
7. The series of interactive webinars, organised by OUNL, was taken as a Best Practise Case Study on Digital Learning among Professionals, by the Topsector Energy Transition of the Dutch Government. The Topsector interviewed OU, Prov Antwerp and VLM.