Co-design of Transformative Systemic Rural climate adaptation Solutions in rural lansscapes in the Atlantic region

In the NBRACER Horizon Europe project, 14 nature-based solutions (NbS) are demonstrated for climate adaptation in rural lanscpaes in the Atlantic region. These solutions are spread over four demo regions Western-Denmark, West-Flanders (Belgium), Nouvelle Aquitaine (France) and Cantabria (Spain). These demonstrators address a range of climate challenges, such as flooding, drought, water quality degradation, and soil erosion, while targeting improvements in Key Community Systems (KCSs) like Water Management, Ecosystems, and Land use & Food Systems. Each of the demonstrators includes a co-design process and monitoring of demo impacts. The methodology combines participatory stakeholder engagement with technical assessments, including ecosystem service mapping and readiness level evaluations. Innovation in the demonstrators focusses on different aspects, depending on the local barriers and enablers, such  as technological readiness but also co-design and social acceptance, governance aspects and innovation in funding.

In this presentation we provide an overview of the demonstrators and their co-design processes. The co-design process is guided by five iterative steps: issue framing, knowledge gathering, co-design of options, stakeholder validation, and decision-making. We present a comparative analysis of the demonstrators, highlighting the diversity of approaches, stakeholder constellations, and maturity levels. We also identify enabling conditions and barriers to implementation, such as governance structures, data availability, and social acceptance.

Key findings show that while most demonstrators are still in early co-design stages, there is strong alignment between local needs, stakeholder engagement, and the potential of NbS to deliver climate resilience. The insights from this deliverable will inform the development of regional NbS portfolios and adaptation pathways for the rural landscapes in NBRACER.