Carbon-rich coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, saltmarshes and seagrass meadows offer humankind various services. They protect our coastlines, act as biodiversity hotspots, provide food for millions of people, offer health benefits, and remove CO2 from the atmosphere. They are also vital for climate change adaptation, increase the resilience of coastal communities, and help stop further losses in marine biodiversity.

Conserving, restoring, and sustainably managing these carbon-rich coastal ecosystems requires long-term strategies and integrated thinking on conservation and sustainable use. A multifunctional mosaic of land and ocean uses can serve as a guiding concept. Furthermore, conservation and restoration activities should be co-designed with local communities, putting their needs at the center in times of drastic change.

Combining mosaic spatial planning and ecosystem co-design to increase coastal resilience requires knowledge, tools, money and cooperation on all levels of governance. In this solution-oriented event, we will discuss successful strategies, tools and best practices. We will showcase lessons learned and project outcomes to motivate broader action and highlight the urgently needed synergies for climate, biodiversity, and human well-being in coastal regions and beyond.