A-AAGORA General Assembly & Associated Regions Meeting: Highlights from Paphos

The A-AAGORA team gathered in beautiful Paphos, Cyprus, for a much-anticipated General Assembly & Associated Regions (AR) Meeting. Hosted by the Marine and Environmental Research (MER) Lab and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research of Cyprus, the event brought together a dynamic group of project partners and regional representatives to exchange knowledge and set the stage for the final phase of the project.

Key outcomes & discussions

The meeting kicked off with a warm welcome from A-AAGORA Project Coordinator Ana Lillebø, followed by an overview of the project’s progress and key tasks for the coming months. The team focused on fostering engagement between the Associated Regions (ARs) and the innovative solutions developed within the A-AAGORA framework.

Several insightful presentations took place, including updates on digital tools from WP2, system architecture and platform development from WP3, and policy guidance and training materials from WP1. Notably, the discussions highlighted the growing importance of collaboration between regional actors and the A-AAGORA team to ensure successful project delivery.

Engaging with the Associated Regions

The second day spotlighted the work of the ARs, with representatives from Spain (Asturias and Galicia), Cyprus, Greece, Croatia (Orle and Split-Dalmatia), and Iceland sharing updates on their activities, challenges, and ambitions. These presentations provided valuable insights into local priorities and the regions’ contributions to the project’s overarching goals.

In the afternoon, the conversation shifted to sustainable business models with a special focus on WP4. Ana Rodrigues from Nova School of Business and Economics led a thought-provoking exercise on co-creating sustainable models and defining key performance indicators (KPIs) for the solutions.

Collaboration with CLIMAREST

The event culminated in a collaborative session with the CLIMAREST project, where the teams shared lessons learned and brought to the stage the joint children’s book, “Exploring the Ocean with Clio.” This session was a unique opportunity to reflect on the impact of both projects and explore future synergies.

The road ahead

The meeting included a productive online Q&A session with Rolf Rødven, Executive Secretary at AMAP and member of the A-AAGORA Advisory Board, who provided valuable insights into the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. There was still time for a live broadcast of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Europe / CLIMAREST Webinar 3: “From Restoration to Replication”, with the participation of both the A-AAGORA and CLIMAREST projects’ Coordinators.

The A-AAGORA team left the event feeling energized, with a clear roadmap for the final stages of the project. As the team prepares for the final push, there’s a renewed commitment to coastal restoration with nature and people at the forefront. Stay tuned for more updates as we navigate the last leg of this exciting journey!