As part of the DesirMED project activities, a workshop on the application of nature-based solutions (NbS) for adapting the coastal region of Split-Dalmatia County to climate change was held. Hosted at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Geodesy (FGAG) in Split, the workshop placed a particular focus on Kaštela Bay and the cities of Split, Solin, Kaštela, and Trogir.
The event brought together project partners, members of the University of Split, officials from the cities of Kaštela and Trogir, civil society organizations, as well as representatives from Hrvatske Šume (Croatian Forests), Hrvatske Vode (Croatian Waters), the Directorate of Civil Protection, and the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ). The goal was to develop a shared vision for the future of Kaštela Bay.
Several strategic documents, including the Coastal Management Plan of Split-Dalmatia County, the Coastal Management Plan for the City of Kaštela, and the Climate Adaptation Plan for the Jadro River basin, served as the foundation for implementing NbS in the narrow coastal strip of Kaštela Bay.
Introducing the project, Martin Bučan, from the County's Department for Economy, EU Funds, and Agriculture, highlighted the project as a testament to successful collaboration between Croatian partners. Further, Ivan Sekovski, programme officer at the PAP/RAC, stressed the need to accelerate the implementation of transformative, nature-based solutions to enhance long-term climate resilience.
FGAG project team member and senior assistant at the Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, Samanta Bačić, presented the latest findings on climate change impacts on the coastal region of Kaštelanski Bay. She underlined key environmental threats, including floods, droughts, wildfires, and coastal erosion. Notably, 80% of the Split-Dalmatia County population resides in its four coastal cities - Split, Kaštela, parts of Trogir, and Klis. Explore the ArcGIS storymap showing the climate natural hazards in the area and the proposed NbS here.
During the workshop moderated by Margita Radman from the environmental organization Sunce, participants explored pathways toward a sustainable and climate-resilient future of the Bay. Participants, divided into four groups, identified key challenges, including limited financial resources, unresolved property-legal issues, underdeveloped stormwater drainage systems in all four cities around the bay, and the lack of municipal management over coastal and maritime areas.
Participants concluded the workshop by presenting their vision of Kaštela Bay in 2040: connected, safe, sustainable, and green. Proposed solutions included the installation of floating pontoons to prevent flooding, the construction of a "green wall" on the slopes of Kozjak mountain, the promotion of permeable surfaces to reduce excessive concrete use, and the expansion of protected natural areas. A major concern was the region’s transport connectivity. Potential solutions discussed included the introduction of fast ferry lines linking the area with Split Airport (St. Jerome) and the islands. Another key proposal was the formation of a larger metropolitan unit encompassing Kaštela Bay municipalities to boost implementation via facilitating access to major funding opportunities.
Additionally, Martina Baučić, associate professor at FGAG and project lead of Atlantic-Arctic Agora (A-AAGORA), introduced this Horizon Europe-funded initiative, which focuses on the protection and restoration of marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity while mitigating climate change effects. “Our institutional capacity to address these challenges remains a weak point,” Baučić acknowledged, citing successful solutions from Portugal and Ireland as examples of effective climate resilience strategies.
