The DesirMED annual General Assembly took place in Kavala, Greece, from 17 to 19 March 2026, hosted by the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and supported by the Greek cluster partners (Democritus University of Thrace and Municipality of Paggaion). The event brought together approximately 100 participants, including project partners, regional representatives, and external stakeholders.
The three-day gathering combined the annual project General Assembly (17 & 18 March) with the 2nd DesirMED Adaptation Day (19 March), providing a comprehensive platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and advancing the case for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate resilience across the Mediterranean.
General Assembly – Strengthening collaboration and advancing implementation
The first two days focused on strengthening collaboration across the project and advancing key areas of work, from adaptation pathway design to implementation and communication.
During the first day, participants engaged in interactive, parallel sessions addressing:
- Leverage risk profiles of the regions
- Focusing on governance challenges for mainstreaming NbS
- Financing and funding instruments and how to engage private sector/investors
- Monitoring the impact of the tested solutions
- Stakeholder engagement and citizen science practices
- Interactive tools for general public reach
These discussions helped connect the different work pillars of the project, ensuring a more integrated and cohesive approach moving forward.
Field visits – Nature-based Solutions in practice
During the second day of the General Assembly, participants had the opportunity to visit four pilot sites in Paggaion Municipality to observe Nature-based Solutions in practice and exchange knowledge on their implementation.
At Moustheni (Paggaion), participants explored a constructed wetland system designed for wastewater treatment. The system treats the sewerage of the village and enables the reuse of treated water for irrigation. A similar system is under development for the nearby village of Mesoropi within the DesirMED project.
The visit continued to Biblia Chora vineyard, where precision irrigation practices were presented. Soil moisture sensors and automated irrigation systems support efficient water use, based on real-time data such as soil conditions, evapotranspiration rates, and weather forecasts.
Participants then visited the Port of Kariani, a pilot area affected by coastal erosion following the construction of a small marina. Studied solutions in the context of DesirMED include the use of geotubes as breakwaters and beach restoration using sand accumulated upstream.
The final stop was the stream area of Nea Peramos, where recurring flood events have highlighted the need for intervention. The proposed Nature-based Solution involves a series of small-scale check dams, using natural materials and geotubes, to mitigate the impact of flash floods.
2nd Adaptation Day – Scaling solutions and engaging stakeholders
The third day of the event was dedicated to the 2nd Adaptation Day, expanding the discussion beyond the consortium and welcoming external stakeholders.
The day started with a presentation on the focus and achievements of DesirMED by Elisa Furlan from CMCC, of whom coordinates the project.
Following this presentation, DesirMED’s five demonstrating regions (Comunidade Intermunicipal das Beiras e Serra da Estrela; Valencia; Sardinia; Split-Dalmatia; Eastern Macedonia and Thrace) took the floor and pitched their Pilot cases with the aim to provide a brief overview of their respective implementation pathways within DesirMED.
14 external stakeholders representing differing DesirMED regions responded to these pilot cases, and in addition presented their relationship with climate adaptation as well as relevant projects and initiatives.
Afterwards, working groups gathered to focus on scaling impact and translating knowledge into action. Demonstrating Regions came together to define the key pillars of their business models, so as to implement and mainstream NbS within their territories.
The day concluded with a session dedicated to communication activities within the DesirMED project, highlighting the Climate Ambassador initiative. Valuable feedback was gathered from the audience on communication barriers that hinder trust building and engagement amongst stakeholders. Whilst the Climate Ambassador’s initiative was presented, Mr. Anastasios Karkantzalos, Director of Nestos Agricultural Cooperative (one of the Greek Ambassador’s) shared insights into the problems faced in the area. Specifically, Karkantzalos discussed the plight of the farmers as a result of water scarcity, and deliberated on how DesirMED can provide valuable solutions to this challenge.
Looking Ahead
The General Assembly and Adaptation Day in Kavala reinforced the importance of DesirMED’s collaborative efforts, knowledge sharing, and innovation in advancing climate adaptation.
The outcomes of the annual gathering will support the continued development and implementation of Nature-based Solutions across the DesirMED regions, contributing to more resilient and sustainable landscapes in the Mediterranean.
