On June 23, 2026, a field survey took place at the pilot site of Tratalias in the Sardinia region, involving dam sediments. Following through the logic “from lakes to the beaches”, the team comprising ENAS, CNR and RAS ran a boat across the Monte Pranu Dam with the objective of a clear mapping of the bottom floor of the water reservoir, testing for different types of sediments.
The Sardinian project team has completed a new field survey along the Rio Palmas, following the river to its mouth and the wetlands behind the beach to assess the current extent of coastal erosion and gather data to support the development of Nature-based Solutions (NbS).
The next phase of the research will focus on analysing the relationship between sediment transported by the river and the material deposited downstream and along the beach, with the aim of evaluating its compatibility and identifying sustainable strategies to strengthen coastal resilience.
The field visit also provided an opportunity to reflect on the long-term interaction between human infrastructure and natural systems. The history of the Tratalias dam is a clear example of this relationship. While the reservoir continues to play a vital role in supplying water for agriculture across a large area, its construction also led to the abandonment of the historic village of Tratalias, including its ancient cathedral and medieval museum. Residents were relocated to the new town because rising groundwater levels caused severe dampness in the original settlement.
Understanding these environmental and historical dynamics is essential for developing effective climate adaptation strategies. Tackling coastal erosion requires not only scientific research and innovative Nature-based Solutions, but also close cooperation with local communities and the exchange of knowledge across different disciplines. This collaborative approach is at the heart of the DesirMED project and contributes to building more resilient landscapes for the future.
Multiple activities took place at the dam, where a guided tour unveiled the fascinating backstory of the construction done by hand, highlighting key characteristics of the facility which continues to provide water for agriculture and a wide populated area thanks to its very large capacity. Next, was a trip to nearby Tratalias municipality, where a visit to the ancient cathedral and medieval museum helped take in the changes that have led up to the town being relocated. Locals showed archive pictures of claims written on the town walls citing humidity, a valuable testimony on the implications that human action always entails. The team concluded field day with an exploration along Rio Palmas river to the estuary and the wetlands behind the beach, where flamingos found their settlement.
So the pathway towards sediment matching started, with the end goal of nourishing beaches at risk of erosion through nature-based solutions. By looking at the wider picture of an ecosystem such as that of Rio Palmas river, in the municipality of Tratalias, the cluster partners are taking in valuable information that will aid environmental risk adaptation. From a methodological standpoint, cross-disciplinarity of competences and local voices brought into the process will represent key pillars for studying specific NbS compatibility and efficacy over time.
In the near future, steps forward regarding NbS studies will include retrieving sediments from sandy areas of the water reservoir floor and analysing their composition to seek potential matches with sediment deposited downstream and at the beach.
Combating erosion and adapting to climate change is a growing commitment that we believe can be undertaken through dialogue with local communities, resources enabled by the project and information sharing among different expert fields, so that an active cluster may mean a multiplier of common good.
