On 25 September, the central celebration of the Mediterranean Coast Day 2026 was heald in Larnaca, Cyprus, alongside the opening of the 1st DesirMED Adaptation Festival. This year’s edition was dedicated to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and took the form of a Policy Event, “NbS for Coastal Resilience in the Mediterranean”. The event was co-organised by DesirMED partners (CEA, CMMI, PAP/RAC, IUCN, CMCC, Dynamic Vision), in collaboration with the Department of Environment of the Cypriot Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.

A shared call for resilient coasts

During the opening of the event, Elena Stylianopoulou, Deputy Director at the Department of Environment of the Cypriot Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, stressed the impacts of climate change on Cyprus, particularly on its coastal areas, and the need to strengthen their resilience. She highlighted the shared long-term vision for healthy ecosystems and the need to incorporate NbS into planning while strengthening cooperation. Elisa Furlan (CMCC), Coordinator of the DesirMED project, asked on her side “What is the Mediterranean we desire?”, drawing attention to the dramatic impacts of recent climate events across Europe. Finally, Daria Povh Škugor, PAP/RAC Director, representing UNEP/MAP, recalled the purpose of the Coast Day and the message that the Mediterranean is its nature and its communities, adding that “Coast Day unites people and reinforces commitment to a sustainable and resilient coast”. Our task now is to integrate Nature-based Solutions systematically into all relevant territorial and sectoral planning processes, so that they become a mainstream part of how we manage, adapt and transform coastal territories.

A new Coast Day Ambassador for the Mediterranean

The event marked the designation of Charis Nika as Mediterranean Coast Ambassador 2026. In her first intervention in this role, she gave an inspiring presentation of Larnaka’s landscapes, explaining how its neighborhoods and ecosystems are affected by overurbanization and climate change. She presented initiatives such as the Coastal Urban Futures project, which combines urban design and marine science to help prepare Larnaka for the impacts of climate change. Her passion and determination to defend Cyprus’s coastline were evident throughout her talk, which she closed with a question to the audience: “What kind of coastal areas do we want to live in?” PAP/RAC warmly welcomes Charis Nika to the Coast Day community and looks forward to working with her over the coming year.

From policy to practice

The rest of the day was devoted to concrete experiences and exchanges on NbS adoption. The discussions were complemented by a poster session, where DesirMED regional representatives and external participants presented NbS case studies from across the Mediterranean, including the solutions implemented within the DesirMED project itself. Some presentations were particularly original, as the one from the Portuguese pilot area of Serra da Gardunha. This project combines the cultivation of climate-adapted cherry varieties with the introduction of local breeds of mountain goats and sheep. The herds graze strategically on the slopes to remove the scrub and undergrowth that accumulate and fuel wildfires, creating natural firebreaks that slow the spread of flames while supporting local biodiversity.

Together, these contributions showed the diversity of NbS across Mediterranean territories, and confirmed that solutions must be tailored to each local context.

A festival for people

The second day of the festival was open to the public in Europe Square, with workshops, stands, live music and the DesirMED Giant Interactive Map. This 17-metre map, the largest interactive map of the Mediterranean produced to date, welcomed around 300 visitors in a single afternoon.

By bringing together policy dialogue and public participation, the Coast Day 2026 showed that building a climate-resilient Mediterranean is not only about finding the right solutions, but also about bringing people together to imagine, shape and take ownership of them. PAP/RAC thanks all partners, speakers and participants, and the City of Larnaka for its warm welcome.

 As Daria Povh Skugor underlined, if she were to describe the event in three words, they would be nature, connection and action.

 Nature—because it is not only something we need to protect; it is an essential part of the response to the challenges we face.

 Connection—because resilience is not built in isolation. It is built together, when communities gather, share knowledge and resources—just as we have done here today.

 And action—because we have no more time to lose. But urgency does not mean acting without thinking. Effective action begins with smart planning.