How can local knowledge and participation help shape a more climate-resilient coast?
On 26–27 May 2026, the INCORE-MED project brought the Democracy Lab (DLab) methodology to Kaštela, Croatia. Organised by PI RERA S.D., with the support of the City of Kaštela and PAP/RAC, the two-day workshop brought together local residents, civil society, public authorities, researchers and regional institutions to jointly explore the future of the Gojača coastal area in Kaštel Sućurac.
Rather than relying on top-down planning, the DLab created a space for participants to identify challenges together and co-design possible responses. Discussions addressed concrete local issues, from recurrent flooding and green infrastructure to the use and management of public space and institutional challenges.
A field visit to Gojača allowed participants to examine the area directly, while group work focused on developing proposals for its future. Particular attention was given to nature-based solutions (NbS), including green areas and natural approaches to stormwater management, as well as opportunities to improve the quality and use of the coastal space.
For PAP/RAC, the Kaštela DLab provides a valuable example of how participatory approaches can complement integrated coastal zone management (ICZM), bringing local knowledge, institutional perspectives and technical expertise together in planning for climate resilience.
The Kaštela pilot is one of the activities of INCORE-MED – Inclusive Coastal Resilience in the Euro-MED, an Interreg Euro-MED project testing participatory approaches to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities to climate change.