Strengthening Climate Resilience and Reducing Climate Change Risks in the Cross-Border Area through the Restoration and Management of Green and Blue Infrastructure

The project addresses the shared challenges faced by the Slovenia–Croatia cross-border area as a result of climate change, ecosystem degradation, and pollution of karst sinkhole areas in both urban and rural environments. Frequent droughts, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events are negatively affecting water resources, biodiversity, and the quality of life of local communities. At the same time, pollution of karst groundwater systems poses a serious threat to groundwater quality and the ecosystems that directly depend on these water resources. The project tackles these common challenges by strengthening cooperation among institutions, improving disaster preparedness, enhancing green and blue infrastructure, and raising public awareness, thereby contributing to climate change adaptation. The overall objective of the project is to increase the resilience of natural ecosystems and urban areas to climate change through the implementation of sustainable solutions, improved cross-border cooperation, and enhanced response strategies. The key change the project aims to achieve is the establishment of a more coordinated and resilient cross-border area in which natural resources are effectively protected and managed in response to climate-related challenges. Cooperation between Slovenian and Croatian institutions will facilitate knowledge transfer, the exchange of good practices, and the joint development of measures that deliver benefits across the wider cross-border region. The innovative character of the project lies in its integrated approach, combining infrastructure-based measures for flood protection with actions to strengthen ecosystem services and participatory activities involving both the public and experts. The project brings together municipalities, managers of protected areas, environmental organisations, research institutions, and civil protection authorities, enabling a comprehensive and sustainable approach to addressing climate-related challenges. The project's main results focus on establishing long-term and sustainable cooperation among project partners and target groups while strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration between research institutions, local authorities, civil society organisations, and emergency services on both sides of the border. Through the development of a joint long-term model for the management and protection of karst aquatic ecosystems, the project will contribute to more effective environmental protection, improved groundwater and surface water quality, and stronger cross-border cooperation in the conservation of natural resources. A significant part of the project consists of pilot interventions implemented in the field. These include cleaning karst sinkholes in the cross-border area to reduce flood risks, restoring small water bodies to improve water retention and increase resilience to drought, and piloting the management of selected invasive alien species through the establishment of an open-access database. The project will also establish a long-term monitoring system for climate change impacts and habitat resilience, develop a joint protocol for the harmonised monitoring of aquatic ecosystems, and provide shared solutions for climate change adaptation and response. In addition, a range of public events and awareness-raising activities will be organised to increase understanding of climate challenges and the importance of nature conservation. Together, these actions will contribute to a more resilient, safer, and better-connected cross-border region.