Life Adapto+ Project
Towards Large-Scale Implementation of Flexible Coastal Zone Management in Response to Climate Change in Coastal Areas
Convinced of the value of a flexible approach to coastal zone management, the Conservatoire du littoral (French Coastal Protection Agency) and the French Geological and Mining Research Bureau (BRGM) launched the Life Adapto project in 2017 to address the challenge of adapting sparsely urbanized coastal areas to the effects of climate change, including sea level rise.
The LIFE Adapto experience enabled the transformation of 10 pilot sites in France between 2017 and 2022, successfully demonstrating the effectiveness and relevance of nature-based flexible coastal management.
While Life Adapto was a demonstration project with significant local impact, scaling up was necessary to amplify the effects of this new method of coastal management—this is the purpose of Life Adapto+.
Co-funded by the European Union, the French Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea and Fisheries, and the Banque des Territoires, Life Adapto+ aims to roll out flexible coastal zone management on a large scale in areas exposed to sea level rise-related phenomena, by involving local stakeholders in the management and creation of natural buffer zones.
A total of 15 new sites are involved in the Life Adapto+ initiative, with the extension of flexible management practices to 10 additional territories by 2029.
Concretely, the project aims to contribute to:
- THE CREATION OF AN ENGINEERING METHOD that is applicable nationwide, easily replicable, and supported by a shared decision-making tool to disseminate knowledge and best practices to all coastal management professionals;
- A MORE EXTENSIVE DEMONSTRATION APPROACH through the implementation of nature-based solutions for coastal management across 15 new sites, incorporating new environments and/or a broader territorial scope;
- THE CREATION OF TOOLS ADAPTED to greater involvement of civil society ;
- THE REPLICABILITY OF FLEXIBLE ADAPTATION PRACTICES along all French and European coastlines, through the coordination of a network of demonstration sites, capacity building for new managers and coastal professionals via training programs, sharing of tools and experiences, and dedicated technical support;
- THE INTEGRATION OF FLEXIBLE COASTAL MANAGEMENT INTO CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES AND PUBLIC POLICIES.
Key figures
10
National partners and 3 funders
€12 million
total project cost, including €7 million funded by the EU
23K ha
covered across the first 15 Adapto+ sites
10
additional sites to be added starting in 2027
5 years
Duration of the Life Adapto+ project
15
Adapto+ sites active as of 2025
10
French Departments involved across mainland France and overseas territories