Workshop: Forging Coastal Resilience & Sustainable Tourism

We are glad to inform stakeholders of an upcoming workshop convened under the auspices of the Beach-SOS project. This crucial event will bring together representatives from public authorities, the scientific community, non-governmental organizations, the tourism sector, and engaged community members to address the escalating challenges posed by climate change to the coastal regions, with a specific focus on Saulkrasti.

The primary objective of this workshop is to collaboratively develop a robust and pragmatic vision for the future of coastal management and tourism in Saulkrasti. A central component of this endeavor will be the rigorous identification of practical and measurable climate change indicators. These indicators will serve as essential tools for accurately assessing the impacts of climate change on local beaches and for informing the formulation of effective and targeted adaptation strategies.

This workshop constitutes a significant and necessary step within a broader series of initiatives aimed at establishing a resilient foundation for the long-term sustainability and viability of Baltic Sea beaches and the tourism-dependent regions they support.

The agenda for the workshop will encompass the following key areas:

• Expert Assessment of Climate Change Impacts: Presentations providing a detailed and scientifically grounded analysis of the current and projected effects of climate change on the coastal environment and tourism sector in Saulkrasti.
• Stakeholder Consultation on Vulnerabilities and Concerns: A structured forum for stakeholders to articulate their direct experiences, identify key vulnerabilities, and express concerns regarding the impacts of climate change on the local coastal zone.
• Collaborative Identification of Climate Change Indicators: Working sessions focused on the identification of practical, measurable, and scientifically relevant indicators for monitoring climate change impacts on beaches.
• Prioritization of Key Indicators for Strategic Monitoring: A focused exercise to prioritize the identified indicators based on their relevance, feasibility, and potential to inform actionable adaptation measures.
• Strategic Development of Adaptation Pathways: Deliberations aimed at formulating preliminary adaptation strategies to enhance the resilience of Saulkrasti's coastal environment and ensure the long-term sustainability of its tourism industry.
• Synthesis and Future Directions: A concluding session to synthesize key findings, outline potential adaptation pathways, and discuss the subsequent steps within the Beach-SOS project framework.

Further details regarding the specific date, time, and venue of this important workshop will be disseminated in due course. We strongly encourage the participation of all relevant stakeholders in this collaborative effort to build a resilient and sustainable future for the coastal regions of Saulkrasti.