Horizon Europe Dryad Project: Demonstration and modeling of NBS to enhance the resilience of Mediterranean agroforestry and pastoral ecosystems and landscapes

Mediterranean agrosilvopastoral ecosystems (EMAs), such as the dehesa in Spain, the monto in Portugal, the meriagos in Italy, and the Walloon oak forests in Greece, provide essential environmental services and significantly influence local communities and their economies. EMAs are expected to be severely affected by climate impacts and extreme conditions, such as droughts, high tree mortality, and wildfires.

Addressing these challenges requires supporting communities and local authorities with local solutions and transformations toward climate resilience. This DRYAD proposal supports the Climate Change Adaptation Mission by developing and implementing practical, climate-resilient nature-based solutions (NBS) for EMAs. DRYAD combines cutting-edge scientific, technological, social, and business innovations, as well as transformative solutions.

The proposal will focus on the development, testing, and demonstration of NBS in five demonstration regions: Andalusia and Extremadura (ES), Alentejo (PT), Sardinia (IT), and Aetolia-Acarnania (EL) (five in Cohesion Fund regions). The most promising NBS will be transferred to these three replicator regions: Castile and León (ES), Occitania (FR), and Tuscany (IT). Furthermore, DRYAD will foster integrated and adaptive, multi-level, and cross-sectoral management governance through the development of Decision Support Systems. DRYAD will mobilize regional and local authorities and climate stakeholders—research entities, public and private foundations, businesses, and citizens—and engage them in co-creation, co-implementation, and co-validation processes through Living Labs.

This will lead to the creation of real, widely applicable solutions with lasting impacts. The project will provide tools and implementation guidelines to promote sustainable and climate-resilient practices and facilitate regional adaptation plans, contributing to the Nature Restoration Act in terms of resilient nature and climate adaptation.