Coastal Flooding Adaptation to Climate Change through flexible strategies in Macaronesia urban areas (LIFE Garachico)

The LIFE Garachico project aims to implement an innovative Flexible Adaptation Strategy Framework (FASF), based on a dynamic participatory approach, for the reduction of climate change-induced flood risk in urban coastal zones. The FASF, which aims to establish acceptable levels of flood risk, is implemented in Garachico (Canary Islands) to demonstrate that it is an effective strategy for adapting to climate change in urban coastal areas. The project thus provides the local public, managers and stakeholders with tools and protocols for determining acceptable levels of flood risk caused by CC. The plan is to implement four hard and 12 soft adaptation measures, including three early warning systems, to reduce the impacts of flooding and storm surges.

Expected results include:

• Database and GIS viewer dynamic maps of vulnerability, exposure, hazards and risks;
• Technical recommendations developed specifically for Macaronesia;
• Concept development for an innovative resilience fund for urban coastal communities;
• Development of safe observation protocols for a storm-oriented tourism industry;
• 47 ha of resilient territory; benefits for the area’s 160,642 inhabitants benefited; raised awareness of around 249,700 people and the changed behaviour of around 6,640 people.