GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Global changes have a rapid affect in the ocean than on land (like warming, stratification, sea level rise, extreme events, pollution, eutrophication, deoxygenation, and acidification).

There is an increasing need for a holistic ecosystem-based and knowledge-based overarching approach that ensures the sustainability and resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems with a Multi Actor Approach involving the four leviers of transformation (science & innovation; economy & finance; individual & collective action; governance). This approach should at the same time integrate and balance different ocean uses and relevant land-based activities to optimise the overall sustainability of the ocean economy.

To do so, it is necessary to test with no delay several types of interventions, tools and targets (conservation, restoration, holistic ecosystem-based management, marine nature-based solutions, social innovation) at realistic scales, with spatially well-defined socio-ecological system boundaries. 

• In this topic simplified socio-ecological systems should include already existing MPAs and/or other area based management tools to allow for a quick start of the project’s testing approaches.
• Social innovation and co-creation of the approaches and solutions by involving the four levers of transformation in the local communities would be central to enable proper scientifically sound and societally acceptable interventions.
• Proposals should outline a plan on how they intend to collaborate with other projects selected under any other relevant topic/call, by e.g. participating in joint activities, workshops, common communication and dissemination activities, etc.

This topic should involve the effective contribution of SSH disciplines.