Linking sustainable growth and nature conservation
Opportunities
The Interreg VB project PROWAD LINK aims to unlock the potential of natural areas as a driver for jobs and sustainable development. We will do this by working with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop nature as a brand to create benefits for both, SMEs and the environment. Partners in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom working with interested SMEs will use the “nature-business-benefit-cycle” concept to develop new, sustainable products and offers.
Challenges
Natural heritage sites in the North Sea region, such as the Wadden Sea World Heritage, the Geiranger Fjord World Heritage and the Wash & North Norfolk Coast, can be powerful and inspiring brands for innovation and sustainable development. Yet, barriers exist preventing its full use, especially for local SMEs.
Results
PROWAD LINK aims to increase revenue from sustainable offers, support nature conservation, promote investment in sustainability and create long-term collaborations.
Scope
The 3 year project starting in September 2018 will be implemented in the pilot regions of the Wadden Sea (DK, D, NL), Geiranger Fjord (NO), Wash & North Norfolk Coast (UK) and provide solutions on brand activation and SME engagement to nature sites on a national, European and potentially global scale.
Approach
In co-operation with SMEs the project partners will develop and test innovative tools and strategies to improve access to nature heritage brands, enhance sustainability efforts and develop innovative marketable offers of products and services.
How to get involved
Are you a SME, knowledge institution or nature conservation organisation involved in regional sustainable development on the North Sea coast and want more information about the project? Get in touch with
Cristina Nazarri | Common Wadden Sea Secretariat
nazarri[at]waddensea-secretariat[dot]org | +49 (0)4421 9108-15
Facts & figures
Project period: 2018-2022
Total budget: EUR 4.8 million
Contribution by ERDF & Norway: EUR 2.4 million
Contribution by partners: EUR 2.4 million
Lead partner: Common Wadden Sea Secretariat
Partners
The following partners from five nations will collaborate to link sustainable growth and nature conservation:
- Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS; DE/DK/NL)
Lead Beneficiary -
Business Region Esbjerg (Business Region Esbjerg; DK)
- Gemeente Ameland (Municpality of Ameland; NL)
- Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein / Nationalparkverwaltung (The Schleswig-Holstein Agency for Coastal Defence, National Park and Marine Conservation / National Park Authority; DE)
- Miljø- og Fødevareministeriet, Miljøstyrelsen (Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark, Environmental Protection Agency; DK)
- Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality; NL)
- Nationalparkverwaltung Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer (Wadden Sea National Park Authority of Lower Saxony; DE)
- Nationalpark Vadehavet (Danish Wadden Sea National Park; DK)
- Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet (Norwegian University of Science and Technology; NO)
- Norfolk County Council (Norfolk County Council; UK)
- Provinsje Fryslân (Province of Friesland; NL)
- Rijksuniversiteit Groningen/Campus Fryslân (University of Groningen/Campus Fryslân; NL)
- Stiftinga Geirangerfjorden Verdsarv (Geirangerfjord World Heritage Foundation; NO)
- Waddenacademie (Wadden Academy; NL)
- World Wide Fund for Nature - Deutschland (World Wide Fund for Nature; DE)
