Imagine trying to protect a beach without upsetting the people who live and work there. This project creates a guidebook and a scoring system to find the sweet spot where nature thrives and locals still make a living. It's like a matchmaking service for environmental goals and community needs across 10 different coastal areas.
Coastal businesses often face conflict with environmental regulations and local communities, leading to project delays and legal battles. There is a lack of objective tools to measure where economic activity and nature protection can actually overlap.
The Conservation & Human-use Index (CHI), a multi-parameter tool to identify conflicts between conservation and human use. A Research Toolbox and a shared conceptual glossary for cross-disciplinary implementation.
If you are a resort operator dealing with declining beach quality and local opposition to restrictions — this project developed the Conservation & Human-use Index (CHI) that identifies where nature goals and business activities can coexist without conflict.
If you are a consultant dealing with complex community disputes over land use — this project developed a Research Toolbox and co-creation methods that help you get local buy-in for conservation projects.
If you are a producer dealing with strict new biodiversity regulations — this project developed a way to co-create policies with local users that ensures your business survives while meeting EU nature restoration targets.
Based on available project data, no specific pricing or cost structures for the tools have been disclosed.
Yes, the project is designing a scalable index and a set of tools validated across 10 diverse case studies to ensure they work in different coastal contexts.
Based on available project data, there is no specific information regarding patents or licensing agreements for the Conservation & Human-use Index.
The project contributes directly to EU priorities on nature restoration and climate adaptation by creating tools that balance human use with biodiversity protection.
The project runs from November 2023 to October 2026, with initial technical progress reported through April 2025.
The consortium is well-balanced for a transition project, featuring 20 partners from 14 countries. With a 30% industry ratio (6 companies, including 4 SMEs), there is a strong bridge between the 10 universities and 3 research institutes and the actual market, ensuring the tools are practical and not just academic.
Contact the EUROPEAN SUSTAINABLE USE GROUP in Belgium
Contact us to explore how the Conservation & Human-use Index can be applied to your coastal assets.
