The First Meeting of the Project Partners
Main objective in Interreg Europe projects is mutual learning. The ultimate reason why we all are gathered together is to learn about nature based carbon offsets. The goal is to improve policies identified by each partner, this is done by sharing knowledge and expertise. In addition, we want to generate new ideas for effective regional projects and to get inspired from the others. Our first thematic seminar and site visit took place in Sevilla, Spain. We had an intensive two day program with presentations about each others’ interests, status and objectives in carbon offsetting. Partners also presented their first ideas for Good Practices. These Good Practices are the core of Interreg projects. Partner region identifies a good practice from their area, and describes it in quite detailed to the others to learn. This way we can go deeper the success stories of each region. Outcome from these days were, that we are all different but simultaneously very much alike. Team from Central Finland is heavily relying on their forests, and seeks opportunities to increase the carbon stocks. Auvergne-Rhône-Alps (France) has also experience on forest based carbon stocks, and they have introduced regional compensation mechanism especially for business but also citizens. Polish partner, Świętokrzyskie, seeks new ideas for their environmental protection program, and the have done very good job in increasing the retention of water in their forests. Marche region (Italy) has experience on ecological compensation to share with the rest of the group. Our hosts, Andalusia, has very impressive blue carbon programme. Together with University of Cadiz, the regional government conducts restoration projects on salty marshlands and thus increases the carbon sequestration and biodiversity. As a conclusion, this journey in NACAO has just started, and we all are exited to see where it leads us to.
