The DRYAD consortium gathered for its first General Assembly (GA) from September 30th to October 2nd at the University of Sassari (UNISS) facilities in Sassari, Sardinia. Over three productive days, partners reflected on the project’s progress, discussed ongoing activities, planned the next steps, and strengthened collaboration towards enhancing climate resilience through nature-based solutions (NbS) in Mediterranean ecosystems.
Day 1: Opening Sessions and Work Package Presentations
Before the official start of the General Assembly, the Executive Committee, including the coordination team and Work Package leaders, gathered for a lunch EXCOM Meeting to align on objectives and set the tone for the event.
Then, the General Assembly oficially kicked off with a warm welcome from the project coordinator, Javier Samper Calvete, who addressed all project partners and outlined the key themes for the discussions ahead. Joining the conversation, the Project Officer and representatives from sister projects Clima Pannonia, Presilience, and Transform Project also contributed with their perspectives, fostering a collaborative environment. A highlight of the session was a special presentation by Clima Pannonia, as it is our newest sister project member.
Following the opening, Work Package (WP) leaders presented comprehensive updates on their respective areas of responsibility. The presentations covered achievements to date and outlined the upcoming objectives for the next six months. The work packages ranged from data acquisition and software development to modeling, NbS implementation, socioeconomic assessment, communication, dissemination, exploitation, stakeholder engagement and project management. This detailed overview ensured all partners were aligned and informed on the status and next steps of each project aspect.
The day concluded with two interactive workshops held consecutively. The first, led by FEUGA, focused on communication and dissemination strategies, including discussions on the project video storyboard and the NbS booklet. The second workshop, led by UDC, UNISS, and ISTID, focused on the coordination of NbS implementation across different regions, exploring potential synergies and opportunities for collaboration to enhance NbS effectiveness and impact.
Day 2: Regional Presentations and Advanced Technical Discussions
The second day began with presentations from leaders of the demonstration and replication regions. These sessions highlighted the specific work plans for each region, detailing objectives, stakeholder engagement strategies, monitoring approaches, modeling implementation, and the upscaling of NbS. The regions represented included Andalucía, Extremadura, Alentejo, Tirso, Xiromero, Castilla and León, Occitania, and Tuscany.
The meeting then moved to more specialized technical topics. Dr. Salvatore Riggi from Nature 4.0 gave a presentation on “Tree Talker,” an innovative monitoring program designed to assess tree health in real time. Additionally, the University of Twente team presented the coupling of STEMMUS-SCOPE with MODFLOW6 models, an advanced method for assessing plant-soil-groundwater interactions and Agroaquae Geospatial Database Management System.
The afternoon featured a second round of workshops designed to foster integration and engagement across the project. The Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, led by ICATALIST, addressed regional roadmaps and next steps for stakeholder involvement for workpackges. The Decision Support System (DSS) Workshop, involving CMCC, ISA, UT, IFAPA, focused on the current status and future development of the DRYAD DSS. Finally, the Work Package Integration Workshop brought together all WP leaders to strengthen collaboration and evaluate ongoing progress.
Day 3: Future Planning, Advisory Board Insights, and Field Visit
The final day opened with a session led by the coordination team, Javier Samper Calvete and Alejandro Peso Lago from University of A Coruña (UDC), who presented an overview of the forthcoming activities, key deliverables, and project milestones. Following this, the achievements of the first year of the project were reviewed, highlighting the significant progress made through partner collaboration.
Subsequently, members of the External Advisory Board, including Rosana Cervera (IFAJ, ENAJ, APAE), María Rosa Mosquera Losada (USC), and Alberto Mantino (UNIPI), shared their expert insights and constructive feedback. Additionally, Jesús Barreiro Hurle (EU Science, Research and Innovation) and Jorge Dafonte (USC) joined online to share their perspectives. Their contributions are vital in guiding the project’s strategic direction and ensuring its continued success.
The General Assembly concluded with a field visit to the Pilot Demonstration Area of the Tirso Demonstration Region. Partners had the opportunity to observe first-hand how nature-based solutions are being implemented in the field, reinforcing the practical impact of the project’s research and collaborative efforts. The consortium expressed its gratitude to UNISS for the warm hospitality and excellent organization of the event.
The DRYAD General Assembly in Sassari marked an important milestone for the project, fostering knowledge exchange, reinforcing partnerships, and setting the stage for the upcoming phases. The consortium looks forward to continuing its work with renewed energy and commitment to advancing climate resilience through innovative nature-based solutions across the Mediterranean region.
Take a look at the photos!
