The REST-COAST project is entering its final phase, with its official conclusion scheduled for May 2026. As the project draws to an end, partners will come together for the final REST-COAST Annual Meeting, taking place on 2–5 February 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. Hosted by the coordinator’s institution, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona Tech - UPC, this milestone event will serve as a key moment to reflect on the project’s journey, highlight its results, and shape the pathways of its long-term legacy.

Over four and a half years of collaborative work, REST-COAST has generated a range of scientific knowledge, practical tools, and policy-relevant insights to support nature-based solutions for coastal resilience. The final meeting will provide a comprehensive overview of these achievements, showcasing how the project’s outcomes have contributed to advancing coastal risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, and evidence-based decision-making across Europe. Partners will review the main results, assess their real-world impact, and discuss pathways for uptake and continuation beyond the project’s lifetime.

A major highlight of the final phase will be the publication of the REST-COAST book, which will synthesise and present the project’s key findings, methodologies, and lessons learned. In parallel, REST-COAST’s digital outputs will be showcased, including the REST-COAST mobile app, the Coastal Challenge video game, and the digital dashboard, all designed to translate scientific results into accessible and actionable formats for a wide range of users.

To celebrate the International Day of Wetlands and present the key conclusions of the restoration efforts of this project, the IUCN Mediterranean team within REST-COAST is organising an informative session with journalists on 2 February, ahead of the final General Assembly. The event aims to engage media professionals with a strong interest in environmental and coastal topics and to foster discussion around the project’s main outcomes and societal relevance. 

While being the last annual meeting for the consortium, this gathering is an important event for the whole REST-COAST consortium, as it will pave the remaining months of the project’s duration, where the long-term impact of results will be ensured.

Amongst the remaining results to be published are the final version of the digital board, specific training materials and guidance for their implementation and a restoration roadmap for upscaling, management criteria, business models and governance/policy transition.