COSTAFLORA

Coastal dunes and cliffs constitute remarkable ecosystems that host exceptional biodiversity and provide numerous services to society. In particular, they contribute to the protection of the coastline against the risks of marine submersion and erosion, while improving the quality of the landscape and the tourist attractiveness of coastal areas.

However, these natural environments are seriously threatened. Within the Eastern Coastal Functional Area (ECFA), dunes now represent only 16% of the coastline and coastal cliffs approximately 40%. They are under increasing pressure from human activities (urbanization, tourism, trampling, climbing, introduction of invasive exotic plant species) and are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, more intense storms, coastal erosion and drought.

These changes directly threaten natural coastal habitats and the heritage flora associated with them. Faced with these challenges, it is necessary to develop transboundary conservation strategies, as plant species and ecological processes do not respect administrative boundaries.

The CostaFlora project is a cross-border project dedicated to the knowledge, conservation and improvement of the dune and rocky habitats of the Occitan-Catalan coast and its heritage flora.

At the heart of the project is the concept of an open-air botanical laboratory (OBL). These exceptional places, known for their botanical richness and the presence of species of high conservation concern, constitute authentic spaces for research, ecological monitoring, collaborative management and public awareness.

CostaFlora aims to structure a cross-border network of OBLs extending from the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean. These sites will become reference points for the production of scientific knowledge, the monitoring of biodiversity, the conservation of natural habitats and the exchange of knowledge.

The project uses "mirror" sites located on both sides of the border to develop common approaches around three main challenges:

• manage the impacts of human activities on coastal environments;
• combat invasive exotic plant species;
• share scientific experience to better reconcile biodiversity conservation, coastal risk management and land use.

Led by five French and Spanish partner organizations and supported by a wide network of local actors, CostaFlora also fosters synergies with several research and conservation projects already underway in the Pyrenees and along the Mediterranean coast.

Beyond its scientific dimension, the project places significant emphasis on environmental awareness and education. Through open-air botanical laboratories, CostaFlora aims to strengthen public understanding of issues related to coastal preservation and showcase the richness of transboundary natural heritage to a wider audience.

Partner entities
The beneficiary partners of the project are:

University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD), coordinating entity;
Federation of Catalan Nature Reserves (FRNC);
University of Barcelona (UB);

Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF)
Consortium of the Barcelona Museum of Natural Sciences (CMCNB)

Project budget
Total project budget: €953,349.85
ERDF budget: €619,677.38

Start and duration of the project
Start date: May 1, 2026
End date: April 30, 2029
Duration: 36 months

Scientific manager of the UPVD project: Valérie HINOUX (LGDP Laboratory)

Project reference: Interreg POCTEFA - Eastern Coastal Functional Area (AFLE)

The CostaFlora project was 65% funded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra (POCTEFA) program. 2021-2027). The POCTEFA aims to strengthen the economic and social integration of the Spain-France-Andorra border area.