Past events

The first in-person RECHARGE project meeting, held in Antwerp, Belgium, began with welcoming remarks from all participating members. This was followed by a comprehensive introductory presentation by the project coordinator, Prof. Dr. Jan Staes. His presentation revisited the main objectives, methodological frameworks, and expected deliverables of each work package (WP). The first day of the meeting featured detailed sessions on WP1, during which the teams were introduced to a developed impact assessment tool designed to quantify the effects of various ecosystem-based adaptations on the delivery of ecosystem services. The discussion then focused on the steps needed to adapt and apply this tool to the case study areas. Following this, the focus shifted to WP2, with an in-depth discussion on the selected methodology for analyzing delineated sampling sites.

The second day of the in-person meeting was dedicated to a field visit to the Belgian case study area—the Kleine Nete catchment. The visit was guided with the help of  Eddy Vercammen, a highly experienced forester and long-time conservator of the Olens Broek nature reserve. Participants had the opportunity to observe the current condition of the site, learn about the history of past restoration efforts, and reflect on key lessons learned from those initiatives.

The third day of the meeting was dedicated to discussions on the remaining work packages, with a central focus on collaboration and engagement strategies with local communities, water managers, conservation organizations, and other key stakeholders. The session continued with an interactive causal loop diagram workshop, led by Vincent Bellinkx and Silvia Muñoz, and finished with a summary of key insights and reflections on the next steps for project implementation.