Pafos Live 13 November 2024
The work of the new research project entitled "Community-Led Creation of Living Spaces in Shifting Landscapes for Climate-Resilient Land Use Management and Supporting the New European Bauhaus" and acronym "LandShift" began yesterday in Paphos. The project involves the participation of 26 partners and has secured funding of €5,996,281.25. from the European Union . The ERATOSTHENES Center of Excellence of CUT has undertaken the coordination of the project, which will last three years.
Reducing emissions is not the only way to achieve climate neutrality. Removing CO2 from the atmosphere by capturing it in soil and biomass also contributes to reducing the EU's overall greenhouse gas emissions. In June 2022, the European Council adopted a general approach on the revision of the LULUCF Regulation, which lays down rules for reducing emissions and carbon removals through land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF). In November 2022, the European Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the regulation. The revised regulation was formally adopted by the Council in March 2023.
"LandShift" is a flagship European project, leveraging field and Earth Observation data through ecosystem-based solutions (NBS), aligned with the new European Bauhaus Directive. By creating five digital landscape and natural resource infrastructures at regional level (Living Spaces), LandShift will address the climate challenges of co-planning and land use management, promoting effective co-governance for coordinated decision-making and policy-making at regional, national and European levels.
The importance of "LandShift" lies in its holistic approach. It is being deployed in five EU regions and more specifically in five countries (France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Ukraine) with the aim of harnessing digital infrastructure to address the multifaceted challenges posed by the complex relationship between the LULUCF sector and climate variability.
The project will empower stakeholders with regional strategies to optimise the links between net removals from the LULUCF sector and biogenic emissions from the agricultural sector, including at local/regional level. The project will leverage advanced tools such as Earth Observation services, artificial intelligence, data cubes, multicriteria analysis tools (MCDA) and always in line with EU climate policies and the Green Deal.
LandShift also recognises the importance of involving wider societies, fostering a sense of co-development and co-governance among local communities. By providing information to policymakers and stakeholders based on quality innovative digital tools, LandShift is the hallmark of innovation and inclusiveness in informed decision-making and the development of regional socio-economic and environmentally responsible strategies.
