On February 11, 2025, the third co-design session of the NATMed project took place in Seville, Spain. Funded by the PRIMA program, NATMed aims to promote innovative nature-based solutions (NBS) for water management. The event, hosted at the Andalusian Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, brought together experts to analyze the case study of Carrión de los Céspedes (Seville).
The session opened with remarks from María Luisa López Cánovas, a representative of the Andalusian Environment and Water Agency (AMAYA), who emphasized the project’s importance for regional water sustainability. This was followed by Claudia Sánchez (NBSCLIMATE), who introduced the concept of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), referencing the definition provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Participants engaged in an interactive exercise identifying various NBS applications.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation by our partner Cetaqua , represented by Damián Sánchez, who introduced two key projects: CARDIMED and LIFE Matrix. LIFE Matrix project aims to demonstrate the technical, environmental, and health feasibility of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) using reclaimed water on the Costa del Sol. Meanwhile, CARDIMED focuses on enhancing climate resilience in the Mediterranean by promoting the widespread adoption of NBS. This presentation underscored CARDIMED’s role in driving sustainable water solutions tailored to Mediterranean challenges.
Other notable contributions included Carlos García Delgado (CTA) presenting SOLLAGUA, which explores NBS and “nature-based water-oriented living labs” for rural water reuse. Miguel Ángel Gómez (Fundación Aland) discussed Farms4Climate, a project advocating sustainable and regenerative agricultural land management. Gerardo González from BIOAZUL, one of the others Spanish partners of CARDIMED, introduced Vertical Ecosystem, a hydroponic vertical garden irrigated with reclaimed water at the Hotel Mariposa in Malaga, integrating natural ecosystems into urban settings. Additionally, Raquel Sánchez de Pedro and David Vergara (FYH-UMA / Todobarro Soluciones SL) presented SAFARI and BIOECOREST, projects dedicated to ecological riverbank restoration through eco-engineering and circular ecology.
The session concluded with a collaborative co-evaluation exercise, where participants analyzed strengths and areas for improvement in the Carrión de los Céspedes case study. This dynamic discussion generated creative ideas to enhance the impact of implemented solutions. Raquel Marijuan (CARTIF) then provided final reflections, reinforcing the significance of collaborative efforts and knowledge exchange in advancing nature-based water management solutions.
CARDIMED’s participation in this event, facilitated by our partner Cetaqua’s presentation, highlights its commitment to fostering sustainable and resilient water management strategies across the Mediterranean. This engagement further strengthens partnerships and lays the groundwork for future initiatives in the sector.
