Organised by LAG 5, Korčula hosted the Final International Conference of the AWASTER project on 16 June, bringing together representatives of institutions, development agencies, local and regional authorities, experts, and representatives of the education and business sectors from Croatia and Italy. The conference provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and share good practices in the fields of sustainable development and environmental protection.
Among the participants was the Regional Development Agency of Dubrovnik-Neretva County – DUNEA. As part of the conference programme, Antonija Odak, Project Manager, delivered a presentation entitled “From Projects to Impact: Good Practices for Sustainable Coastal Development”. Drawing on experiences from Dubrovnik-Neretva County, she highlighted the importance of transforming project results into tangible development impacts that remain visible long after project funding has ended.
The COASTRUST project was also presented during the lecture. Conference participants were introduced to the project’s objectives, which focus on strengthening coastal governance through the application of the coastal stewardship approach, developing collaborative governance models, and actively engaging relevant stakeholders in the protection and sustainable use of coastal resources. The presentation showcased the project’s activities to date and its contribution to enhancing the resilience and sustainability of Mediterranean coastal communities.
Particular emphasis was placed on the involvement of local and regional stakeholders from the very beginning of project implementation, as well as on integrating project results into strategic documents and development plans to ensure their long-term sustainability.
These topics were further discussed during the panel session, where Antonija Odak addressed the challenges of ensuring the long-term impact of project activities beyond the funding period and highlighted the importance of transferring successful practices across regions and sectors.
Alongside the conference programme, a “WASTE FREE Event” was organised in Korčula, where schools, local producers and civil society organisations presented examples of sustainable lifestyles, material reuse and waste reduction.
Participation in the conference provided an opportunity to strengthen connections with stakeholders and organisations beyond the project partnership, while sharing COASTRUST’s approach and experiences in sustainable coastal management. Such exchanges support the wider uptake of project results and foster long-term cooperation across Mediterranean coastal regions.
