WE INVITE YOU TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF THE CONTRA PROJECT AND JOIN THE NETWORK OF STAKEHOLDERS!

Dear Sir or Madam,

the implementation period of the "CONTRA - Baltic Beach Wrack - Conversion of a Nuisance to a Resource and Asset" project, implemented under the Baltic Sea Interreg program, implemented jointly with 14 full partners and 22 associated partners over the last two years, is coming to an end. With the finalization of the main areas of project objectivities and activities, we would like to share with you the most important effects and encourage further cooperation within the newly established network of BW stakeholders.

Starting from 2019, members of the CONTRA team, including our Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Bałtyk and local partners from the: City of Puck, the City of Gdynia, the City and Commune of Tolkmicko, Gdańsk University of Technology and IOPAN, tried to gather the knowledge required to improve the sustainable management of marine waste in the Baltic Sea Region. Through networking activities, pilot investments, creation of education and information materials, we aimed to change the way coastal municipalities and other institutions view and deal with the problem of the beach wrack to help them develop the knowledge required for its sustainable management of coastal areas.

The project also established an international network for knowledge exchange, capacity building, awareness-raising, and the promotion of the use of marine litter, which is waiting for new members.

The end of the project is not the end of the consortium or network activities. We would like to invite all interested parties to join the Stakeholder network, which will function after its completion under the leadership of our partners from Germany from EUCC-D - Coastal Union Germany eV, or EUCC-Germany (which in its daily work promotes integrated coastal zone management and sustainable development coasts and seas in Germany).

The network of which APC ERB is also a member is a voluntary union and participation in it does not involve any costs. It is a stakeholder network of a multi-industry and transnational forum. Its members include, but are not limited to, local government representatives, beach managers, landowners, coastal engineers, landscape historians, national policymakers, nature conservationists, students and scientists, industry representatives, resource managers, private companies, and representatives of the tourism industry. Most of our tasks are based on a variety of thematic interests to trigger a broad and lively discussion - thus creating a unique and dedicated coastal management forum. Joining the Beach Wrack Network is free and without obligation. Members receive an email every year about the activities of the network, and from time to time information about relevant news in the areas of the beach areas!

If you want to be part of the network, please fill out the membership form below (Annex 1) and send it back by e-mail to: beachwrack@eucc-d.de

The project compilations in the form of a toolkit, a comprehensive assessment of all environmental, social and economic aspects of beach waste management at six case study sites, are at your disposal. If you are interested in these materials, please visit the CONTRA project website available at: https://www.beachwrack-contra.eu/publications/

ZAŁĄCZNIK 1 - Beach Wrack Network Membership Form.docx