“RECOVER: REsilience of COastal Vital Ecosystems through innovative management solutions in the Danish-German border Region”
RECOVER is a Danish–German research project funded by Interreg Deutschland–Danmark. The project works to strengthen the Baltic Sea’s ecosystems through biological research, sensor technology, and digital models. The goal is to improve monitoring, restoration, and management of the marine environment in a region heavily affected by climate change and human activity.
At the Center for Rural Research (CLF), we contribute to RECOVER with social science research that examines the social and institutional conditions influencing the implementation of environmental measures in the Baltic Sea region. While the project’s natural science partners develop new methods to monitor and restore the marine environment, CLF focuses on how efforts to reduce agriculture’s impact on fjords and marine ecosystems are perceived, accepted, and translated into practice locally.
By analyzing decision-making processes, collaborative relationships, and local perspectives, CLF helps ensure that RECOVER’s solutions are not only technically functional but also realistic, socially grounded, and implementable in the communities that must put them into action.
RECOVER is carried out in collaboration with six main partners in Denmark and Germany. Together, they contribute biological research, sensor technology, digital solutions, and social science knowledge about the Baltic Sea’s environment and governance.
• GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
GEOMAR leads the project and contributes research on microalgae, collection and analysis of ecological data, and development of the model-based components of a digital twin of the southwestern Baltic Sea in collaboration with SDU.
• Nordcee (Nordic Centre for Earth Evolution), University of Southern Denmark
Nordcee researches microalgae in Danish coastal waters as indicators of environmental status and involves citizens in sampling as part of a citizen science approach.
• Mads Clausen Institute, University of Southern Denmark
The institute develops low-cost sensors for measuring microalgae and contributes expertise in product innovation, sensor technology, and measurement techniques.
• Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Institute, University of Southern Denmark
The institute develops software, artificial intelligence, and data analysis for the first elements of a digital twin designed to visualize the Baltic Sea’s environmental condition in real time.
• Center for Ocean and Society (CeOS), University of Kiel
CeOS researches protection and management measures for the Baltic Sea and contributes social science and interdisciplinary expertise.
• The Danish Center for Rural Research (CLF), University of Southern Denmark
CLF examines how efforts to reduce agriculture’s impact on fjords and the marine environment are perceived, accepted, and implemented locally and regionally, contributing knowledge about the societal anchoring of environmental initiatives.
In addition to the six main partners, more than 20 network partners participate in the RECOVER project, which you can explore here:
You can also read much more about the project here: https://www.geomar.de/en/recover/recover-project
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