• Funded by Horizon Europe, the project concludes at the European Urban Resilience Forum in Portugal, after developing innovative tools to protect to protect the cultural and landscape heritage of Europe’s coastal areas.

The European RescueMe project concludes after three years of research and innovation to improve the resilience of cultural landscapes to the effects of climate change and other global risks.

The closing event took place on June 16 in Guimarães, Portugal, prior to the European Urban Resilience Forum (EURESFO), held in the same Portuguese city from June 17 to 19. EURESFO has become a key platform for sharing results and lessons learned with policymakers, experts and cities across Europe.

A European project to protect cultural heritage and landscapes

RescueMe, a research action funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe program, has focused on protecting cultural heritage and strengthening the resilience of European coastal landscapes to the risks posed by climate change and other environmental and social impacts.

Drawing on data collected over the past three years, the project has developed an innovative approach based on Resilient Historic Landscapes (RHL). This framework integrates data, models and methodologies to assess risks and opportunities, and to design inclusive resilience strategies that support local communities in adapting to climate change and managing disaster risks.

In the words of Paula Llobet, Councillor for Innovation, Tourism and Investment Attraction at Valencia City Council: “Projects such as RescueMe show that Valencia is not only participating in European innovation, but also leading the way in providing real solutions to global challenges such as climate change. Protecting the Valencian orchard means safeguarding not only our identity, but also our economy and our future.”

As Paula Llobet points out: “The work carried out in l’Horta is a clear example of how collaboration between public institutions, the agricultural sector and the scientific community can generate tangible and replicable impact for other European cities. This project demonstrates Valencia’s capacity to lead innovative solutions in Europe, connecting science, territory and citizens to improve people’s lives.”

RescueMe has also generated key outputs such as decision-support systems, digital platforms, and repositories of resilience solutions, enabling territories to anticipate risks and strengthen their adaptive capacity.

Valencia as a European Laboratory for Territorial Resilience

Through RescueMe, the Valencia Orchard (l’Horta de València) and the Albufera Natural Park—recognised by FAO as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)—have been established as one of the five European Resilient Landscape Laboratories (R-labscapes).

In this context, Valencia Innovation Capital has coordinated the local pilot focused on the historic irrigation system of l’Horta, engaging key regional stakeholders—including the agricultural sector—to assess risks, co-design strategies and test innovative solutions that enhance ecosystem services and reinforce the area’s heritage value.

European Innovation with local impact

With a total budget of €4 million, RescueMe has brought together partners from seven European countries—Germany, Italy, Austria, Greece, Croatia, Belgium and Spain—generating replicable solutions to guide climate adaptation across diverse territorial contexts. Crete (Greece), Hamburg (Germany), Portovenere, Cinque Terre and the islands (Italy), and Zadar (Croatia) are among the European territories collaborating with Valencia in the project.

In line with its mission to equip territories with tools to protect cultural heritage and landscapes, RescueMe has also established an International Community of Practice, facilitating knowledge exchange among experts in resilience, climate adaptation and heritage management.

A lasting legacy for territorial resilience

The main legacy of the RescueMe project lies in its set of tools, methodologies and lessons learned, which will contribute to advancing Valencia’s territorial resilience strategy and reinforcing its position as a European leader in urban and climate innovation.

In a context of increasing vulnerability to climate change, initiatives such as RescueMe highlight the crucial role of cultural heritage and landscapes as key drivers of collective well-being, social cohesion and environmental sustainability across Europe.