The Natural Park has an area of about 30.000 ha and, together with the Peneda-Gerês National Park, it forms the nucleus of the Gerês-Xurés Transfrontier Biosphere Reserve of 267,958 ha. It is in a zone of transition between the Mediterranean and Atlantic climates, with an abrupt relief that causes great contrasts between the high and low parts.
It includes an important set of natural habitats and species of significance for the conservation of the existing biodiversity and presents one of the largest concentrations of tumuli or mámoas. During the romanization, the construction of the Via Nova led to the erection of civil buildings such as the military camp Aquis Querquennis, the thermal installation of Aquis Originis, the Visigothic church of Santa Comba de Bande and the village of Cela in Lobios. This territory is subject to significant pressure due to the incidence of forest fires that take place.
SHELTER will particularly focus on providing tools to increase resilience of both its natural and historic built environment by fostering local communities’ participation. Specifically, two tools will be developed; one to hinder the progress of large fires (prevention) and another focused-on restoration after the fire (recovery).

The Sava River Basin is a major catchment of the South-Eastern Europe covering the total area of approximately 97,700 km2. The Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin (FASRB) is the basis for transboundary cooperation for sustainable development of the region and its implementation is coordinated by the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC).
The joint Flood Risk Management Plan (FRMP) is currently in the first cycle of planning and has the aim of decrease of harmful consequences of floods on cultural-historical and religious heritage, among all other flood receptors, including the following UNESCO designated sites: Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia), Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards in Žabljak-Plužine (Montenegro) and in Perućac-Rastište-Hrta (Serbia), as well as Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps in Ig (Slovenia).

Located in the Rhine-Meuse delta, the Island of Dordrecht is characterised by the long stretches outside the dikes, which includes the historic port area, which is part of the historic city centre and includes almost 800 listed buildings. Water levels are influenced by both the sea and the rivers and, due to climate change, they will be higher in the future.
Consequently, the HA will be periodically flooded as it is located on the lowest-lying area, as well as the rest of the areas located outside the dikes. As flood risks are increasing, and major adaptation of the buildings is potentially costly or socially unacceptable, Dordrecht considers the future realisation of a new flood defence to protect the old harbour area.
Despite having a deeper participation culture than the other SHELTER case studies, there are still challenges related to the impact of the institutional strategy on DRM, as well as finding proper arrangements for distributing responsibilities, decision-making procedures and financing mechanisms by the involved stakeholders: SHELTER will build upon existing practices in the city and will facilitate the design and implementation of measures to support the flood risk management and participation of citizens and key stakeholders.

The Church of Santa Croce (5th century) and the surrounding archaeological site are situated in the city centre of Ravenna, inscribed as UNESCO cultural property in 1996. The archaeological site, characterised by the presence of floor mosaics is exposed to outdoor climatic threats and the whole area suffers from the subsidence phenomena (level 1 to 1.5 m. below the original one), characteristic of the entire subsoil of the city.
The complex is characterized by a church of the 5th Century AD and the remains of some Roman domus, of which a rich mosaic is preserved. Now a separate building, the Church of Santa Croce was once connected to the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, contiguous to Basilica of San Vitale, both Unesco World Heritage sites.
This, together with the basin conformation, favours a constant presence of water and damp, currently avoided by an obsolete and ineffective pumping system. Increase in floods frequency and the continuous exposure to environmental factors, such as the increase in precipitation patterns and marine ingression, can weaken the material, increasing the risk of loss in case of extreme weather events. It is also in an earthquake prone area.

Located in Izmir province, the municipality is characterised by rural areas and a coastal town. The district is in Seismic Zone 1, being the fault line directly beneath it and the whole peninsula subject to extreme heat waves and storms, which affect the traditional means of agriculture and fishery.
Since the year 2003, earthquakes of 5.6 and 5.9 magnitude have happened on the fault line directly under Seferihisar, causing severe damage and in the summer of 2017, an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude affected the İzmir province and extreme precipitation has been subject to an emergency plan in 2013.
The port town of Sığacık is characterised by fortress walls which are in deteriorating condition, vulnerable to earthquakes along with the protected historical building stock. Furthermore, the community is also vulnerable to both earthquakes and extreme climate events that affect their livelihoods.

Venice, a city built on a series of islands in a lagoon, is one of the most unique and culturally rich places in the world. It is known for its stunning architecture, colorful canals, and vibrant cultural scene. However, this beautiful city also faces a number of challenges related to its physical and social infrastructure, including threats from rising sea levels and floods.
As part of the SHELTER project, we aim to develop a range of tools and services that will help Venice and similar cultural areas build resilience and thrive in the face of these challenges.