About the Meta-Network

The Meta-Network is an innovative "network of networks" designed to enhance collaboration among global, regional, national, and local initiatives focused on coastal and marine sustainability. This initiative fosters transdisciplinary partnerships across science, policy, and community engagement to strengthen coastal resilience and address urgent environmental challenges.

Coastal and marginal sea ecosystems face increasing pressures from climate change, pollution, and unsustainable resource use. While numerous programs operate at various scales, a lack of coordination and integration has hindered their full impact. The Meta-Network seeks to bridge these gaps by providing a platform for knowledge exchange, data integration, and collaborative action across diverse sectors and disciplines.

The Meta-Network operates under the Future Earth umbrella, consolidating efforts to create evidence-based policies and management strategies for sustainable coastal zones. By leveraging expertise from academic institutions, NGOs, and policymakers, the initiative ensures science-driven decision-making, inclusive governance, and long-term socio-ecological resilience.

• Enhancing Regional and Global Collaboration: Establishing a coordinated knowledge-sharing platform for diverse coastal sustainability efforts.

• Integrating Research & Data: Strengthening data collection, integration, and open-access knowledge sharing to support policy and management decisions.

• Supporting Decision-Making: Creating multi-scale and comprehensive monitoring frameworks for adaptive coastal governance.

• Engaging the Next Generation: Empowering young researchers, students, and sustainability advocates through capacity-building and mentorship programs.

The Meta-Network functions as a dynamic platform for collaboration with the joint-hub described below that provides scientific, policy, and management leadership.