The implementation process began with the founding of the PHOENIX-See Entwicklungsgesellschaft (EG ) - as a subsidiary of the municipal utility company - to manage this large-scale project. An external project leader was employed and expert engineering offices were contracted. The EG was involved on all topics relating to water management of the Emscher and the Pheonix lake. From the governmental side, a large number of agencies were involved in the process. Public participation was realized through formal and informal meetings and discussions. Of importance were also the feasibility and assessment studies initiated in 2001 to improve the design of the solution and convince decision makers that the risks involved were acceptable. The plan was finally approved in 2005, with digging operations starting in 2006. A year later, the new wastewater sewer was finished and in 2009 the renatured Emscher started to flow in its new bed. Finally, the lake was flooded in 2010 and officially opened in 2011. The construction of houses along the lake started in this period and in 2013 the Entwicklungsgesellschaft “delivered” the lake back to the city of Dortmund.

As this solution serves various goals and meets several objectives, it was possible to secure sufficient funding from diverse parties, domains and funding bodies to cover the entire implementation of the project. In the case of the creation of Lake Phoenix, this included funding for water management from the water board; funding for ecology from the ecological funding program by the federal state; funding for urban development from etc. The water board, for instance, provided the amount of money that was already budgeted for the construction of a flood retention basin. This basin was not needed anymore, as the lake solution already provided the required flood retention function. Some additional potential funding sources were not even used in the end, because it would have slowed down the marketing of the real estate and would have tied the project to certain restrictions, which were not desired by the decision-makers.

In order to find an EbA solution for e.g. the development of an area in which multiple actors have an interest in, it is important to synergistically combine various interests, ambitions, challenges and goals.

Local stakeholders learn to become environmental leaders. They learn about their water reality. When people understand the local problems and their community's responsibility, they can meet and engage with similar groups of stakeholders from other communities across the conflict. The common ground for these cross conflict meetings is the safeguard of the shared watershed and the communities engage in productive meetings to identify solutions. Together they identify projects that speak to the self-interest of both sides. Through this process, the communities gain the capacity to advance solutions even within a turbulent political environment. In most cases, the combination of a strong youth program and outspoken adult leadership creates the political will of mayors and other municipal leaders to get involved.

Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park received EUROPARC certification as a transboundary (TB) area in 2008 and was renewed in 2013. Aims of the certification are to 1) identify priorities for future transboundary work, and 2) raise the national and international profile of the parks and TB area as a whole. Application requirements include a joint long-term vision and guiding rules for future cooperation along with an action plan (see Building Block 3), which are essential for the continued transboundary cooperation. Initial suggestions for the vision and guiding rules were circulated among working group members before the Steering Committee agreed on the final vision: “Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park is an internationally recognised sustainable nature tourism destination known for its wilderness characteristics and natural, cultural and historical values. Promotion of nature conservation and sustainable nature tourism preserves the core values and contributes to the sound development of the area.” Bilateral and multilateral agreements between Finland, Norway and Russia were also needed for TB certification, which incorporated input from all three countries and were prepared in Finnish and translated to English then to Norweigian and Russian.

The aim of developing a transboundary action plan was to ensure the future of the cooperation among the five protected areas across international borders for continued nature protection and sustainable nature tourism. The plan is available in English, Finnish, and Russian, and is divided into two main parts. Part A describes characteristics of the area, including basic information about natural and cultural history, legislation, land use, and management of the areas. Basic information is useful for those curious about the transboundary area. Management plans, area plans, and regional plans are needed for coordinating nature protection and sustainable nature tourism between and within countries. Knowledge of international agreements, legislation, practices and planning in each area is also needed for transboundary cooperation. In part B, the 10-year vision describes the joint aims and strategies of the the cooperation. Mutual strategies include: cooperation, nature monitoring, dissemination of information and nature tourism. Finally concrete actions are suggested, and more concrete plans can be made to guide short-term planning. The plan was therefore considered as an advisory plan, focusing on common long-term guidance.

To stop ongoing erosion along the coastline breakwater fences were installed. This building block addresses the coastline protection in the Mekong Delta area of South Vietnam. In particular the T-shaped bamboo fences are designed and placed at severe erosion sites. Through the transformation of waves and the loss of their force the fences cause the settlement of transported sand and mud particles. The result is enhanced sedimentation alongside the coastline. On these newly created mudflats, mangroves can naturally grow within months. On an overall length of 12 km breakwater fences were set up by the programme. In the provinces of Bac Lieu and Soc Trang 99% of the coasts are now no longer directly threatened by water at the dyke. The breakwater fences have not only stopped the loss of land to the sea of up to 50m per year, but have completely reversed this trend by winning back land. This success has been achieved due to a vertical sedimentation of up to 120 cm. This higher floodplain has created a natural protection of the dyke toe and for recruiting mangroves. Additionally the natural biodiversity has been recovered by 70% after 4 years. In one province the diversity of species was comparable to a natural forest after 18 months.

Key impediments to sustainable lowland development are the lack of integration of coastal zone management policies and approaches, and limited translation into practice and limited community engagement during design and implementation of plans. The Indonesian government has embarked on various integrated master planning processes and established taskforces and working groups to address these challenges. A large proportion of the solution is dedicated to supporting this policy dialogue process, creating an enabling environment. At community level, project partners have been invited by the target communities to facilitate the development of 10 year village development plans and regulations that guide resources management. These will define ambitions for sustainable aquaculture and coastal security. Community-village plans will contribute to implementation of the provincial master plan, addressing community priorities and needs. This alignment greatly increases community ownership with regards to decision making and engagement in implementation of development plans. After the project, representatives of all 10 target communities will have actively become involved in government-led planning.

Enhanced capacity and awareness is required to enable and stimulate the target group and other actors to take an active role in planning and implementation of Building measures. Three different training curricula will be developed and delivered, targeting government, private sector and communities. Trainings will address both technical (e.g. rehabilitation of mangroves, construction of permeable dams), socio-economic (e.g. improved aquaculture; livelihoods diversification) and institutional (ICZM, group organising etc.) matters.