PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
During the last century, the rapid and powerful anthropic process that occurred along the European coastline significantly altered its natural features, with serious consequences on the marine environment, which is characterised by some of the most sensitive marine ecosystems such as the Posidonia oceanica meadows (a priority habitat under the Habitats Directive). It is well-known that these meadows now suffer significant regression around the Mediterranean basin, especially near major urbanised centres. This is also the case in Italy, where P. oceanica covers most of the Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and south-western Adriatic Seas. This regression can generally be attributed to mechanical impacts and/or increased water turbidity following poor coastline management. Among other anthropogenic pressures, P. oceanica is affected by the construction of coastal infrastructures such as ports, installation of cables, pipelines and coastal defence barriers. All of these result in the removal of portions of the meadows causing fragmentation and habitat loss.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE SEPOSSO project has implemented, for the first time in Italy and in the Mediterranean, a national monitoring of P. oceanica transplants carried out in the last 20 years. Thanks to the constant collaboration of the numerous stakeholders, Guidelines, Technical Guides and Technical-Scientific Manuals have been produced to improve planning, implementation and monitoring of the recovery activities of Posidonia meadows, likewise considering the importance of the natural capital and the ecosystem services that the meadows themselves provide. Furthermore, the creation of the "Posidonia Transplanting Web Platform" has enabled the development of the Digital Transformation of the environmental assessment processes, by creating a tool for collecting data related both to the works that impact the Posidonia meadows and to the monitoring of transplants. Activities of communication and dissemination of the results, as well as networking with many research projects and subjects involved in various ways in transplantation, have contributed to increase the knowledge and awareness of citizens on the Posidonia meadows of the marine sites of the Natura 2000 Network.
The results and products developed by LIFE SEPOSSO contributed to the implementation of the relevant European environmental legislation (Directive “Environmental Assessment EIA” 2014/52/EU, Directive” Marine Spatial Planning” 2014/89/EU, Directive “Habitat” 1992/43/EEC, Aarhus Convention 25 June 1998, Framework Directive “Marine Strategy” 2008/56/CE).
Now, according to LIFE SEPOSSO results, also in the sea, it is possible to make sustainable and effective transplants, to compensate damages caused to the Posidonia oceanica meadows or to recover the degraded ones.
RESULTS
The main outcomes of the project are the following:
- Stakeholder Engagement and Analysis: The project conducted a thorough conflict analysis concerning Posidonia oceanica transplants, engaging relevant stakeholders to ensure broad perspectives.
- Guideline Proposals: The project proposed updates to environmental guidelines, particularly those related to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Environmental Monitoring Projects (PMA). These updates focused on the environmental factor "Biodiversity" within Posidonia oceanica meadows, specifically in habitat 1120*.
- Technical Guides: A technical guide was developed for the economic assessment of environmental impacts on Posidonia oceanica meadows, providing valuable insights into the economic dimensions of conservation efforts.
- Data Sharing and Cataloguing: The project compiled a comprehensive catalogue of environmental data related to Posidonia oceanica meadow management from 9 sources, 18 infrastructures, 24 datasets and 115 data resources, ensuring accessibility to critical information for conservation efforts.
- Transplantation Initiatives: The project introduced the Preliminary Transplantation Suitability Index (PTSI) to assess the viability of transplantations. It also launched the Posidonia Transplanting Web Platform (PTWP), serving as a hub for information and data sharing.
- Guidance Manuals: Manuals were created for the planning, implementation and monitoring of Posidonia oceanica transplantations, as well as for the techniques and procedures involved in these processes.
- Stakeholder Training: Training sessions were conducted to educate stakeholders on regulatory and methodological tools for governing Posidonia oceanica transplantation within the context of environmental assessments (EIA and VINCA).
- User Accounts and Data Analysis: The project authorised 112 user accounts for the PTWP, facilitating data analysis and collaboration among stakeholders.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Replication: The project involved a significant number of stakeholders, with 123 subjects/entities engaged in the transferability and replication of project solutions through two courses organised by ISPRA and other national and European events.
- Public Bodies Involvement: Over 40 public bodies responsible for the management and control of transplanting initiatives were engaged in the project.
- Online Presence: A website in both Italian and English languages received substantial traffic. Additionally, 7 video spots, 4 informative panels and 12 dissemination products were created to spread awareness.
- Media Outreach: The project produced a documentary titled “Posidonia oceanica, let’s look after it” (available in Italian and English) and a comic titled “Discovering Posidonia oceanica meadows” in Italian, English, and Greek.
- Final Meeting: The project concluded with a final meeting titled “Posidonia… and more,” serving as a platform to discuss the project's achievements and future prospects.
