PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Macroalgal forests, one of the most productive and valuable habitats in the Mediterranean, are rapidly being lost because of direct and indirect human impacts. Due to their important role in supporting biodiversity, their loss is leading to a decline in critical ecosystem services – the benefits provided by nature – and a reduction in the sea's ability to sequester carbon dioxide and help mitigate climate change.
OBJECTIVES
REEForest LIFE aims to reverse the degradation of rocky reefs, habitat for endangered brown algae (Cystoseira), by restoring these algae in 4 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where the causes of degradation have been addressed. These MPAs include 3 in Italy (Sinis Peninsula, Cilento National Park, Bergeggi Island) and 1 in Greece (Gyaros Island). Building on the results of the ROC-POP-LIFE project (LIFE16 NAT/IT/000816), the goal is to restore the MPAs' ecological status through specific conservation measures and cost-effective, sustainable reforestation activities.
In addition, REEForest LIFE plans to:
- Provide concrete and robust methods that can be used to replicate and scale up restoration activities in other areas and with other species;
- Develop guidelines for Mediterranean marine forest restoration, and support researchers and stakeholders to take decisions considering cost-effectiveness, ecological conditions and potential threats;
- Raise awareness among citizens and stakeholders on the loss of marine forests in the Mediterranean Sea; and
- Boost knowledge on the conservation, management and restoration of Cystoseira habitat through training, capacity building and decision support in at least 14 MPAs in the Natura 2000 network, and support MPA management bodies to formally adopt and update their management plans by including Cystoseira as a biodiversity target.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Production of a cultivation protocol adapted to the different target species; collection of fertile material and cultivation in mesocosms of Cystoseira recruits for outplanting:
- Identification of suitable healthy donor sites in the 4 target MPAs where a sufficient number of apexes can be collected for cultivation in mesocosms;
- Collection of 2,400 fertile tips (receptacles) for each restoration event in Sinis and Cilento and 1,000 for those in Bergeggi and Gyaros (3 events for each MPA in 3 years);
- Transport of receptacles: 99% seed survival expected from donor sites to incubation chambers at laboratory facilities;
- Reproductive units (RUs) cultivated in 3 years in each target site: production of 3,600 RUs in Cilento and in Sinis, 1,500 in Bergeggi and in Gyaros;
- 70% coverage on each RU expected after 3-4 weeks of cultivation; and
- Juveniles reach 'refuge size' (average length of 1-2 mm) in culture in up to 4 weeks with the tested protocol;
- Restoration through ex situ and in situ actions in the 4 target receiving sites:
- Survival of 90-99% of juveniles on RUs during transport from mesocosms to receiving sites;
- Outplanting Unit frames deployed: 180 at Sinis, 180 at Cilento, 75 at Gyaros, and 1,500 RUs with recruits individually fixed in the intertidal reefs at Bergeggi;
- Survival of 2,400 thalli (plant bodies) at Sinis, 2,400 at Cilento, 1,000 at Gyaros and 1,000 at Bergeggi, with the total number increasing after the project due to the spillover effect; and
- In situ restoration at Sinis and Cilento: 36 Seeding Units with a total of 288 net bags deployed at each site; estimated survival of 1,000 plants per MPA;
- Monitoring of Cystoseira habitat before and after concrete actions in the target areas, to evaluate the success of recolonisation and restoration as well as the improvement of the Ecological Status, using standardised methodological approaches. Expected water quality index over 0.154 Km2 (10m effectively influenced by restoration x 15,400 stretch of coast) and 60% of waters improved;
- Assessment of the socio-economic return of ecosystem restoration, also integrating Cystoseira habitat in the national environmental accounting framework (Natural Capital assessment) and providing an operational tool for managers to understand the importance of these habitats‘ restoration;
- Establishment of a standardised Methodological Protocol on the use of drones for coastal monitoring of Cystoseira habitats, to be promoted, replicated and transferred;
- Awareness raising among citizens and various stakeholders about the loss of Mediterranean marine forests and the value and vulnerability of Cystoseira forests in terms of sustainable and responsible use of natural resources;
- Development of a roadmap for macroalgae restoration in the Mediterranean to assist researchers and stakeholders in decision-making and identify policy recommendations, taking into account cost-effectiveness, ecological conditions and potential threats, and prioritising restoration efforts;
- Interaction with stakeholders to develop best practice guidelines for specific marine reforestation and promote new local enterprises related to this activity;
- Increase in know-how on the conservation, management and restoration of Cystoseira habitat, through training, capacity building and a ‘decision tool’, in at least 11 MPAs; upscaling of restoration efforts in other areas and with other species; and
- Support for 15 MPAs/Natura 2000 management bodies in formally adopting and updating their management plans, by including Cystoseira as a biodiversity target for which appropriate strategies are needed to: (i) assess its status; (ii) prioritise sites for its management, protection and restoration; and (iii) identify early warnings and factors affecting its status and capacity to provide ecosystem services.
