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Marine forest coastal restoration: an underwater gardening socio-ecological plan

Descrizione del progetto

Promuovere il ripristino attivo per incoraggiare la resilienza costiera e in mare aperto

La perdita e il degrado degli ecosistemi marini europei sono allarmanti, soprattutto quelli dominati dalle foreste marine (praterie di mare, alghe, banchi di spugne, foreste di coralli e di gorgonie, ecc.) È urgente prevenire, fermare e invertire questo degrado. Il ripristino attivo è emerso come strumento privilegiato per potenziare le aree marine protette, collegando anche gli habitat sani. Il ripristino non solo promuove la biodiversità, ma migliora anche la cattura del carbonio e aumenta la resilienza di aree costiere e a mare aperto. In proposito, il progetto OCEAN CITIZEN, finanziato dall’UE, svilupperà un nuovo approccio in cui il ripristino fungerà da cassetta degli attrezzi con proprietà valide per molti contesti. Ad esempio, sarà creata e approvata la professione di «giardinieri del mare», destinata a recuperare i biomi marini più trascurati, ovvero le foreste marine.

Obiettivo

Following the non-achievement of the AICHI targets and most of the Good Environmental Status objectives for 2020, active restoration has been emerged (also envisaged by the EU) as one of the preferred tools that may boost sequels of marine protected areas and other conservation measures. Restoration acts promote biodiversity, enhance carbon sequestration and accelerate coastal and offshore resilience. Yet, we still lack a program that combines conservation and restoration under a unified setting, as the involvement of local citizen, embracing socio-economic parameters into opportunities. Thus, an advanced restoration program must conjoin ecological perspectives together with societal commitment and clear economic benefits for local communities. Above all, it must be designed with continuity beyond the lifespan of a project. Responding to the above, OCEAN CITIZEN proposal represent a novel restoration approach in which (1) restoration is depicted as a toolbox holding ubiquitous properties and as such it is experienced in 3 sites, representing different marine ecosystems (in one of the sites all tools are used in concert) and different environments: subtropical, tropical and cold temperate; (2) a profession of “gardeners of the sea” is created and endorsed, including detailed curriculum; (3) the project targets the restoration of the most neglected marine biome, encompassing the various types of Marine Forest (MF) organisms (seagrasses, seaweeds, sponges, corals, gorgonians, etc.);(4) new ecoengineering aspects are applied, including Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture and Smart Enhanced Reefs (SER); the SERs act as substrates for massive recruitment and transplantation of MF organisms (5) the is performed on land, and in situ, from shallow, mesophotic to continental shelf areas (to 90-100 meters depth); (6) a novel approach for C sequestering and sink (7) the full involvement of citizens and local stakeholders with a complete business plan.

Meccanismo di finanziamento

HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions

Coordinatore

UNIVERSITA DEL SALENTO
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 696 065,13
Indirizzo
PIAZZA TANCREDI 7
73100 Lecce
Italia

Mostra sulla mappa

Regione
Sud Puglia Lecce
Tipo di attività
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Collegamenti
Costo totale
€ 696 065,13

Partecipanti (23)

Partner (1)