Last updated: March 2025
The Molentargius-Salt Works Regional Natural Park, spanning approximately 1,600 hectares, is located in South Sardinia between the towns of Cagliari and Quartu Sant'Elena, adjacent to the Poetto seafront. The park features diverse ecosystems, including wetlands and salt flats, and houses the Orto Botanico di Cagliari, which showcases native Mediterranean plants. In 2016, a project was initiated by a group of stakeholders to preserve and enhance biodiversity within the park. The project's goals are to protect and promote the unique ecosystems, such as the fossil beach, and manage invasive species like the Louisiana crayfish. Through various activities—educational programs, public engagement, and conservation efforts—the initiative aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of local biodiversity and its historical evolution. A primary focus of the project is the conservation of the Orto Botanico area in Is Arenas, which contains a fossil beach that offers valuable geological insights into the region's past. Planned activities include cleaning and securing the area, creating educational pathways, and employing multimedia tools to engage visitors. The emphasis is on teaching the public, especially students, about biodiversity as a result of environmental adaptation through practical learning and cultural exchanges. Another critical aspect of the project is the study and control of the invasive Louisiana crayfish, which threatens the park’s biodiversity by contributing to riverbank erosion and impacting native fauna. The project will incorporate scientific research on the crayfish and develop strategies to limit its spread, aiming to protect the park’s delicate ecosystems from further disruption by invasive species. Lastly, the project emphasizes cultural exchange and social inclusion and fosters dialogue on the shared ecological challenges in Parco Molentargius. (Refs. 1, 2 & 5)
Protection of fossil beach2.
https://web.unica.it/unica/it/news_notizie_s1.page?contentId=NTZ165027
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Botanical gardens
Key challenges
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
- Marine and coastal research and/or education
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Invasive alien species
- Soil degradation and loss
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Poor community engagement
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Coastal landscape management or protection, Coastal ecosystems restoration and maintenance (mangroves, dunes, saltplains, underwater meadows), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat conservation, Marine and coastal conservation initiatives, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs, Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Clearing out invasive alien species and allow natural regeneration maintaining the functionality the ecosystem
Project objectives
To preserve and enhance the biodiversity of the Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius-Saline-Poetto by monitoring and protecting key areas, such as the fossil beach, which holds scientific and historical significance.
To address the threat of invasive species, particularly the Louisiana crayfish, which is causing environmental damage (riverbank erosion and impacting native fauna)
To improve public understanding of these ecosystems by creating educational pathways focused on their relevance to climate change mitigation, utilizing multimedia tools, and engaging with students and visitors to highlight the importance of biodiversity and its evolution in a heavily urbanized context.
To promote social inclusion and cultural exchange by involving immigrant communities from North African countries that share similar wetland ecosystems. The project will engage these groups in environmental education, cultural dialogues, and activities that foster integration (Refs. 1, 2 & 5).
Implementation activities
The project began with the creation of a participatory planning workshop in collaboration with the community to analyze risks and design interventions, including the preservation of the fossil beach through cleaning the surrounding area and removing small illegal dumps. To prevent further erosion, trenches were dug at the base of the slopes, filled with dry material, and reinforced with protective fences. The project also focused on controlling invasive species such as the Louisiana crayfish through monitoring and targeted removal strategies.
A communication campaign was launched to inform local communities through brochures, press conferences, and direct engagement with schools. Educational activities were prioritized, involving students and local citizens in understanding the park's biodiversity and environmental issues. Physical improvements in the park included acquiring equipment such as signage, microscopes, fences, and audio guides, alongside clean-ups, erosion control, and path development to protect the fossil beach.
Specialized tools, including traps and baits, were utilized for invasive species monitoring. Cultural activities were incorporated, such as workshops on paleoclimate correlations and public workshops to enhance awareness of biodiversity, particularly among immigrant communities. Finally, the park served as a platform for environmental education, with organized excursions and cultural exchanges, including a multi-ethnic "Biodiversity Festival" (Refs. 1, 2
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Control and clean invasive alien species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups , Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen science
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project commenced with a participatory planning workshop involving the community to analyze risks and design interventions for preserving the fossil beach, including cleaning the area and removing illegal dumps. The Associazione per il Parco Molentargius-Saline-Poetto led the project, while the University of Cagliari focused on monitoring the invasive crayfish through its Biomedical and Life Sciences departments. Legambiente (NGO) created educational trails, and the Regional ACLI (Catholic lay organisation) connected the initiative with immigrant communities for their integration. Community involvement came from the Kayak CKS Le Saline Club (Sports club) and the Agesci San Pio X Scout Group (Religious group), while the project was funded by Fondazione con il SUD (foundation).
(Refs. 1 & 2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
Source(s) of funding
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Achieved enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Achieved increased protection of threatened species
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Achieved improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Achieved improved social cohesion
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Achieved increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of natural heritage
- Achieved protection of natural heritage
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Achieved increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
AP Molentargius (2015). SALVAGUARDIA E VALORIZZAZIONE DELLA BIODIVERSITA’ TRA PASSATO REMOTO E PRESENTE NEL PARCO NATURALE REGIONALE MOLENTARGIUS-SALINE. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link];
2.
AP Molentargius (2015). Attività Progetto. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Fondazione con il Sud (n.d.). Salvaguardia E Valorizzazione Della Biodiversità Tra Passato Remoto E Presente Nel Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius Saline. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Fondazione con il Sud (n.d.). Chi Siamo. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Università di Cagliari (2019). Parco Molentargius-Saline, salvaguardia e valorizzazione delle biodiversità. Il progetto di due dipartimenti universitari e la caccia aperta al Gambero della Louisiana. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Comune di Cagliari (2022). Atlante demografico di Cagliari 2022. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link];
Protection of fossil beach
https://web.unica.it/unica/it/news_notizie_s1.page?contentId=NTZ165027
Example of sign along the educational trails established around the park.
AP Molentargius. 2019. “I Nuovi Pannelli Illustrativi per Il Percorso ‘Spiaggia Fossile’ | AP Molentargius.” Apmolentargius.it. 2019. http://www.apmolentargius.it/fondazione-sud-i-nuovi-pannelli-sulla-spiaggia-fossile/.
Example of sign along the educational trails established around the park.
AP Molentargius. 2018. “Biopercorso Nell’Orto Botanico | AP Molentargius.” Apmolentargius.it. 2018. http://www.apmolentargius.it/biopercorso-nellorto-botanico/.
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.