Last updated: October 2021
Neptune Grass or Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. This priority seagrass species forms large underwater meadows that are an important part of the marine ecosystem. However, there have been declines in its population due to mechanical damage, coastal development and eutrophication. The main objective of the intervention was to safeguard and to restore 2 Natura 2000 network sites for the conservation of P.oceanica habitat in the Lazio region(1), being the NBS intervention the restoration/protection of the underwater meadows and the improvement of the awareness/importance of this marine habitat type, a priority for conservation(EU Habitats Directive).
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=3808
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Deltas
- Coastlines
- Other
Key challenges
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Marine and biodiversity protection
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Focus
Coastal landscape management or protection, Ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems, Protection of natural ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
(1) restore two Natura 2000 network sites of particular importance to the conservation of P. oceanica habitat in the Lazio region.
(2) increase the awareness of the importance of this marine habitat type, a priority for conservation according to the EU Habitats Directive (1 and 2).
(3) restored damaged habitats and improve conservation.
(4) Conservation of the already existing plants and natural spreading in the selected protected areas (4).
Implementation activities
(1) Conservation action: placing 550 anti-trawling ‘tetrapods’ in the sea at strategic points in order to protect the P. oceanica meadows.
(2) Production and distribution of dissemination material.
(3) Involvement students (1 500 ) in project activities of environmental education; (ref.1).
(4) In addition to the positioning of the anti-trawling structures to protect the beds of Posidonia, a monitoring system was implemented to control the health status of the plants and the expansion of the grassland, as the protected plants were allowed to recover and spread again the designed area (2).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore endangered species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Researchers/University
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Regione Lazio – Direzione Ambiente e Cooperazione tra I Popoli is the coordinator of the project and the main beneficiary. As well as the beneficiary and partners (Comune di Montalto di Castro (Viterbo), Italy Università degli Studi della Tuscia–DECOS, Italy), the project involved the port authority and local fishing cooperatives. All parties were crucial in the gaining of the project’s key deliverable, the approval of management plans for the two SCIs, and the consequent protection of an area of 2 874 ha of P. oceanica. The Lazio region coordinating beneficiary presented the LIFE project at technical meetings on coastal preservation with other municipalities along Lazio's coast (including Fiumicino, Ostia, Terracina and Minturno). The LIFE team also contributed to the drawing up of guidelines for evaluation of implications related to coast defence, as part of another LIFE project, COASTANCE. These guidelines were approved in 2013 by the Lazio region (DD n. A01160) (1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(At an international level, the project’s actions (i.e. in placing the anti-trawling tetrapods in strategic sites to protect the P. oceanica meadows) are in line with EU fisheries’ policy, in particular the ‘zero tolerance’ campaign towards illegal fishing, launched in 2010, to prevent overfishing and to help to make EU fisheries truly sustainable.
- Nature protection and Biodiversity
- Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora- Habitats Directiv ...
- Marine environment and Coasts
- Recommendation 2002/413 EC - "Implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Europe" (1).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(Concerning dissemination at a national level, project actions also addressed the programme of inter-regional cooperation for the adoption of policies in response to erosion and other climate change effects along the coast (POR 2007-2013 - Pillar II) (1).)
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(- D.M. del MATTM, 17 October 2007 integrated into the D.G.R. of Lazio Region n. 612 of 16/12/2011 (3). )
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
Yes
References
1. Europa EU (2016), NBS webpage, Available at Source link (Accessed 16-10-2020)
2. Project official website: Source link (Website not available in 2020)
3. Europa Eu (2014), AFTER LIFE Publication (Attached)
4. Europa EU (2014), Layman Report, Available at Source link (Accessed 16-10-2020)
2. Project official website: Source link (Website not available in 2020)
3. Europa Eu (2014), AFTER LIFE Publication (Attached)
4. Europa EU (2014), Layman Report, Available at Source link (Accessed 16-10-2020)
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=3808
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.showFile&rep=file&fil=LIFE09_NAT_IT_000176_LAYMAN.pdf
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.showFile&rep=file&fil=LIFE09_NAT_IT_000176_LAYMAN.pdf