Developing reproducible good practices in the Mediterranean basin

Posidonia oceanica meadows are one of the ecosystems of greatest environmental value of the Mediterranean coastal marine environment but today they are in strong regression especially near large urbanized centers. In the Mediterranean there are several examples of P. oceanica replanting, carried out, however, without taking into account the need for transplantation procedures  must  be site-specific at the same time be included in larger integrated coastal management projects.

Often has been underestimated that the ecological value and the ecosystem service provided by the seagrasss impose a scrupulous evaluation in the authorization phases of works whose realization may produce direct and/or indirect effects on more or less large areas of seagrass, such as those subject at EIA. Even if these authorizations are allowed, all the requirements for the purposes of minimizing damage must be assessed.

Moreover, when P. oceanica transplantation is indicated as a compensatory measure of the impact, it is necessary that the transplantation is carried out using, case by case, consolidated and reliable intervention techniques, already tested through multi-year monitoring. It is therefore desirable that innovative and reliable tools, in synergy with specific technical manuals and guidelines applied in the EIA sector, are shared and replicable both at the national and Mediterranean level in order to make them unique tools to deal more effectively and efficiently with the Governance of P. oceanica transplantation, both in line with the European environmental policy.

Action B.4: Transferability and replicability of the results and solutions for SEPOSSO project

The purpose of this action is to transfer at national and European level the results and products of LIFE SEPOSSO to the different stakeholders , in order to make the best practices developed in the project replicable. The transferability and replicability of the project results and solutions are supported by the publication of technical manuals, the organization of training courses and the develop of a specific networking between different Mediterranean countries. The technical manuals summarize the main information coming from the other project concerning the evaluation process, the operative modalities and the control of Posidonia oceanica transplantation. The training courses were developed to guarantee the transferability and replicability of the project results on a national scale and to increase the chances of success after the project conclusion. In addition, more value was developed by stimulating a deep debate and exchange with other European projects and countries of the Mediterranean basin to better manage the protection and restoration of the P. oceanica prairies.

Technical manuals

Training courses

Transferability and Replicability in Mediterranean Countries