As part of the activities planned for the “After Life” phase of the Life project, on 24-26 June 2022, Life SEPOSSO participated in the Posidonia Festival AMP Tremiti Islands.
Great interest was shown by the public, tourists and not only in the Tremiti Islands, for the event that dedicated five days to themes and experiences on sea, nature, tourism, citizen science and sustainable development.
From 22 to 26 June, this first edition was attended by over 1,000 people involved in snorkelling, diving, debates, documentaries, presentations and conferences, as well as educational meetings dedicated to Posidonia oceanica for the youngest audience, the generations that are the protagonists of the future of our sea and our planet.
It was Posidonia oceanica that was the leitmotif of all the activities organised by the Marlin Tremiti and Laboratorio del Mare team, directed by Adelmo Sorci, in collaboration with numerous bodies for scientific research and the protection of the marine environment, in particular Anellides.
Organisations such as: ISPRA, Istututo Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale; Anelides, an organisation that deals with marine environmental dissemination and education in Barcelona; Marevivo Onlus, Cluster Biodiversità Italia. These were joined by contributions from environmental biologist Antonio Riontino and university lecturers from the University of Camerino, Mario Berrettoni, and the University of Chieti, Enrico Miccadei.
“It is easy to make people love marine animals such as fish, sea urchins and dolphins. It is difficult to make people love Posidonia. In 1990 in Barcelona, Posidonia was discussed for the first time, analysing its presence on kilometres of beaches and launching campaigns to spread the word and raise awareness.” Explains Rosalba Giugni of Marevivo Onlus.
Since those first studies in Barcelona, the dissemination material has been translated into all languages, especially those of the Mediterranean, such as Arabic, so that knowledge would spread where it is needed. If until a few years ago Posidonia was easily mistaken for a seaweed, today educational and citizen science activities are allowing citizens to understand its importance, even to the point of talking about transplanting Posidonia in certain areas.
This was explained during the festival by Barbara La Porta, Monica Targusi and Tiziano Bocci of ISPRA, who with the European Life SEPOSSO project are studying how to make transplantation effective, implementing it in the best possible way, and taking care of effective and efficient governance.
“This initiative is an example of good governance,” explains Barbara La Porta, “it means using the marine environment in a positive way because you love it, but also for commercial reasons or to safeguard it.”
Spanish researchers, such as Andrea Comaposada, director of the Catalan organisation, Xavier Salvador, Jaume Piera (ICM-CSIC) and Antonio Riontino spoke about their citizen science projects involving passionate citizens. Projects by the Anellides organisation, such as “Posidonia Activa”, have helped to change the behaviour of inhabitants and tourists in Barcelona and their relationship with the sea and the environment, reflecting a concept that event organiser Adelmo Sorci has repeatedly emphasised: “Spreading knowledge and awareness about the sea leads to respect for it and its valorisation”.
The terrace that hosted the evening meeting with citizens
A moment of Barbara La Porta’s speech
The speech of Tiziano Bacci
