Tuscan archipelago: a focus on sustainable tourism and sea grass conservation
Seagrass meadows, such as Posidonia oceanica, play an essential role in the Mediterranean Sea. They are highly productive and widespread marine coastal ecosystems that provide essential ecosystem services. These meadows serve as important habitat and nursery areas for commercial species and contribute to regulating services like coastal protection and “blue” carbon storage. Seagrasses are particularly vulnerable to degraded environmental conditions, which can lead to their decline and the subsequent dominance of algal turfs. This shift has cascading impacts on productivity, deoxygenation, and ecosystem services they provide.
In the Tuscan archipelago, one of the largest marine parks in Europe declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in recognition of its unique environments and biodiversity, Marine SABRES partners at the University of Pisa are undertaking restoration activities to address the threats facing Posidonia oceanica meadows due to increasing anthropogenic pressures, particularly tourism. The recovery of seagrass beds from physical disturbance will be assessed by replicated diving surveys to assess recovery rate in terms of biodiversity, protection from invasive species and carbon sequestration. Measures to promote more sustainable mooring and boat use across private users and commercial charter companies will be developed.
Watch our documentary trailer presenting this area, enjoy the amazing underwater of Giannutri island!
Here researchers will focus their restoration efforts by planting fragments of Posidonia oceanica on the seabed, following techniques that have been successful in other restoration projects.
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