On Friday, March 22nd, 2024, as part of Monaco Ocean Week, the RAMOGE Agreement held a conference dedicated to the restoration of Posidonia in the Grand Conference Hall of the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.
The RAMOGE Agreement, a cooperation agreement between France, Italy, and Monaco dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment, is actively engaged in integrated coastal management and raising public awareness about environmental protection.
Protecting Posidonia seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) is a significant challenge for the protection of Mediterranean coastlines. This endemic Mediterranean marine plant forms extensive seagrass meadows between the surface and 40 meters deep, creating a rich and vital ecosystem for the coastal marine environment. However, this species is threatened by human activities, particularly boat anchoring, which significantly damages the seagrass meadows.
As natural recolonization of Posidonia is a very slow process, conservation measures for Posidonia, or alternatively, restoration, are essential to maintain the health of these marine ecosystems and ensure the longevity of the ecosystem services it provides (nursery for marine species, shoreline erosion control, carbon sequestration).
During the conference, experts from the three RAMOGE Member States presented conservation and restoration initiatives carried out within the Agreement’s scope. Additionally, actions aimed at promoting Posidonia conservation were discussed, such as publishing restoration guides or creating an alliance to involve businesses in the conservation efforts of this plant.
The presentations and exchanges were extremely enriching, demonstrating the collective commitment of stakeholders to protect this valuable Mediterranean ecosystem.
Photo credit : © Olivier Huitel / FPA2
