As part of Monaco Ocean Week, the RAMOGE Agreement held a conference dedicated to the restoration of Posidonia at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.
The cooperation agreement between France, Italy and Monaco, dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment, is actively engaged in integrated coastal management and public awareness of environmental protection.
However, the protection of the posidonia seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) constitutes a considerable challenge for the protection of the Mediterranean coasts because this marine and endemic plant forms very large seagrass beds between the surface and 40 meters deep, causing a rich and fundamental ecosystem for the coastal marine environment.
“This species is nevertheless threatened by human activities, in particular by the anchoring of boats which considerably destroys the seagrass beds,” recall the organizers. The natural recolonization of Posidonia being a very slow process, Posidonia conservation measures, or failing that, restoration measures, are therefore essential to maintain the health of these marine ecosystems and guarantee the sustainability of the ecosystem services it provides ( nursery for marine species, fight against shoreline erosion, carbon sequestration).
Conservation and restoration initiatives carried out in the Agreement’s area of competence were presented during Ocean Week as well as a catalog of actions « aimed at promoting the preservation of Posidonia were discussed, such as the publication of restoration guides or the creation of an alliance to involve companies in conservation efforts for this plant. »
