The SASPAS project began on January 1, 2019, and will last a total of 30 months. As part of the project’s initial activities, the first kick-off meeting was held at the Municipality of Monfalcone (IT) on March 21 and 22, 2019. The purpose of the meeting was to get to know the project partners, review the responsibilities of each partner, and verify the budget.
The overall objective of the project is to improve the conservation and restoration of seagrass beds through the installation of innovative secure anchoring systems, the implementation of pilot transplantations, the conduct of monitoring activities, and the development of an integrated seagrass bed management system in the Adriatic region.
The project will run for 30 months at three research sites: Panzano Bay, Monfalcone (IT); Kornati National Park (CRO); and the Brindisi coast within the Dune Costiere Regional Nature Park from Torre Canne to Torre San Leonardo (IT).
The SASPAS project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Interreg V-A IT-CRO CBC Program (Priority Axis 3 – Environment and Cultural Heritage).
The project leader is the Municipality of Monfalcone, and the project also includes seven (7) partners from Italy and Croatia.
CoNISMa participated alongside the Trieste Local Research Unit.
PROJECT PARTNERS
• Municipality of Monfalcone (IT)
• Selc Cooperative (IT)
• National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences (IT)
• Provisional Management Consortium of the “Coastal Dunes from Torre Canne to Torre San Leonardo” Regional Nature Park (IT)
• Sunce Association for Nature, the Environment, and Sustainable Development (CRO)
• Kornati National Park (CRO)
• University of Rijeka (CRO)
• Consortium for the Coordination of Research Activities Concerning the Venice Lagoon System (IT)
Total project budget: 1,906,100.00 EUR
Program funds (ERDF): 1,620,185.00 EUR
Project start date: January 1, 2019
Project end date: June 30, 2021
