Fugro maps seagrass around Italy in a groundbreaking ecosystem restoration project | Geo Week News
Fugro maps seagrass around Italy in a groundbreaking ecosystem restoration project Geo Week News
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The MER Project: Restoring Marine Habitats and Mapping Coastal and Marine Habitats in Italy
The MER Project aims to restore the marine habitats, fortify the national system for observing marine and coastal ecosystems, and comprehensively map coastal and marine habitats across Italian waters (specifically Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows). Fugro and its partners will play a pivotal role in the success of the MER project executing the MER Project’s mapping phase via a mix of mapping methodologies.
Project Timeline and Methodologies
- March 2024 – June 2026
- Acquisition of hydrographic data utilizing state-of-the-art sensors:
- Airborne lidar and imagery
- Airborne gravimetry and satellite sensors covering 10,200 km²
The collected data will be managed through VirGeo®, Fugro’s cloud-based Geo-data engagement platform, to provide seabed and habitat mapping insights, enhancing the local Government’s decision-making process for the protection of coastal marine habitats.
Significance for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Giordano Giorgi and Sante Francesco Rende, respectively Project Director and Technical Director at ISPRA said: “We are delighted to announce the award of this project to a consortium led by Fugro and its partner, CGR. This contract signifies a significant milestone in our environmental efforts within the PNRR Marine Ecosystem Restoration project and specifically aligns with Mission 2: Green Revolution and Ecological Transition and the objectives to protect the territory and water resources and restore and protect the seabed and marine environments. The project is administered by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, with funding from the European Union’s Next Generation EU programme.”
Fugro’s Commitment to Environmental Stewardship
Mark Heine, Fugro’s CEO, said: “The MER Project represents a milestone in marine ecosystem restoration. We’re delighted with this opportunity from ISPRA to demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship and climate resilience. Our Geo-data for this transformative project will support the conservation and restoration of Italy’s coastal and marine ecosystems for generations to come spearheading the drive towards a sustainable future for Italy’s marine heritage, for a safer and more liveable world.”
Source: Fugro
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 14: Life Below Water
- Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.
- Indicator: The MER Project aims to restore marine habitats and comprehensively map coastal and marine habitats across Italian waters, specifically Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows. This aligns with the target of restoring marine ecosystems.
-
SDG 15: Life on Land
- Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
- Indicator: The MER Project includes mapping coastal and marine habitats, which contributes to the protection and conservation of natural habitats and biodiversity.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
- Indicator: The MER Project aims to provide seabed and habitat mapping insights to enhance the local government’s decision-making process for the protection of coastal marine habitats. This contributes to raising awareness and improving capacity for climate change adaptation and impact reduction.
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 14: Life Below Water | Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. | The MER Project aims to restore marine habitats and comprehensively map coastal and marine habitats across Italian waters, specifically Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa seagrass meadows. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. | The MER Project includes mapping coastal and marine habitats. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning. | The MER Project aims to provide seabed and habitat mapping insights to enhance the local government’s decision-making process for the protection of coastal marine habitats. |
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Source: geoweeknews.com
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