The restoration of Posidonia is critical because these underwater meadows provide essential ecosystem services that are vital for both marine life and humans:
- Climate Change Mitigation: They act as significant carbon sinks by capturing CO2 and producing large amounts of oxygen.
- Coastal Protection: The meadows protect the coastline from erosion.
- Biodiversity: They serve as a fundamental habitat for numerous Mediterranean species.
- Scientific Innovation: The project includes research into in vitro cultivation to create high-quality plants for restoration with minimal impact on natural populations.
The Role of Volunteer Divers Volunteer divers, a lot of them CMAS divers (FEDAS) are a cornerstone of the project's success. Their involvement includes:
- Active Fieldwork: Over 200 volunteer recreational divers have been trained to participate in the collection, planting, and monitoring of the seagrass.
- Scaling Impact: Their contribution has allowed the project to act on 3 hectares of planted area, significantly increasing the surface of the meadows.
- Awareness: Beyond technical tasks, these volunteers help spread awareness about the ecological importance of Posidonia, creating a network of "citizen science" that supports long-term marine sustainability.
The project also emphasizes a "perfect symbiosis" with the local fishing sector, ensuring that those who depend most on the sea are actively involved in its conservation.
Look at the video and hear and see why CMAS is proud to be part of this project. At the same time it gives an example why it is important to the divers a CMAS Citizen Science training
John Geurts
President Scientific Committee