Conference on the Restoration of Posidonia Seagrass in the RAMOGE Area, Organized by the RAMOGE Agreement as part of the Monaco Ocean Week

On Friday, March 22, 2024, as part of the 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 cooperative agreement between France, Italy, and Monaco, dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment, actively engages in integrated coastal management and public awareness for environmental protection. Protecting Posidonia seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) is a significant challenge for the protection of Mediterranean coasts. Indeed, this marine plant, endemic to the Mediterranean, forms extensive seagrass beds between the surface and 40 meters deep, originating a rich and fundamental ecosystem for the coastal marine environment. However, this species is threatened by human activities, particularly by boat anchoring, which significantly destroys the seagrass beds. Since 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 continuity of the ecosystem services it provides (nursery for marine species, combating shoreline erosion, carbon sequestration). During the conference, experts from the three RAMOGE Party Countries presented conservation and restoration initiatives carried out within the Agreement’s jurisdiction. Additionally, actions aimed at promoting Posidonia preservation were discussed, such as the publication of restoration guides or the creation of an alliance to involve businesses in the conservation efforts of this plant. The interventions and exchanges were extremely enriching, demonstrating the common commitment of stakeholders to protect this precious Mediterranean ecosystem.