Educating for the Safeguarding of the Adriatic Coastal Environment
The ‘Adriatic Conservancy’ project is an educational and environmental conservation initiative dedicated to high school students, with the primary objective of raising awareness among young generations about the vital importance of protecting the entire coastal environment of the Adriatic Sea and its rich biodiversity. The project aims to combine theoretical learning in the classroom with practical field experiences, offering students the opportunity to become active participants in the conservation of the marine and coastal environment.
Project Objectives:
- To educate students about the complex ecosystem of the Adriatic coastal environment, highlighting its physical and biological characteristics, the interactions between organisms, and its fundamental ecological importance.
- To teach scientific methods of environmental monitoring, providing an in-depth understanding of protocols such as MAC Emerso for assessing beach health, Clean Swell for tracking waste, and iNaturalist for documenting biodiversity.
- To promote awareness of the multiple threats facing the marine and coastal environment, such as pollution from various sources (intensive agriculture, industrial discharges, uncontrolled tourism) and habitat loss.
- To encourage the active participation of students in biodiversity conservation, with a specific focus on the priority species and habitats of the Adriatic area, including the target species of the ASPEH project: the Posidonia oceanica meadows, the Aythya nyroca (Ferruginous Duck), the Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover), and the Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle).
- To provide practical scientific research experiences, allowing students to apply monitoring protocols and collect useful data for understanding the health status of the coastal environment.
- To establish meaningful connections between students, researchers, and experts in the field, promoting a constructive dialogue on the importance of conservation.
Project Structure:
The project is divided into several phases, designed to offer a comprehensive educational path:
- Phase 1: Classroom Lessons: A series of theoretical lessons will introduce students to the wide variety of Adriatic coastal habitats (sandy and pebble beaches, coastal wetlands, reefs, seabeds with Posidonia oceanica etc. and the species that characterize them, with particular attention to the ASPEH target species. Environmental monitoring scientific methods will also be presented, including details of the MAC Emerso, Clean Swell, and iNaturalist protocols, and the importance of the new ‘Guardiani delle Acque’ (Adriatic Water Guardians) protocol for monitoring water quality.
- Phase 2: Practical Field Activities: Students will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired during classroom lessons through field trips to various Adriatic coastal areas. These activities will focus on observing and monitoring biodiversity, with a specific commitment to documenting the ASPEH target species using iNaturalist. Students will also use the MAC Emerso and Clean Swell protocols to assess beach health and catalog waste, thus contributing to a direct understanding of anthropogenic pressures. Activities can take place in different types of coastal habitats to emphasize their variety and ecological importance.
- Phase 3: Sharing and Dissemination: The data collected during the practical activities will be processed and presented by the students in various forms (presentations, reports, multimedia material). This sharing moment will be an opportunity to value the work done by the students and to raise awareness in the wider community, including other students, teachers, experts, and potential policymakers, about the importance of conserving the Adriatic coastal environment and its species.
Highlighting the Variety of Adriatic Coastal Habitats:
The project will pay particular attention to the richness and diversity of habitats present along the Adriatic coast. During the lessons and practical activities, the distinctive characteristics of:
- Sandy and pebble beaches, important nesting areas for the Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and sites of waste accumulation.
- Coastal wetlands and lagoons, crucial habitats for numerous species of migratory birds, potentially including the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca).
- Reefs and rocky seabeds, which host a rich marine biodiversity.
- Posidonia oceanica meadows, fundamental ecosystems for marine life and water quality, potentially important for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta).
Through practical activities in various locations, students will be able to directly observe the correlation between habitat characteristics and the species present, understanding the importance of conserving each specific environment.
Emphasis on ASPEH Species:
The project will specifically integrate the knowledge and conservation of the ASPEH target species:
- Aythya nyroca (Ferruginous Duck): Information on the biology, ecology, and conservation status of this species, potentially linked to coastal wetland habitats, will be provided. Observation activities (where possible and relevant) will be encouraged.
- Charadrius alexandrinus (Kentish Plover): The importance of sandy beaches for the nesting of this species will be highlighted, raising student awareness of the threats to these habitats. Beach monitoring activities may include searching for signs of Kentish Plover’s presence.
- Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle): The importance of the Adriatic as a feeding and transit area for this species will be discussed, emphasizing the need to protect nesting areas and to reduce threats such as plastic pollution.
Collaborations:
The success of the project is based on the collaboration between schools, competent authorities for the management of protected areas, researchers, and experts in the field. The potential synergy with the ASPEH project could further enrich the initiative, allowing for the use of informational materials and the participation of ASPEH experts in the activities of the ‘Adriatic Conservancy’ project.
In conclusion, the ‘Adriatic Conservancy’ project is configured as a fundamental initiative to educate and actively involve students in the safeguarding of the precious Adriatic coastal environment, with a renewed focus on the variety of habitats and the conservation of key species, in line with the objectives of broader programs such as ASPEH. Investing in this project means forming a new generation of conscious and responsible citizens for the future of our sea.”