News

Marine reforestation efforts under the European Interreg Euro-MED “ARTEMIS” project have officially begun off the northern coast of Sardinia, in Santa Teresa Gallura. The intervention is taking place within the Capo Testa – Punta Falcone Marine Protected Area (MPA), one of the project’s four pilot sites and an associated partner. It is coordinated by the technical team of the MEDSEA Foundation, led by marine biologist Francesca Frau, in close collaboration with the MPA’s staff under the direction of Yuri Donno.

Scientific divers have started collecting cuttings of Posidonia oceanica, which are being planted in previously mapped and monitored degraded seagrass areas deemed suitable for restoration. The affected seafloor areas have been heavily impacted by human activities, particularly recreational boating.

This initiative is part of the broader effort of the ARTEMIS project – Restoring and Valuing the Blue Forest of the Mediterranean Sea (see official website), funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme. ARTEMIS aims to restore the integrity of marine ecosystems, focusing on Posidonia oceanica, an endemic Mediterranean seagrass. These underwater meadows are among the most valuable ecosystems in the Mediterranean: they act as powerful blue carbon sinks (absorbing excess CO₂ responsible for climate change), produce significant amounts of oxygen, support marine biodiversity, and protect coastlines from erosion.

The MEDSEA team plans to plant over 2,000 Posidonia cuttings, restoring approximately 200 square meters of seagrass meadow. The planting is done using small anchors to secure the cuttings to the seabed, allowing them to take root over time. Monitoring activities scheduled for the coming months will assess the success of the intervention. Prior to the fieldwork, biodiversity and blue carbon levels were measured in both degraded and healthy seagrass areas, to estimate their economic and financial value.

The initiative in Santa Teresa Gallura is part of a broader strategic action to demonstrate the ecological and economic value of marine ecosystems, and to promote both public policies and private investment in nature conservation.

Francesca Frau, MEDSEA’s lead for the ARTEMIS project and an expert in Posidonia oceanica reforestation, stated:

"Posidonia oceanica meadows are the beating heart of the Mediterranean—an essential ecosystem we are working to protect and restore through ARTEMIS.

Each cutting we plant is not just an act of ecological restoration but a concrete investment in the future of our sea. These meadows are biodiversity treasure troves and powerful allies in the fight against climate change, thanks to their extraordinary carbon storage capacity. The work we are doing within the Capo Testa MPA, in the municipality of Santa Teresa Gallura, shows how collaboration between institutions, scientific research, and local communities can translate into effective actions for marine conservation."

Yuri Donno, director of the Capo Testa – Punta Falcone Marine Protected Area, and associated partner in ARTEMIS, added:

“The Capo Testa – Punta Falcone MPA is proud to host this important reforestation project. Our collaboration with MEDSEA and ARTEMIS allows us to directly intervene in areas degraded by human pressure, restoring vitality to one of the Mediterranean’s most precious ecosystems. However, restoration alone is not enough—we must also focus on prevention. That’s why, with funding from the Italian PNRR MER programme, we’ve planned the installation of 150 mooring buoys across the entire MPA, from Licciola to Santa Maria Reparata, to provide sustainable anchoring points for boats and protect the seabed."

What is ARTEMIS?

ARTEMIS, funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme, is dedicated to the restoration of Mediterranean seagrass meadows. It focuses on four pilot sites: Sardinia (IT), Menorca (ES), Crete (GR), and Monfalcone (IT). By assessing the ecological and socio-economic value of these vital ecosystems, ARTEMIS aims to embed their benefits into public and private policies, promoting sustainable investments in nature-based solutions.

Through the strategic collaboration of ten partners, the project fosters policy harmonization and the adoption of innovative governance models to strengthen biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable economic development across the Euro-Mediterranean region.

ARTEMIS is coordinated by the French organization Plan Bleu (PB) and includes the following partners: Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Mediterranean Sea and Coast Foundation (MEDSEA), Minorcan Institute of Studies – Socio-Environmental Observatory of Menorca (IME-OBSAM), Municipality of Monfalcone, ECOACSA, EY Denkstatt, Bax & Company, and The Green Tank.