CASCADE will develop a set of concerted and coordinated actions including monitoring (observing and modeling) and management (Maritime Spatial Planning – MSP, Integrated Coastal Zone Management – ICZM, Land-Sea Interaction – LSI) to enhance the knowledge and to evaluate the quality and assess the vulnerability of inland, coastal and marine ecosystems in Italy and Croatia with the final objective to restore endangered species and to support integrated management. The integrated modeling and observing systems will be developed to design and implement MSP/LSI/ICZM, management and restoration actions in 11 pilot areas. Pilot actions will assess and protect coastal and marine biodiversity in degraded areas, set up restoration actions, assess the impacts of extreme events on ecosystems and understand how to avoid conflicts and boost synergies in the areas. The project will consolidate long-lasting research capabilities in the field through a concrete dialogue with stakeholders and the participation of Agencies, research centers and universities in order to enhance inland, coastal and marine knowledge. Such shared information and monitoring protocols are essential for supporting concrete actions dealing with environmental vulnerability, fragmentation and safeguarding of ecosystem services at cross-border level.
36 months from 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2022
- 2014-2020 Interreg V-A Italy-Croatia CBC Programme
Coordinating organization
- Regione Puglia
CMCC Scientific Leader
CMCC Project manager
CMCC Institutes
CMCC Divisions
- Ocean Predictions and Applications Division
- Ocean modeling and Data Assimilation
- Innovative Platforms for Science Outreach
General objectives
- Consolidated dialogue for the monitoring, management and restoration of endangered marine ecosystems
- Further development and validation of observing and modelling tools for coastal and marine waters
- Enhanced management of the coastal environment and restoration action practices
CMCC role
Fondazione CMCC will mainly work on marine and coastal modelling and observations in selected pilot cases, and in the communication activities
Activities
In addition to project management and communication and dissemination activities, main CASCADE activities will concern:
- critical review and analysis of existing monitoring activities in the Pilot areas;
- detailed description of the ecosystem and environment characteristics for each pilot;
- optimal design of the integrated monitoring and modeling tools (hydrological, oceanographic and ecosystem) for each pilot
- implementation and testing of integrated monitoring and modeling tools (hydrological, oceanographic and ecosystem) to enhance monitoring and modeling activities for inland/coastal and marine environment, also fostering existing modeling capacity at Mediterranean sea level (e.g Mediterranean Operational Network for the Global Ocean Observing System – MONGOOS network) and European level (e.g. Copernicus Marine Service);
- setting up of a shared web GIS data platform regarding monitoring and modeling of inland and marine waters at Adriatic level and with a focus on the Pilots, that will make available these data to partners and external user avoiding overlaps with existing platforms
- pilot restoration tests and actions addressed to transitional and marine endangered species and related ecosystems services
- elaboration of bio-indicators and water management plans and development of integrated management systems of sea, coastal and river environment and of cross-border natural resources including Maritime Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Land-Sea interaction analysis;
- development of an ocean literacy toolkit and organization of events (dissemination activities including guided tours and scuba diving for scientific, tourist and recreational purposes) for stakeholders engagement and capacity building.
Expected results
The main outputs and results of the project are the following:
1) Integrated monitoring and modeling tools
2) 11 Pilot restoration actions / integrated management plans addressed to marine endangered species and related ecosystems
3) Data platform collecting information and data regarding monitoring
4) MSP, ICZM, LSI decision support framework.
CASCADE outputs and results are inherently scalable and transferable to other territories. The expertise gained by Italy and Croatia for further protecting, managing and restoring their coastal ecosystems will represent a good-practice to be transferred to other European territories with similar environmental needs and institutional set-ups.
Partners:
- Ruder Boskovic Institute (HR)
- Dubrovnik Neretva County (HR)
- ARPA Friuli Venezia Giulia (IT)
- IUAV University of Venice (IT)
- Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna (IT)
- ARPA Emilia Romagna (IT)
- Delta 2000 (IT)
- University of Salento (IT)
- Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (HR)
- Adriatic Training and Research Centre for Accidental marine pollution preparedness and response ATRAC (HR)
- City of Nin (HR)
- University of Molise (IT)
- Marche Region (IT)
- Public Institution for the management of protected areas in the area of Split – Dlamatia County – Sea & Karst (HR)