In recent days, the restoration operations of the Posidonia oceanica meadows off the coast of the Municipality of Domus de Maria, in the recently established Capo Spartivento Marine Protected Area, have been concluded. The intervention, conducted and coordinated by the specialized technical team of the MEDSEA Foundation,

took place between the end of May and the beginning of June and involved an area of ​​400 square meters of seabed, with the planting of approximately 4,000 cuttings in the degraded areas previously mapped through scientific surveys.

Posidonia oceanica meadows represent one of the most important ecosystems in the Mediterranean, playing a fundamental role in the production of oxygen and absorption of carbon, in the protection of the coasts from erosion and as a nursery for numerous marine species. Their restoration therefore constitutes a primary intervention for the conservation of marine biodiversity and the protection of the coastal environment.

Officially established in 2024, the Capo Spartivento Marine Protected Area extends for approximately 12 square kilometers in the Municipality of Domus de Maria in Southern Sardinia and is characterized as a place of extraordinary ecological value, as well as being a highly appreciated destination for seaside and nautical tourism.

The Marine Protected Area represents a true refuge for marine and coastal biodiversity, hosting numerous species of great naturalistic importance. Its function is therefore crucial as an ecological corridor between marine and terrestrial environments, favoring the migration and reproduction of numerous animal and plant species. The marine-coastal system is also fundamental for maintaining the sedimentary and meteorological balances of the surrounding beaches, thanks to the continuity between the submerged and emerged environment and the presence of extensive dune fields.

"This restoration of the Posidonia oceanica meadows represents a fundamental moment for the protection of our marine heritage - declared Maria Concetta Spada, mayor of Domus de Maria - The establishment of the Capo Spartivento Marine Protected Area represents an important milestone but also the beginning of a new phase of concrete conservation activities like this. It is a naturalistic jewel that we intend to preserve for future generations, combining environmental conservation with sustainable tourism development that respects the peculiarities of our territory".

For Gianluca Ambu, technical contact of the environmental office of the Municipality of Domus de Maria, "the restoration of the Posidonia oceanica meadows is an important first step to give concrete value to the marine area and start an active and participatory management of our sea".

Francesca Frau, head of the Sea Unit for MEDSEA and marine biologist explained that "each individual cutting is positioned with precision in the degraded areas, identified thanks to preliminary investigations, which allowed us to highlight the most critical areas. This is a delicate intervention, but essential to guarantee the recovery of the integrity of this fundamental habitat, which constitutes the green lung of our seas and an irreplaceable habitat for Mediterranean biodiversity".

The activities to restore the Posidonia oceanica meadows in the waters of Domus de Maria are part of the global campaign of the MEDSEA Foundation “A Marine Forest to Save the Planet”, which aims to regenerate degraded marine ecosystems throughout the Mediterranean basin, promoting models of collaboration between science, institutions, local communities and businesses, to jointly address the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.

The intervention is part of a broader strategy of conservation and enhancement of the Capo Spartivento Marine Protected Area, which aims to become a reference model for the sustainable management of marine resources, combining the protection of biodiversity with a quality tourist offer in full respect of the territory and its exceptional natural characteristics.