Discover Blue Connect and BioProtect, two groundbreaking projects driving the future of marine biodiversity conservation and restoration in European seas.
BLUE CONNECT aims to enhance strict protection, restoration and connectivity of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), while BioProtect focuses on innovative conservation and restoration strategies. Together, these projects are set to make a significant impact on effective marine ecosystem conservation and the creation of resilient blue corridors.
BLUE CONNECT addresses the urgent need to protect and restore marine habitats and ecosystems, and to reach ambitious EU and global protection and restoration targets by 2030. Together with MPA managers, authorities, industries and local communities from 12 demonstration sites and beyond, BLUE CONNECT is co-developing, promoting and demonstrating a systematic approach to marine conservation planning and management.
This collaborative effort will result in the creation of a powerful blueprint, directly supporting 1) setting science-based conservation objectives, 2) co-defining conservation actions for effective MPA co- management, 3) ensuring conservation effectiveness, and 4) demonstrating the high potential of these tools for replicability and broader use. This will be done by establishing a holistic modelling framework that integrates various elements of biodiversity, ecological functioning, ecosystem services and connectivity, while considering inputs from stakeholders and local communities regarding social, economic and cultural aspects when defining MPAs and ecological corridors.
The project will contribute to a more comprehensive, science-based and inclusive approach to designating new MPAs or expanding existing ones, transitioning to strict protection, restoring ecosystems, enhancing ecological connectivity and facilitating MPA co-management. By fostering just and fair stakeholder cooperation and citizen science initiatives, BLUE CONNECT will build a greater feeling of co-ownership of protected and restored marine ecosystems and MPA networks, and empower communities to play a crucial role in safeguarding our seas.
BioProtect aims to develop an Area-Based Management Decision Support Framework (ABM-DSF) to reduce pressures from multiple interacting human activities in European seas and accelerate the protection and restoration of marine biodiversity, in line with the EU ́s 2030 targets and the European Green Deal.
The framework will include methods and capacity building to engage local stakeholders, to monitor and forecast changes in marine biodiversity, to map human pressures, to prioritise areas for protection and restoration, and to measure ecological and socio-economic impacts of conservation actions. These will be demonstrated in five sites from the Arctic to the Azores in the Atlantic.
The project seeks to deliver strategic innovations and methodologies to prioritise marine areas for protection, engage stakeholders in decision-making processes, and empower citizens to contribute to the preservation of their common goods.
BioProtect’s novel and flexible framework will integrate different spatial scales and data sources. It will incorporate perspectives and knowledge from a wide range of stakeholders, to support the implementation and exploitation of its solutions by relevant end-users. BioProtect will consider “what-if” scenarios, including climate change, protection and exploitation strategies, and evaluate their ecological and socio-economic impacts.
Guided by the Mission’s holistic approach and aims, the project outputs will advance biodiversity protection and restoration and accelerate Mission objective 1. Furthermore, the project will aim to reach relevant EU Biodiversity Strategy targets for 2030, including a substantial contribution to reaching the EU nature restoration targets.