Project Summary

The project CRADLES (Creating Resilient Areas to Develop Lifecycles and Ecosystem Services) is a collaborative project under the EU IPA ADRION programme that focuses on a holistic approach to restoration and conservation of nursery areas in the Adriatic-Ionian region. These areas are critical for the survival of numerous aquatic species (both vertebrates and invertebrates) and the overall health of the ecosystem, but are threatened by various environmental and anthropogenic impacts. The project aims to address these challenges through a comprehensive, transnational approach involving partners from seven countries in the region. The common challenge addressed by the project is the restoration of nursery areas in the Adriatic-Ionian region that have been severely degraded by a combination of natural and anthropogenic pressures such as pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change. These pressures are common to all countries in the region, making it a shared challenge that requires a coordinated, multi-country response. The overall objective of the project is to improve the conservation of nature, biodiversity and nursery areas in the coastal and freshwater wetlands of the Adriatic and Ionian region. This will be achieved through integrated management and restoration of nursery area, on a scientific basis considering also the traditional management principles that have allowed these areas to be maintained as valuable biodiversity hotspots for centuries. The expected change is an improvement in ecological processes in these areas that will benefit both the species that depend on them and the human communities that rely on the ecosystem services they provide. The "side effects" of nursery restoration also include the potential improvement in carbon sequestration associated with the various management strategies adopted. The main outputs of the project are a comprehensive restoration and conservation strategy for nursery areas, a series of pilot studies testing the effectiveness of proposed restoration actions, and a series of capacity building and knowledge transfer initiatives. Beneficiaries of these outputs include local communities, environmental non-governmental organisations, government agencies, academic institutions, and businesses in the Adriatic-Ionian region. A transnational approach is needed because the challenges facing nursery areas do not confine at national borders. The pressures facing these areas and the species that depend on them are common to all countries in the Adriatic-Ionian region. By working together, project partners can share knowledge, resources, and best practices and develop coordinated strategies that are more effective than isolated national efforts. In addition, a transnational approach is needed to cover the ideal gradient of nursery areas from freshwater to transitional and marine waters throughout the Adriatic-Ionian region. What is new and original about the project is its comprehensive, transnational approach to the restoration and conservation of nursery areas. While there have been previous efforts to address this issue, they have often been fragmented and limited in scope. This project brings together partners from seven countries, each with its own expertise and resources, to develop a coordinated, region-wide strategy. This collaborative approach, combined with the innovative methods and tools used in the project, makes it a pioneering initiative in the field of nurseries conservation. The project is also distinguished by its holistic approach to understanding the impacts and interactions between all types of anthropogenic activities, their direct and indirect effects, and making predictions on their consequences on coastal and freshwater wetland habitats role as nursery areas. Finally, through the development of a conservation and restoration strategy, our mission is not only to protect specific species and habitats, but also ecosystem functions and nursery areas that are important for providing ecosystem services and social, cultural, and economic benefits to society in the Adriatic-Ionian region.