Duration: 2026-2030
Funding: HORIZON-CL6-2005-01-BIODIV-07
Coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass meadows are closely connected coastal ecosystems that provide essential services for coastal communities and play a key role in building resilience to climate change. However, the importance of their ecological and physical connectivity for ecosystem functioning and human well-being is still not fully understood.
This project will investigate these connected coastal systems across protected and managed areas in low-lying reef islands of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific, from the Coral Triangle to Vanuatu. The research will explore how connectivity between ecosystems contributes to three key services: fisheries and other natural resources, coastal protection, and Blue Carbon storage.
Working together with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, the project will combine ecological, biogeochemical and geomorphological data with local knowledge and socio-ecological needs to co-develop practical guidelines for conservation, restoration and sustainable management.
By integrating connectivity into coastal planning and restoration, the project aims to improve the long-term effectiveness of conservation actions, strengthen local governance and support resilient coastal ecosystems and communities in the face of climate change.
iMARES contact: Dr. Marta Coll
Other researchers involved: Dr. Maria Grazia Pennino & Dr Cesc Gordó-Vilaseca