ISPRA joins the LIFE MAPPER Project
Guidelines for MAPping, ProtEcting, and Restoring Marine Ecosystems
LIFE MAPPER initiative seeks to consolidate current knowledge and best practices in marine habitat mapping and restoration
Decades of increasing anthropogenic pressures have led to the degradation of many European marine habitats, weakening larger ecosystems and reducing their resilience. The EU has introduced the Nature Restoration Law (EU, Reg. 1991/2024) to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems, positioning itself as a global leader in addressing environmental crises. Recent research highlights that vast areas of EU marine habitats remain unmapped, with existing maps often lacking detailed biological data on species and communities. To address this, comprehensive guidelines are needed to systematize habitat information across EU marine regions and align efforts with directives like the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Habitats Directive, and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.
LIFE MAPPER Objectives:
- Develop guidelines for mapping marine habitats, selecting suitable technologies, and conducting a cost/benefit analysis of mapping benthic habitat types;
- Create methodologies to assess habitat quality, quantity, and connectivity, and identify reference conditions for both habitats and species;
- Provide guidelines for selecting restoration methods, identifying knowledge gaps, and estimating costs for habitat restoration;
- Develop a framework for prioritizing conservation and restoration actions to maximize ecological benefits and optimize resource allocation.