RESTREEF
EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION TECHNIQUES WITH ARTIFICIAL REEFS IN NATURA 2000 SITES.

You can also find information about the project on partners websites:

1
Universidade do Porto
2
JUSTDIVE Atividades Marítimas Lda
3

Asociación Empresarial de Investigación Centro Tecnológico del Mármol, Piedra y Materiales

4
Delta Materials Process and Innovation Solutions

PROJECT

BACKGROUND

1170-Reefs habitat of the EU Habitats Directive comprises a zonation of benthic communities of algae and animal species as well as corallogenic concretions, hosting a high biodiversity and including a great variability of marine communities. Reefs support, shelter and feed more than 1000 plant species and more than 7000 animal species. In addition, many of them (corals, some bryozoans and gastropods) have the ability to fix carbon dioxide and transform it into stable structures, forming biogenic reefs that act as ecosystem engineers and play a key ecological role for the wider ecosystem by providing many essential ecosystem services.

Reefs are also a highly threatened habitat due to the fragility of the associated biological communities and the multiple pressures it faces, such as Climate Change, pollution, increase of suspended particles, impact by divers and fishing gear, among others. These problems are aggravated by the destruction of certain slow-growing organisms.

It is important to emphasize that in Article 2 of the Habitats Directive it is specified measures taken pursuant to the Directive shall be designed to maintain and restore at a favourable conservation status natural habitats and species of EU importance, whilst taking account of economic, social and cultural requirements and regional and local characteristics. Moreover, within the measures established for the conservation of Natura 2000 sites, it is specified that habitat restoration activities are classified as very specific measures in the conservation actions.

Successful projects around the world have demonstrated the usefulness of artificial reefs in restoring the rocky substrates, thus mitigating the effects of climate change and other pressures on them. However, it must be note that these restoration actions with artificial reefs must be carried out with sufficient knowledge in the field of marine biology and ecological restoration, as well as in the legislation and methodology associated with artificial structures, only in this way they will be able to fulfil their purpose. For these reasons, it is necessary to train current and future marine professionals, with the aim of transmitting these knowledges and generating qualified people who can effectively carry out restoration actions of the Reefs habitat.

As mentioned above, the environmental problems in this habitat are ubiquitous and the reason for presenting RestReef proposal between three European countries (Portugal, Spain and Croatia) is to take advantage of the experience and knowledge in each of the areas (Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea) to generate a quality course based on transnational cooperation and knowledge transfer. In this way, the project would collaborate in several environmental and social objectives included in the Erasmus priorities: Environment and fight against climate change, promoting inter-connected higher education systems and simulating innovative learning and teaching practices.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective is to create quality educational material about ecological restoration techniques with artificial reefs in Natura 2000 sites to achieve a recovery of the benthic biodiversity of Reefs EU habitat. To achieve this target, the following objectives are detailed below:

  1. Collection and comparison of European and national information about Reefs habitat, ecological restoration and artificial reefs.
  2. Planning the development of a face-to-face training for integrating the mobility of the participants between the three countries.
  3. Establishment of learning outcomes on the use of artificial reefs for Reefs habitat restoration.
  4. Creation of a transversal and innovative HE curricula for the development of the training course. Establishment of a specialization curriculum for university and further education contributing to the EU Area of Competences and Qualifications through a comparable and coherent use of ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).
  5. Create an e-Learning platform for restoration of 1170-Reefs habitat using artificial reefs that also will integrate previous EU projects related to the targets of the project to establish synergies, connect the associated partners and enable the use of the educational products.

PROMOTOR

1
Universidade do Porto

PARTNERS

2
JUSTDIVE Atividades Marítimas Lda
3

Asociación Empresarial de Investigación Centro Tecnológico del Mármol, Piedra y Materiales

4
Delta Materials Process and Innovation Solutions

REPORTS

HERE YOU WILL FIND ALL DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS OF THE RestReef PROJECT

WP2. Establishment of common learning outcomes on restoration of 1170-Reefs habitat using artificial reefs

WP2.A1. Comparative study of the curricula focused on habitat restorations (available soon!)

WP2.A2. Definition of the learning objectives and learning outcomes of the curriculum (available soon!)

WP2.A3. Determine the most appropriate learning methodology for restoration of Reefs (available soon!)

WP2.A4. Field research in each project country on the level of human and technological resource capacity for the teaching of RestReef curricula (available soon!)

WP2.A5. Common European Curriculum on restoration of 1170-Reefs habitat using artificial reefs (available soon!)

WP2.A6. Translations of all results of WP2 in all partners’ languages (available soon!)

WP2.A7. First International Seminar in Porto (Portugal) (available soon!)

WP2.A8. External expert Report of WP2 results (available soon!)

WP3. e-Handbook for an educational approach for diving activities

WP3.A1. Comparative studies on appliying of normative on restoration of 1170-Reefs in the participant countries (available soon!)

WP3.A2. Comparative studies on restoration using artificial reefs (available soon!)

WP3.A3. Comparative analysis of scientific literature on Restoration techniques and ecological monitoring (available soon!)

WP3.A4. Develop of training Material for e-Handbook based on the curricula (available soon!)

WP3.A5. Production of the e-Handbook (available soon!)

WP3.A6. Translations of e-Handbook results in all partners’ languages (available soon!)

WP3.A7. Second International Seminar in Dubrovnik (Croatia) (available soon!)

WP3.A8. Production of a RestReef scientific paper (available soon!)

WP3.A9. External expert Report of WP3 results (available soon!)

WP4. e-Learning platform for restoration of 1170-Reefs habitat using artificial reefs

WP4.A1. Structure of e-Learning platform (available soon!)

WP4.A2. Graphic design and project’s corporate image of e-Learning platform (available soon!)

WP4.A3. IT production of RestReef e-Learning platform (available soon!)

WP4.A4. Technical test and implementation of IT improvements of e-Learning platform (available soon!)

WP4.A5. Pedagogical test and implementation of IT improvements of e-Learning platform (available soon!)

WP4.A6. Translations of the e-Learning Platform in all partners’ languages (available soon!)

WP4.A7. Third International Seminar in Murcia (Spain) (available soon!)

WP4.A8. External expert Report of WP4 results (available soon!)

WP5. Pilot site courses of RestReef

WP5.A1. Scheduling, design and technical coordination of pilot courses (available soon!)

WP5.A2. Registration of students and document management by means of a virtual event, information pills in the regions where the pilot courses will take place (available soon!)

WP5.A3. Pilot RestReef Course implementation in Portugal for Portuguese students (available soon!)

WP5.A4. Pilot RestReef Course implementation in Spain for Portuguese students (available soon!)

WP5.A5. Pilot RestReef Course implementation in Croatia for Portuguese students (available soon!)

WP5.A6. Pilot RestReef Course implementation in Spain for Spanish students (available soon!)

WP5.A7. Pilot RestReef Course implementation in Portugal for Spanish students (available soon!)

WP5.A8. Pilot RestReef Course implementation in Croatia for Spanish students (available soon!)

WP5.A9. Pilot RestReef Course implementation in Croatia for Croatian students (available soon!)

WP5.A10. Pilot RestReef Course implementation in Spain for Croatian students (available soon!)

WP5.A11. Pilot RestReef Course implementation in Portugal for Croatian students (available soon!)

WP5.A12. Reports of the 9 pilot courses (available soon!)

WP5.A13. Translations of all results of WP5 in all partners’ languages (available soon!)

WP5.A14. Final International Seminar in Porto (Portugal) (available soon!)

WP5.A15. External expert Report of WP5 results (available soon!)

OER

NEWS

NEWS AND EVENTS

Arranca el Proyecto RestReef para la Restauración de Arrecifes Artificiales en Espacios Natura 2000

December 3, 2024

Diciembre ha marcado el comienzo del proyecto europeo RestReef, una iniciativa innovadora financiada por el programa Erasmus+ que busca desarrollar materiales educativos y plataformas de formación sobre la restauración de arrecifes artificiales en hábitats protegidos de la red Natura 2000. El proyecto RestReef, que da comienzo con la participación de instituciones europeas, pretende comparar las

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La primera reunión inicial online inicia el Proyecto Europeo RestReef

December 2, 2024

Diciembre de 2024. El proyecto europeo RestReef, una iniciativa innovadora financiada por el programa Erasmus+, celebró su primera reunión oficial de manera virtual. Bajo el título “Plataforma Educativa para Técnicas de Restauración Ecológica con Arrecifes Artificiales en Sitios Natura 2000”, el proyecto tiene como objetivo desarrollar soluciones innovadoras y sostenibles para la restauración de hábitats

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