Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Programme 2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Balkan-Mediterranean

Date of latest update: 2021-04-06

Description

Description (EN):

Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development (RECONNECT) project aims to develop strategies for sustainable management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Natura 2000 sites. The study areas are characterised by similar habitats in different countries, which are threatened by common pressures. Creating a transnational cooperative network to confront under a common approach the environmental threats of ecosystems with a high natural and cultural interest, is the overall goal of this project. The establishment of common practices and a joint regional strategy are the main challenges of RECONNECT. The overall objective of the project is to promote efficient management of natural systems which will enhance the competence of local management authorities through the development of a multidisciplinary Decision Support System (DSS). The new transnational holistic approach which will be developed, will change the current protection strategies in the Balkan-Mediterranean area promoting more efficient and accurate management practices. The main outputs of the RECONNECT project will provide information concerning habitat attributes, as well as the essential biodiversity, socio-economic and cultural variables, which will be freely available as tools through a web-based platform. These outputs will be beneficial for (a) local, regional and national authorities by promoting the sustainability of marine ecosystems, (b) management agencies by enhancing their management toolbox, (c) non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by improving their activities through the suggested strategies and (d) citizens, as their involvement during the project will increase their environmental awareness. The transnational approach that will be used during the project will combine ecological and genetic methodologies for the biodiversity assessment, as well as socio-economic aspects, under the umbrella of a common DSS promoting joint policies and practices. The protection and conservation of areas with high ecological and economical value aims to harmonize the socio-economic and legal framework between the participating countries, something which could not be achieved individually at a national level. The design of new tools such as the DSS and the Handbook of management practices will be developed through the combination of multidisciplinary methodologies targeting to evaluate ecosystem quality and to promote the sustainable conservation of these vulnerable and fragile ecosystems. During its implementation, RECONNECT project will address consistently EU horizontal principles such as sustainable development, equal opportunities and non-discrimination and equality between men and women.

Website: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Expected Results (EN):

The RECONNECT project will result in the formation of a transnational cooperation network of stakeholders (professionals working in environmental legislation, local and regional authorities, NGOs, public institutions, businesses and civil society organisations) for knowledge transfer on environmental protection and management issues. A shared conservation strategy will be adopted between different countries of the Balkan-Mediterranean region which will encompass a harmonised DSS (D6.x.1, D2.x.3), including “state of the art” sustainable management and planning tools (D3.x.3, D4.x.1, D4.x.2, D4.x.3, D6.x.2). The creation of a web-based platform will secure data flow and will target to open data availability and free access to information to all interested parties. The enhancement of public awareness on ecological conservation through the organisation of a jointly designed pilot project (D5.x.1, D5.x.2, D5.x.3) and open days activities (D2.x.2), is an important result which will stimulate education on environmental policy and develop environmental friendly behaviours. Finally, one of the expected results is dissemination of expertise and knowledge gained within the project to the academic community and all interested end users, authorities and the general public thus ensuring the durability and transferability of RECONNECT. The aforementioned results will be applied in the chosen study sites of the project, and eventually in other MPAs and Natura 2000 sites of the Balkan Mediterranean area, such as the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades and the National Marine Park of Zakynthos in Greece, the site of Mandra Poda in Bulgaria, the MPA of Karaburun-Sazan in Albania etc. Thus, they are strongly linked to the specified programme result indicator (R0604) as they expand the ecological connectivity of the Balkan Mediterranean special interest sites by providing transnational management tools for the integrated ecosystems of the designated areas.

Expected Outputs (EN):

The main outputs of RECONNECT project are directly linked to the S.O. 2.1. Interactive maps, integrating essential biodiversity, socio-economic and cultural variables (D3.x.3), along with the assessment of the functional and genetic diversity (D4.x.1, D4.x.2) are main outputs of RECONNECT. The integration of these outputs will address the common challenges in the four designated MPAs and Natura sites (O0602) and will redefine the surface area of supported habitats in order to attain their better conservation status (ERDF CF-CO23). Best-practice-protocols (D5.x.1) will be created for the monitoring of the MPAs and Natura 2000 sites using citizens’ activities. Citizen-generated data will be hosted in a web-based platform and a mobile/tablet application which will facilitate the dissemination and outreach of the project’s outputs. The proposed activities aim to attract more citizens in sites of cultural and natural heritage resulting in an increase of the expected number of visits (ERDF-CO09), estimated at about 50 number of visitors in the year following project completion and per study site. The management authorities of the study sites will be responsible for the quantification of the increase in visits and their distinction from the other touristic arrivals. RECONNECT project will develop a Decision Support System (DSS) (D6.x.1) for the sustainable management of MPAs and Natura sites based on a suite of approaches. This system will be applied to the vulnerable and valuable habitats in the Balkan-Mediterranean area in order to promote ecological connectivity. The Handbook of management practices (D6.x.2) will support the authorities to sustainably manage areas of special interest, based on internationally gained experience, standards and tools. A transnational integrated approach between different countries of the Balkan-Mediterranean area will offer an ecosystem management strategy combining the environmental quality with the regional economic development.

Thematic information

Managing natural and man-made threats, risk management Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks Regional planning and development

Specific Objective: Biodiversity: taking on the transnational challenge by promoting ecological connectivity and transnational ecosystems’ integration

Thematic Objective: (06) preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:

Investment Priority: (06c) Conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Ινστιτούτο Θαλάσσιας Βιολογίας, Βιοτεχνολογίας και Υδατοκαλλιεργειών (Ελληνικό Κέντρο Θαλασσίων Ερευνών)

Address: Former U.S. Base of Gourner, P.O. Box 2214, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.imbbc.hcmr.gr/

Total budget: EUR 356 421.10

ERDF budget: EUR 302 957.94

IPA2 budget: EUR 53 463.17

Φορέας Διαχείρισης Προστατευόμενων Περιοχών Δωδεκανήσου

Name: Φορέας Διαχείρισης Προστατευόμενων Περιοχών Δωδεκανήσου

Address: Management Agency of Dodecanese Protected Areas, 85700 Olymbos, Karpathos, 85700 Karpathos, Greece

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.fdkarpathos.gr/

Total budget: EUR 100 000.00

ERDF budget: EUR 85 000.00

IPA2 budget: EUR 15 000.00

Τμήμα Βιολογικών Επιστημών, Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου

Name: Τμήμα Βιολογικών Επιστημών, Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου

Address: 1 University Avenue, 2109 Aglantzia, 2109 Aglantzia, Cyprus

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.ucy.ac.cy/biol

Total budget: EUR 189 968.00

ERDF budget: EUR 161 472.80

IPA2 budget: EUR 28 495.20

Fakulteti I Shkencave Te Natyres, Universiteti I Tiranes

Name: Fakulteti I Shkencave Te Natyres, Universiteti I Tiranes

Address: Bulevardi "Zogu i Pare", TiranaTirana, Albania

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.fshn.edu.al/

Total budget: EUR 109 778.60

ERDF budget: EUR 93 311.81

IPA2 budget: EUR 16 466.79

Τμήμα Αλιείας και Θαλασσίων Ερευνών, Υπουργείο Γεωργίας, Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης και Περιβάλλοντος

Name: Τμήμα Αλιείας και Θαλασσίων Ερευνών, Υπουργείο Γεωργίας, Αγροτικής Ανάπτυξης και Περιβάλλοντος

Address: Vithleem 101, 1416 Nicosia, 1416 Nicosia, Cyprus

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/dfmr/dfmr.nsf

Total budget: EUR 126 433.00

ERDF budget: EUR 107 468.05

IPA2 budget: EUR 18 964.95

Институт по биоразнообразие и екосистемни изследвания-БАН

Name: Институт по биоразнообразие и екосистемни изследвания-БАН

Address: 2 Gagarin Street, 1113 Sofia, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.iber.bas.bg/

Total budget: EUR 187 683.00

ERDF budget: EUR 159 530.55

IPA2 budget: EUR 28 152.45

Διεθνές Κέντρο Έρευνας για το Περιβάλλον και την Οικονομία

Name: Διεθνές Κέντρο Έρευνας για το Περιβάλλον και την Οικονομία

Address: Evdoxou 22, 11743 Athens, Greece

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.icre8.eu/

Total budget: EUR 157 293.00

ERDF budget: EUR 133 699.05

IPA2 budget: EUR 23 593.95

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Management Agency of Dodecanese Protected Areas

Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Partners and Projects info

Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (Hellenic Centre for Marine Research)

Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Partners and Projects info

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus

Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Partners and Projects info

Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana

Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Partners and Projects info

Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment

Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Partners and Projects info

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research-BAS

Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Partners and Projects info

International Centre for Research on the Environment and the Economy (ICRE8)

Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Project acronym: RECONNECT

Project start date: 2017-09-15

Project end date: 2020-12-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 227 576.70

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 043 440.20

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 950 128.39.
IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 93 311.81.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Videos / films

RECONNECT's video for the European Natura2000 awards!

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2022-03-21

Languages: en

Presentations

"Presenting the RECONNECT research project"

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2019-03-27

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

The marine environment of Cavo Greco

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2019-03-27

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Citizen Science involvement in monitoring the marine Cavo Greco

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2019-03-27

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Καταδυτικζσ Διαδρομζσ ςε Θαλάςςιεσ Προςτατευόμενεσ Περιοχζσ τησ Ανατολικήσ Μεςογείου

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2019-03-27

Languages: el

Attachment file: Download

Οπτική και Ακουστική έρευνα για κητώδη (Φάλαινες & Δελφίνια) στα θαλάσσια ύδατα της Κύπρου κατα το 2016/2017 Σάββας Μιχαηλίδης Λειτουργός Αλιείας και Θαλασσίων Ερευνών Α’ Τμήμα Αλιείας και Θαλασσίων Ερευνών Ημερίδα ενημέρωσης προγράμματος «RECONNECT» 27 Μαρτίου 2019

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2019-03-27

Languages: el

Attachment file: Download

LIFE EUROTURTLES - COLLECTIVE ACTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE EU SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2019-03-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

MELTEMI... The wind against marine litter

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2019-09-15

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

‘Preventing a LIONfish invasion in the MEDiterranean through early response and targeted REmoval’

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Presentation

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2018-03-28

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Reports

Open Day Activities

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2020-08-01

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

"Questionnaires quantifying ESCVs (Essential Socio-economic and Cultural Variables) WP3: MAPPING AND EVALUATING OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS"

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2020-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Citizen science Initiative - Involving people in ecosystems restoration

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2020-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Training seminars for the citizen scientists prior to their involvement in the pilot project WP5: citizen science initiative - involving people in ecosystems restoration

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://reconnect.hcmr.gr/

Publication date: 2022-08-11

Document date: 2020-06-30

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 INTERREG VB Balkan-Mediterranean

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2022-12-09

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

44 / 44 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

282 / 282 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.interreg-balkanmed.eu/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-09-20.

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

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Contact Form

Regional cooperation for the transnational ecosystem sustainable development

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer