Nature-based reef solution for coastal protection and marine biodiversity enhancement

LIFE NatuReef (Nature-based reef solution for coastal protection and marine biodiversity enhancement) aims to apply at demonstration level the best practices available to the restoration of native oyster and sabellariid reefs, seeding the native species in a rare non-urbanized coastal stretches of the northern Adriatic coasts: the Bevano river mouth (Ravenna municipality, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy), which is a SCI, SAC and SPA under the EU Natura 2000 (IT4070009 - Ortazzo, Ortazzino, Foce del Torrente Bevano). Ostrea edulis and Sabellaria alveolata and S. spinulosa are native ecosystem engineers able to create three-dimensional reefs that retain sediments and dissipate wave energy, counteracting coastal erosion, which is particularly intense here, and creating ecological niches allowing for high biodiversity and nursery habitats. Native oysters have almost disappeared, and sabellariid reefs are rare in the Mediterranean Sea, representing marginal habitats having lost most of their ecosystem functions at the regional level.The restored reefs will enhance marine biodiversity providing habitat and feeding ground for priority and non-priority threatened species, like sea turtles, seahorses, and seabirds. They will defend priority and non-priority habitats like beach dunes, coastal lagoon and pinewood from coastal erosion and salt intrusion, host endangered vegetation and provide nursery areas to priority bird species.These reefs will provide a number of ecosystem goods and services: biodiversity enhancement, improved water quality and clarity, increased fish and shellfish production, sediment stabilisation and wave energy dissipation, prevent coastal erosion, and a high cultural value. Being living structures, they have the potential to adapt and, to some extent, counteract the effects of climate change, like sea level rise and increased storm and flooding event frequency and intensity, contributing to the resistance and resilience of the coastal marine ecosystem. LIFE NatuReef aims to apply the best practices available to the restoration of native oyster and sabellaria reefs, seeding the native species in the Bevano river mouth, a rare non-urbanized stretch of the northern Adriatic coast. The main objective is to create a reef of oysters and sabellaria worms, to nurture and restore rich  biodiversity and to protect coastal habitats from sediment erosion and flooding caused by storm surges, and damage to coastal habitats due to salt intrusion. The restored reefs will enhance marine biodiversity, providing habitats and feeding grounds for priority and non-priority threatened species, such as sea turtles, seahorses, and seabirds. They will safeguard priority and non-priority habitats like sand dunes, coastal lagoons and pinewood from coastal erosion and salt intrusion, host endangered vegetation and serve as nurseries for priority bird species. Project specific objectives are:Establish an oyster reef deployed on a rocky structural base building Base Limestone Reefs (BLS); Trigger the formation of at least three sabellaria reefs around the oyster reefs;Demonstrate the efficiency of biogenic reefs in enhancing marine biodiversity, protecting coastal habitats and maintaining fauna and flora;Increase public awareness of biogenic reefs restoration as a nature-based solution for coastal protection and marine biodiversity enhancement. Marine habitat restoration: establish an oyster reef of 4 000 m2 with a density of at least 10 ind. m2.Marine species richness: increase of at least 100 marine benthic species on the reefs, including algae, invertebrates, and fish.Coastal protection: wave-run up around 0.4 to 0.8 lower than expected in absence of structures during storms; volume of beach loss 0.15-0.45 lower than what was anticipated without protection.Coastal habitat and species conservation: halting the local decline of the coastal habitats to reduce the trend of the abundance of selected priority species.Public awareness: directly involve at least 200 people in BioBlitzes/Citizen Science and gain over 10 000 views on social media platforms.