Είσοδος
The selected project is CASCADE and was presented and financed within the framework of the Interreg V-A Italy-Croatia Cooperation Programme 2014/2020 - Priority Axis: Environmental and Cultural Heritage. It is one of the 11 highly innovative "strategic projects" approved during the period and witnesses to the great cooperation that has been generated over time between the two sides of the Adriatic. Each of these projects addresses a specific issue and analyses its problems in order to find solutions. The CASCADE project, starting from the delicate situation in which the marine and coastal ecosystem finds itself due to climate change, the direct impact of mankind also in terms of pollution, aims at the protection and recovery of biodiversity in marine and coastal environments in the partner countries: Italy and Croatia. The project activities were aimed at the definition of the effects of extreme events on marine ecosystems, the development of methodologies and remediation actions based on scientific evidence, the development and improvement of monitoring systems, access to monitoring data through an information system, and the implementation of pilot actions aimed at both the restoration and improvement of integrated management systems. All project activities involved citizens, professionals, local authorities, and environmental associations in a series of online and in-person events, such as workshops, scientific trainings and seminars, which made possible a debate between experts and stakeholders on integrated planning and management actions for marine and coastal areas. The project started on 01/01/2020 and will end on 30 April 2023. A final event is planned in Lecce on 13 April at the Officine Cantelmo. The event will illustrate the whole project and the results achieved.
Cascade brings together a large number of partners (15 in addition to the lead partner) who are actively involved in all activities. The project has identified 11 pilot areas, including one in Molise (the mouth of the most important river: the Biferno). The funding is substantial: 5,817,547.00 euro, of which 4,944,914.95 from the EU. As far as Molise is concerned, the reference partner is the University of Molise, which is working on the project with a team composed of a professor and several researchers. The pilot area identified in our region is the river Biferno, which flows into the Adriatic Sea with an estuary mouth between Termoli and Campomarino. Molise is characterised by 35 km of coastline which, as everywhere, is affected by erosion processes, marine pollution, and the impact of man. The coast is essentially sandy, with a very small rocky stretch and an equally small stretch of artificial coastline. The infographic shows the percentage of erosion of the Molise coast in 2020 according to distance from land. And the results tell us that it is essentially in line with national percentages.
CASCADE aims to protect and restore biodiversity in marine and coastal environments in both Italy and Croatia. The Adriatic basin is very much at risk due to its conformation. The project helps to understand how to address and counteract environmental risks in these delicate ecosystems. The results of CASCADE will obviously be transferable to other territories with similar characteristics. We will need to deepen our knowledge of the project through meetings already planned with the lead partner and the team of the University of Molise.
The examination of this project brought to mind the issue of offshore wind farms in front of the Molise coastline, which we have been talking about for some time and hear about again these days. In our opinion, the construction of wind farms must be carefully studied and the benefits assessed. It could harm marine life, disturb the environment by producing excessive noise and disfigure the surrounding landscape. These are all risks that the CASCADE project seeks to limit and counteract with the planned activities.
