Project RESTORE4Cs launches a School Competition about Coastal Wetlands

RESTORE4Cs School Competition

Coastal Wetlands are broadly defined as “areas of saltwater and freshwater located within coastal zones”1. These areas are among the most crucial ecosystems, playing a key role for climate neutrality, biodiversity protection, zero-pollution, and circular economy.

The project RESTORE4Cs recently launched a Serious Game School Competition: a fun and easy way to make school students learn about this fascinating world.

Acting as natural sponges, coastal wetlands are able to regulate the water cycle and mitigate both floods and droughts. Some particular types can actively sequester and accumulate organic carbon, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, they host a range of plant and animal species uniquely adapted to their specific characteristics and soil conditions.

To give you an idea of just how vital they are, here’s an example we recently came across from the US: an initiative called “Wild Mile” (https://wildmile.org/), by the nonprofit organisation Urban Rivers. Volunteers at Urban Rivers are building a floating eco-park on the Chicago River, made up of artificial habitats that actually mimic wetlands, with the objective of restoring the river’s waters to their pre-industrial state. The rapid development of the city and the use of the river’s waters as a channel for industrial shipping in the 18th Century, in fact, had left the river floor in conditions of extreme pollution.

In Europe, coastal wetlands are disappearing at a fast rate (here’s some data collected by RESTORE4Cs in occasion of the World Wetlands Day: https://www.restore4cs.eu/world-wetlands-day-2024/). But let’s focus on the positives! Some of our original wetlands are still holding on and fighting to survive: it is vital that we do everything in our power to protect them.

A lot of effort is already being dedicated to research and policy investments: a good indicator that the scientific and policy communities are becoming increasingly aware of the issue. Another crucial front in the fight to protect these ecosystems is education.

That’s where the Serious Game School Competition comes in. Taking place in mid-April 2025, this engaging initiative invites students aged 12 and older from across Europe to explore the essential ecological functions of wetlands, their role in biodiversity and how they contribute to climate resilience, all through a fun, interactive gaming experience.

Schools and teachers interested in participating can find all details and registration information on the RESTORE4Cs website: https://www.restore4cs.eu/restore4cs-school-competition/.

If you’re a teacher, or know one who might be interested, don’t miss this opportunity to introduce future researchers to these vital concepts!

  1. Source: RESTORE4Cs 1st Policy Brief: https://www.restore4cs.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Policy-Brief_web.pdf ↩︎

22nd Italian Ornithology Conference: call for symposia and round tables proposals

ornithology

CISO (Centro Italiano Studi Ornitologici), University of Salento and the Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems of the National Research Council (CNR-IRET), LifeWatch Italy and Or.Me. organise the 22nd Italian Ornithology Conference. The conference will gather ornithologists and natural science enthusiasts together in Lecce, a first edition for the Apulia region in more than 40-year history of ornithology conferences.

Participants are invited to submit proposals for symposia and round tables, proposing topics of their own particular interest or general relevance. Any symposium should therefore focus on a well-defined topic that could appeal to a wider audience than just specialists in the field.

Symposia will have to follow a specific structure with six oral presentations, an introduction and a conclusion. The proposals will be evaluated based on the relevance of the topic, interest and originality, as well as gender and geographical balance criteria.

Round tables will last one hour and a half. A brief initial introduction by the organisers is welcome, but the round table must primarily promote discussion and active interaction among the participants.

The submission deadline is 10 February 2025.

For more information visit:

https://www.lifewatchitaly.eu/en/22-convegno-italiano-di-ornitologia/symposia-and-round-tables/

LifeWatch Italy Conference 2025

LifeWatch Italy Conference 2025

Wednesday, 29, and Thursday, 30 January will see the LifeWatch Italy team engaged in its Annual Conference 2025 in Rome, hosted at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). This important event brings together researchers to explore the latest research and technological advancements in biodiversity and ecosystem.

Italy is a biodiversity hotspot in Europe and one of the founders of LifeWatch ERIC, hosting its Service Centre in Lecce. The LifeWatch ERIC Italian National Distributed Centre is led and managed by the CNR and is coordinated by a Joint Research Unit, currently comprising 35 members. With over 57,400 animal species and 6,500 plant species, Italian landscapes and protected areas serve as natural laboratories for ecological studies.

LifeWatch Italy’s activities span a wide range of data-driven and technological solutions: from the development of controlled vocabularies and ontologies for data interoperability to ensuring FAIR data and metadata. The infrastructure also supports ICT services, Virtual Research Environments (VREs), Learning Platforms, and Citizen Science initiatives.

This year’s conference will focus on strategic developments for LifeWatch Italy, promoting collaboration with other research infrastructures and relevant national-level projects. Discussions will explore taxonomic and biogeographical data, climate change impacts, and new modelling approaches, alongside research on marine and terrestrial biodiversity, bio-cultural heritage, and ecosystem stressors. The event will also highlight technological innovations, including cloud computing, reference genomes, and new research platforms developed through LifeWatchPLUS.

For the detailed agenda, visit: https://www.lifewatchitaly.eu/conferenza-lifewatch-italia-2025/

Twaite Shad returns to the Scheldt River after 100 years

We recently shared news about the deployment of a network of fish detection devices along the Leie and the Scheldt rivers (you can find the article here). The Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) has been working for years to protect fish species in the Flanders region. It is, in fact, the independent research institute of the Flemish government that underpins and evaluates biodiversity policy and management through applied scientific research.

Today we bring you a success story, one of those unexpected surprises that truly reward researchers for their dedication.

The twaite shad (also known as the “May fish” by locals), is a migratory fish species once completely disappeared from the Scheldt River due to pollution. Notably, it has made a remarkable return in the past decade.

Easily recognised by the six to ten black spots along its body and its forked tail, the twaite shad migrates upriver to spawn between late April and early May, giving it its nickname.

Its comeback has being monitored since 2014 using LifeWatch Belgium’s acoustic telemetry and data loggers to track its movement and habits. A very significant event that says something about the improving quality of water in the Scheldt river and the positive impacts of conservation efforts.

You can read more about this on the LifeWatch Belgium channel.

Fish migration monitoring in the Leie and Scheldt Rivers

Fish migration

Mapping the migration patterns of fish species is extremely important for researchers, as it allows them to offer better protection against various obstacles.

Every year in fact, millions of fish migrate to their spawning and rearing habitats, where they lay eggs and nurture their young. For some, this means swimming thousands of miles before they can reach their destination, often finding areas blocked by human-made barriers such as dams and navigation lock complexes.

When fish cannot reach their habitat, they cannot reproduce and build their population, for this reason it is important to provide effective solutions.

This is the case in the Leie and Scheldt rivers, which flow from the French border to the Netherlands. The Flemish waterway authority, De Vlaamse Waterweg, has tackled the issue by investing in the construction of fish passages to make these barriers more navigable. A study is monitoring the passage of fish through the pathways, in order to assess the impact of human barriers and the success of these mitigation measures.

Researchers from the Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) have spent the last weeks deploying an extensive network of detection devices along the rivers, focusing in particular on six fish species.

Read more about this initiative on the LifeWatch Belgium website: https://www.lifewatch.be/news/new-study-monitors-fish-migration-leie-and-scheldt-rivers

World Register of Marine Species calls for Top-Ten marine species nominations

marine species

As we carry on with our daily lives working, researching, and attending events, taxonomists are working hard to discover new species every year. Now, the time has come to celebrate their discoveries by submitting nominations for the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) Top-Ten Marine Species of 2024!

The aim of a World Register of Marine Species is to provide a list of names and synonyms of marine organisms, so that it can serve as a guide to interpret taxonomic literature.

The content of the register is controlled by taxonomic and thematic experts: each taxonomic group is represented by an expert who has authority over the content, and is responsible for controlling the quality of the information.

This year’s Top-Ten list will be revealed on the 19th of March 2025, to mark World Taxonomist Appreciation Day, a tribute to the researchers behind these findings.

The WoRMS Top-Ten list collects last year’s most interesting new marine species, bringing them to the attention of the wider public.
The best nominations have a compelling story behind their discovery, whether it’s a species with a rare or unusual morphology, an interesting name, or societal significance.

Submissions are open until Friday, 7th of February, only for species that have been published in 2024. If you are interested in submitting your nomination, you can find additional details here: https://www.lifewatch.be/news/call-nominations-worms-top-ten-marine-species-2024.

DTO-BioFlow opens Second Open Call

DTO-BioFlow Second Open Call

The DTO-BioFlow project (https://www.lifewatch.eu/dto-bioflow/) is launching its second open call for marine biodiversity monitoring data. The project is dedicated to developing and integrating the biological component of the Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO), including new digital tools and services.

Data on biodiversity, and related human and environmental pressures are crucial to understand its current state and how this may change. Protecting and restoring biodiversity is one of three objectives of the Horizon Europe Mission to restore our oceans and waters by 2030, enabling the EU to reach its Green Deal and Biodiversity 2030 targets. Identified as one of the Mission “enablers”, the EU will build on “a digital knowledge system” to include a Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO) allowing simulation of ‘what if’ scenarios, advancing ocean knowledge, informing evidence-based policy and offering a range of societal applications.

The call invites data holders (international networks, citizen science networks, research institutes, universities, NGOs, etc.), to contribute marine biodiversity data to the European Digital Twin of the Ocean and facilitate sustained and long-term ingestion of previously inaccessible data.

Application process
Call Launch: December 17th 2024
Deadline for applications: February 28th 2025, 23:59 CET
Applicants should submit their application through the Open Call webform on the DTO-BioFlow website, where the filled-in application template needs to be submitted.

For more information, visit: https://dto-bioflow.eu/second-open-call-marine-biodiversity-data

Green Balkans and the collaboration with LifeWatch ERIC

Life for Lesser Kestrel

At the end of November, the team of the project Life for Lesser Kestrel – LIFE19 NAT/BG/001017 by Green Balkans, (https://lesserkestrellife.greenbalkans.org/en/) funded by the EU’s LIFE program, participated in the second edition of the Plovdiv Science Festival. The event provided an excellent opportunity to highlight the collaboration with LifeWatch ERIC.

Hosted by the Center for Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB) in Plovdiv, the Festival was organised for the second consecutive year by the Beautiful Science Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Municipality of Plovdiv. Over four days, the festival featured more than 100 presentations, games, exhibitions, demonstrations, experiments, workshops, and educational activities, attracting over 5,000 participants, including school groups, curious youth, visitors of all ages, and residents and guests of Plovdiv.

Green Balkans presented the exhibition “The Great Return – 2”, featuring scientific illustrations, paintings, graphics, digital images, and mixed media works created by members of the Society of Animalists, Florists, and Scientific Illustrators (DAFNI). Inspired by rare and protected species that are part of conservation and restoration programs in Bulgaria, the exhibition highlighted the connection between art, science, and wildlife conservation. The illustrations allowed thousands of children to enjoy learning about rare and protected species showcased in the exhibition.

During the presentation program, Dr. Gradimir Gradev from Green Balkans shared with young attendees the story of the adventures of the lesser kestrel Ruzhka, and the conservation efforts that have led to the recovery of this species in Bulgaria, once considered extinct in the region, with its colonies gradually growing.

Dr. Gradev also highlighted the organisation’s collaboration with our research infrastructure, represented locally by the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, as e-research facilities for studying biodiversity and ecosystem services can contribute greatly in helping address global environmental challenges.

Hopefully, many more collaborations like this will emerge in the future, supporting efforts to bring many other species back from the brink of extinction.

LifeWatch ERIC at the 5th RESTORE4Cs General Assembly

RESTORE4Cs General Assembly

The 5th RESTORE4Cs General Assembly, held from 19-21 November 2024 in the stunning Camargue region of France, brought together project partners and stakeholders to review progress and shape the future of wetland restoration and conservation across Europe. LifeWatch ERIC played a key role in the event, sharing significant developments in communication, digital tools, and policy outreach.

At the assembly, LifeWatch ERIC’s Madeira Scauri, leader of Work Package 8 (Communication, dissemination, and exploitation), provided an update on the second phase of the project’s communication strategy. She revealed the upcoming Camargue Case Pilot teaser and announced the launch of the highly anticipated RESTORE4Cs Serious Game in December 2024. The Serious Game aims to engage a broader audience in wetland restoration through interactive simulations.

The General Assembly was also a change for LifeWatch ERIC to introduce plans for a Summer School, designed for policymakers and the scientific community. This initiative will help bridge the gap between science and policy, furthering the project’s educational and outreach goals.

LifeWatch ERIC also played a crucial role in promoting cross-project collaboration. Madeira Scauri presented the Sister Projects’ joint factsheet, published on the occasion of their joint participation in SERE 2024, as well as a session on cooperation with the REWET project, led by Vanessa Ferreira, which highlighted synergies and operational steps to strengthen partnerships and maximise the project’s impact.

The assembly wrapped up with a successful series of field visits to key sites, including Marais du Cassaïre, Marais du Vigueirat, and the Pont de Gau Ornithological Park, allowing participants to gain local insights into the Camargue wetlands, where the project’s sampling and filming efforts for a documentary were underway.

Stay tuned for more updates on the RESTORE4Cs Serious Game, the Summer School, and other exciting developments as the project continues to progress.

Photo credits: LifeWatch ERIC – Madeira Scauri

LifeWatch ERIC & Marine SABRES at the Tropical Summit 2024

LifeWatch ERIC and Marine SABRES at Tropical Summit 2024

On 4-8 November 2024, LifeWatch ERIC attended the Tropical Summit 2024 in Lisbon to organise a “Marine SABRES in Fairs” event, being present with a stand in the “Biodiversity and digitalisation” section of the Exhibition Hall.
The event was a key opportunity to present our Research Infrastructure to the people stopping at our booth, highlighting its main services and tools, and presenting some demos on Metadata Catalogue and EcoPortal. We also proposed a survey we prepared for the participants, that people can fill as an additional form of engagement.

On this occasion, LifeWatch ERIC presented the project Marine SABRES, showing the project brochure, and the videos we produced in the framework of the project, with a special focus on the Macaronesia DA, where the climate of the islands varies from subtropical to tropical – a region that for this reason was even more connected to the themes of the conference. Here, the project is focusing on promoting a marine biological corridor between the Azores, Madeira and Canary archipelagos, especially paying attention to the management of migratory species like marine birds, mammals and big pelagic species like tuna. The benefits of ecotourism, and of conservation and restoration actions are also being evaluated. The booth promoted best practices and examples, fostered by the project’s approach, of sustainable use of marine resources and tourism, raising awareness on the importance of governance solutions to address the impacts of future economic and climate scenarios.

Approximately 50-70 people, including passionate university students and researchers, experts and representatives from the world of NGOs, start-ups and businesses coming from different tropical countries, such as Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Colombia, India etc, amongst others, visited our stand and learned more about how to restore marine biodiversity and support a sustainable blue economy by increasing the uptake of ecosystem-based management. During the event, LifeWatch ERIC also engaged with some participants to promote its Serious Game School Competition (more information here).

Have a look at our photogallery, enjoy all the moments of this incredible event exploring sustainability, resilience, and inclusive growth!

The summit
The Tropical Summit 2024 was a truly inspiring global gathering: more than 400 hundreds of individuals, representing over 50 nationalities, came together under one roof to discuss, collaborate, and drive progress toward the 2030 Agenda goals. The harsh lessons of the past, in fact, evidenced in the many unfulfilled global agendas, underlined the imperative of not treating the 2030 deadline as a distant point in the time horizon, but as an urgent reality, which requires immediate attention.

The summit sought to embrace everyone who contributes to the sustainable development of tropical regions. Therefore, the main objectives of the Tropical Summit were to promote the transfer of knowledge, catalyse stakeholder engagement, foster multidisciplinary collaboration, and contribute to the co-creation of innovative projects, accelerating the implementations of concrete and robust solutions. The focus was on driving investments, forging new partnerships, and advancing multi-actor actions through South-South-North triangular cooperation across four key domains:

  • Planetary Health: Nurturing life within the global boundaries
  • Agricultural Development: Sustainability as a path to socioeconomic progress
  • Territorial and Social Transitions: Building resilient spaces and societies in every dimension
  • Human Growth: Empowerment and technology for the times ahead

Have a look at our photogallery, enjoy all the moments of this truly inspiring conference!

For more information, please visit Marine SABRES official website: www.marinesabres.eu

Watch our documentary trailers on LifeWatching WebTV platform: www.lifewatching.tv/tv-show/marine-sabres/