The standard project ASPEH – Adriatic SPEcies and Habitats of coastal areas, funded by the Interreg Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 program, aims to address biodiversity loss by defining common tools and strategies to preserve the natural heritage and landscape in the Adriatic area, with priority given to the species and habitats protected by Directives 92/43/EEC and 79/409/EEC.
Transnational cooperation is necessary to define a coordinated and shared strategy for better management of Natura2000 sites, to create synergies on conservation measures among Adriatic countries to preserve the ecological integrity of the “South Adriatic Ionian Strait,” an ecologically and biologically significant area between Italy and Croatia.
Objectives:
- To improve biodiversity and environmental quality through integrated approaches and cooperation activities that generate tools promoting sustainable long-term growth in the program area through the transfer of developed conservation plans to other potential users;
- To increase knowledge about target species and habitats and improve their level of protection through jointly implemented pilot actions testing long-term environmental conservation measures;
- To develop a strategy for better management of Natura2000 sites and create synergies on conservation measures among Adriatic countries to preserve the ecological integrity of the “South Adriatic Ionian Strait” EBSA site and further increase the protected marine area.
Key activities:
- Plans and strategies for the conservation of habitats and species;
- Cross-border awareness campaigns;
- Workshops and training activities;
- Implementation and testing of strategies for the conservation of habitats and species.
Involved partners:
- Management Consortium of Torre Guaceto (Italy)
- Municipality of Fano (Italy)
- Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce (Croatia)
- Po Delta Veneto Regional Park (Italy)
- Public Institution for the Management of Protected Areas in Split-Dalmatia County – SEA AND KARST (Croatia)
- Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Areas of Dubrovnik-Neretva County (Croatia)
Project duration: April 1, 2024 – September 30, 2026
Total budget: € 1.923.240,00 (ERDF € 1.538.592,00)
Project is co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.
Official website: www.italy-croatia.eu/web/aspeh
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561925053923
Author of the cover photo: Goran Šafarek
