The island of Lokrum is protected as a nature reserve and a special forest vegetation reserve in accordance with the Nature Protection Act (NN 80/2013, 15/2018, 14/2019, 127/19). The entire island, including the surrounding marine area that extends approximately 150 meters from the coast, is a part of the Natura 2000 ecological network area (HR4000017 Lokrum) with a total of eight target habitat types under the Regulation of the Ecological Network and the competences of public institutions for managing ecological network areas (NN 80/19, 119/23). The marine flowering plant Posidonia oceanica is a protected species, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, widespread throughout the Adriatic, from the south, where it forms large meadows, to the western coast of Istria.
Since 2011, Sunce has been conducting monitoring according to the protocol for monitoring the condition of P. oceanica meadows, established as part of the MedPAN South project. At the same time, through various educational programs, Sunce emphasises the importance of education about the necessity of environmental and nature protection and the principles of sustainable development. So far, Sunce has created and conducted more than 660 educational sessions for children and adults, with over 14,000 participants.
The service entails the refinement of the database and knowledge including the identification of primary threats and pressures on the marine habitats and species of Lokrum Island, along with establishing suitable monitoring. This also includes the initiation of monitoring efforts to assess the status of the P. oceanica meadows (a priority habitat type as per the Habitats Directive), as well as the implementation of educational activities regarding the monitoring protocols for P. oceanica meadows.
Service title: Research of the Underwater World, Establishment of Monitoring, and Education as a part of the Interreg HABI Project
Client: Public institution Lokrum eserve
Service duration: 29.4.2024. – 31.7.2024.
Service manager: Matea Špika,mag. biol., Management of protected areas, e-mail: [email protected]