A major step for Cyprus’s marine environment, RESPOSCY (REStoring POSidonia oceanica meadows of CYprus) is the country’s first nationwide effort to restore Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows along its coasts. These meadows are a priority habitat under the EU Habitats Directive and are protected by the Barcelona Convention on Specially Protected Areas and Biodiversity and the Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats. The project is coordinated by MER Lab, in partnership with the Frederick Research Centre (FRC), the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), and the University of Genoa (UNIGE).
Why Posidonia matters
Posidonia is a true marine plant -with roots, flowers, fruit and long ribbon-like leaves- that forms underwater meadows. These habitats store carbon, shelter biodiversity and act as natural coastal defenses. They are under pressure from human activity, pollution, coastal development and climate change.
The aim in the words of the coordinator
“With marine biologists, researchers, volunteer divers and public authorities, we’re building a strong framework to restore Posidonia meadows and safeguard our coasts,” said Dr. Demetris Kletou, head of MER Lab and RESPOSCY coordinator. “This project goes beyond restoration. We want to create a model of excellence for Posidonia in the Eastern Mediterranean, grounded in science, powered by community, and inspired by our shared responsibility to protect the sea.”
By May 2027, the team will map and assess Posidonia meadows and the pressures they face, produce risk maps, and identify priority restoration areas. The plan includes planting 3,000 cuttings to revive degraded meadows, deploying innovative monitoring tools across three pilot sites, and developing standard transplanting and monitoring protocols.
Community involvement and education
Citizen engagement is built into the project. RESPOSCY will train 100 volunteer divers as “Posidonia Gardeners” and run awareness campaigns aiming to reach more than 30,000 people across Cyprus, promoting appreciation and care for the island’s marine wealth.
RESPOSCY supports the development of a National Restoration Strategy, aligns with the EU Nature Restoration Law, and contributes to Cyprus’s environmental commitments. The project (EXCELLENCE/0524/0547) is funded under the Cohesion Policy Programme “ΘΑλΕΙΑ 2021–2027,” co-financed by the EU through the Research and Innovation Foundation.