CORALLO project for the responsible enjoyment of Natura 2000

Project Objective -

To contribute towards the arrest of the loss terrestrial and marine

biodiversity in the area, maintain and reactivate the ecosystem and the

protected area.

CORALLO proposes to achieve this through a diverse array of edutainment tools which represent both an awareness-generation resource as well as a means of informal education for a varied spectrum of audiences. CORALLO aims to avail itself of existing under-utilised infrastructure within marine and terrestrial Natura 2000

(N2K) sites in order to raise awareness with different N2K site end-users and stakeholders about the need for and the various forms of responsible and sustainable enjoyment of the same sites. The targeted

infrastructure has already been identified through a preliminary needs and gaps analysis, which will be formalised during the project, such that only MINOR infrastructural interventions will be necessary at the same

sites, entailing NO additional/new construction, thus expediting environmental permitting procedures. Even on-site interpretation aids will be non-intrusive and of specific maximum dimensions (not larger than 0.5 m2

), thus not necessitating any special permitting procedures or impacting in any way on the landscape value of the sites.

State-of-the-art didactic amenities and facilities will be developed at each of the targeted sites, also building on the experience gained by the CORALLO coordinator during previous IT-MT projects (e.g. PANACEA), including

extensive use of virtual and extended reality, underwater CCTV, interactive panels based on ICT applications and audio-visual tools, including documentaries and short video clips. Iconic species and habitats encountered at each of the targeted N2K site will be showcased at different centres identified for intervention, thus capitalising on the strengths and unique assets held by each site. In addition to the non-mobile/stationary amenities, CORALLO also pledges to deliver mobile awareness-generating tools, in the form of citizen science campaigns, a project information boat, smart phone apps and gaming and online tools, which will enable the tapping of fragmented and dispersed end-users, including local communities, SCUBA divers, beach-users and lifeguards, the boating community groups (for whom responsible enjoyment codes of conduct will be formulated) and those with limited mobility as well as regulatory entity staff. The same N2K end-users will be consulted to identify the needs, gaps and characteristics of each site.

In summary the project aims to:

- Foster a greater degree of awareness amongst N2K sites end-users about the biodiversity assets held within the same sites.

- Unlock the untapped potential of a number of N2K sites in Malta and Sicily by promoting the largely-unknown and unique living and landscape assets of each site and their responsible enjoyment.