UIB researchers advance the restoration of Posidonia seagrass meadows in the Mediterranean

PalmA team of researchers from the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEDEA) and the Cleanwave Foundation's MedGardens initiative have identified new techniques to promote the recovery of Posidonia seagrass meadows. The study, reported by the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) in a press release, analyzes different replanting procedures for this emblematic Mediterranean plant. The research was carried out in the bays of Formentor and Portocolom (Mallorca) and identified the most favorable options for enabling the natural recovery of degraded meadows, which until now had met with limited success. It compares, for the first time, different anchoring methods and evaluates both their ecological effectiveness and other practical factors such as cost, supply, carbon footprint, and logistics. After two years of monitoring, researchers have shown that gardening claws and bamboo stakes are the most efficient and sustainable options, boasting a 94% survival rate, low cost, and minimal environmental impact. "The research demonstrates that Posidonia seagrass meadows can be restored in a more affordable and environmentally friendly way by integrating ecological, economic, and logistical criteria. This is key to designing viable and sustainable long-term restoration projects," the study's authors emphasized.