The dramatic decline in eelgrass coverage in coastal waters during the last decades has serious implications for associated ecosystem services, such as carbon and nitrogen sequestration, coastal protection and biodiversity. The expected recovery of eelgrass following substantial reductions in nutrient loading has not occurred. A major reason is negative feedback mechanisms related to physical and biological disturbances that hinder or delay eelgrass colonization. The purpose of NOVAGRASS is to design innovative eelgrass restoration techniques specific for estuaries and coastal waters in Europe. We will develop new technical tools for eelgrass restoration, apply these tools at large scales, provide guidelines for eelgrass restoration, including climatic challenges through modeling, and provide a socio-economic analysis and assessment of the ecosystem services gained by restoration. Harvest, storage, seeding and planting techniques will be developed under consideration of environmental disturbances and tested at small and large scales. Long-term sustainability of restorations will be monitored and modeled based on the sensitivity of eelgrass to predicted climate change and analyzed in relation to the gained ecosystem services. The industrial partners will develop logistics, equipment and techniques for large-scale eelgrass restoration. This will enable these partners to be technologically leading in the expanding market of aquatic ecosystem restoration.
Grant provider: DSF
Total amount of grant: 14.138.629
Period: 1/1 2013 - 3/6 2018
Grant No.: 0603-00003B