Protection of Fossil Beach - Molentargius

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Cagliari (FUA)

Region

Europe

Native title of the NBS intervention

Tutela della spiaggia fossile di Molentargius

Short description of the intervention

The Molentargius-Salt Works Regional Natural Park, spanning approximately 1,600 hectares, is located in South Sardinia between the towns of Cagliari and Quartu Sant'Elena, adjacent to the Poetto seafront. The park features diverse ecosystems, including wetlands and salt flats, and houses the Orto Botanico di Cagliari, which showcases native Mediterranean plants.
In 2016, a project was initiated by a group of stakeholders to preserve and enhance biodiversity within the park. The project's goals are to protect and promote the unique ecosystems, such as the fossil beach, and manage invasive species like the Louisiana crayfish. Through various activities—educational programs, public engagement, and conservation efforts—the initiative aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of local biodiversity and its historical evolution.
A primary focus of the project is the conservation of the Orto Botanico area in Is Arenas, which contains a fossil beach that offers valuable geological insights into the region's past. Planned activities include cleaning and securing the area, creating educational pathways, and employing multimedia tools to engage visitors. The emphasis is on teaching the public, especially students, about biodiversity as a result of environmental adaptation through practical learning and cultural exchanges.
Another critical aspect of the project is the study and control of the invasive Louisiana crayfish, which threatens the park’s biodiversity by contributing to riverbank erosion and impacting native fauna. The project will incorporate scientific research on the crayfish and develop strategies to limit its spread, aiming to protect the park’s delicate ecosystems from further disruption by invasive species.
Lastly, the project emphasizes cultural exchange and social inclusion and fosters dialogue on the shared ecological challenges in Parco Molentargius. (Refs. 1, 2 & 5)

Website of the intervention

http://www.apmolentargius.it/progetto/

Principal problems

Environmental Degradation

Biodiversity loss

Invasive alien species

Soil degradation and loss

Health, Well-being and Social cohesion

Poor community engagement

Implementation area characterization

Climate

Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter)

Ecosystem

Coastal wetlands

Address

Via Don Giordi
09045 Cagliari
Italy

Location

The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by).

Area boundary (map-based)

NBS area image

Source of NBS area image

Map of Molentargius Park: https://www.parcomolentargius.it/servizi/canali/1002

Area description

Seascape

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Protected Area

Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature

Sea coast (e.g. dunes, beach)

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

unknown

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2016

End date of the intervention

2018

Present stage of the intervention

Completed and archived or cancelled

2. Objectives of the intervention

Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

To preserve and enhance the biodiversity of the Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius-Saline-Poetto by monitoring and protecting key areas, such as the fossil beach, which holds scientific and historical significance.
To address the threat of invasive species, particularly the Louisiana crayfish, which is causing environmental damage (riverbank erosion and impacting native fauna)
To improve public understanding of these ecosystems by creating educational pathways focused on their relevance to climate change mitigation, utilizing multimedia tools, and engaging with students and visitors to highlight the importance of biodiversity and its evolution in a heavily urbanized context.
To promote social inclusion and cultural exchange by involving immigrant communities from North African countries that share similar wetland ecosystems. The project will engage these groups in environmental education, cultural dialogues, and activities that foster integration (Refs. 1, 2 & 5).

Key Priorities

Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)

Social Justice and community

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)

Coastal protection / hazard mitigation

Marine and coastal biodiversity protection

Marine and coastal research and/or education

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Habitat and biodiversity conservation

Cultural heritage and cultural diversity

Preservation of natural heritage

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Social interaction

Environmental education

Sense of community and community engagement

Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Species-focused

Ecosystem-focused

Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?

Protect and enhance urban habitats

Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems

Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem

Protect species

Undertake specific measures to protect species

Undertake specific measures to protect native species

Control and clean invasive alien species

Means for conservation governance

Raise public awareness

Public engagement

Implementation activities and NBS focus

Implementation activities

The project began with the creation of a participatory planning workshop in collaboration with the community to analyze risks and design interventions, including the preservation of the fossil beach through cleaning the surrounding area and removing small illegal dumps. To prevent further erosion, trenches were dug at the base of the slopes, filled with dry material, and reinforced with protective fences. The project also focused on controlling invasive species such as the Louisiana crayfish through monitoring and targeted removal strategies.
A communication campaign was launched to inform local communities through brochures, press conferences, and direct engagement with schools. Educational activities were prioritized, involving students and local citizens in understanding the park's biodiversity and environmental issues. Physical improvements in the park included acquiring equipment such as signage, microscopes, fences, and audio guides, alongside clean-ups, erosion control, and path development to protect the fossil beach.
Specialized tools, including traps and baits, were utilized for invasive species monitoring. Cultural activities were incorporated, such as workshops on paleoclimate correlations and public workshops to enhance awareness of biodiversity, particularly among immigrant communities. Finally, the park served as a platform for environmental education, with organized excursions and cultural exchanges, including a multi-ethnic "Biodiversity Festival" (Refs. 1, 2

Type of NBS project

Coastal landscape management or protection

Coastal ecosystems restoration and maintenance (mangroves, dunes, saltplains, underwater meadows)

Ecological restoration of ecosystems

Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems)

Protection of natural ecosystems

Habitat conservation

Marine and coastal conservation initiatives

Knowledge creation and awareness raising

Educational and awareness raising programs

Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems

Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity

Clearing out invasive alien species and allow natural regeneration maintaining the functionality the ecosystem

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Blue infrastructure

Coastlines

Parks and urban forests

Large urban parks or forests

Botanical gardens

Amenities offered by the NBS

Educational or biodiversity trails

Design elements for well-being

Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation)

Services

Expected ecosystem services delivered

Regulating services

Coastal protection

Habitat and supporting services

Habitats for species

Cultural services

Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)

Social and community interactions

Scale

Spatial scale

Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level

Beneficiaries

Demographics in implementation area

The project is located in the Poetto - Meddau su Cramu Neighborhood, which had, in 2022, 1,104 inhabitants (around 0.73% of the total population of Cagliari); therefore, it is a quite small neighborhood in Cagliari. The average age is around 50 years old, which is distributed in different age groups as follows:
1. 0-14: 89 (8%)
2. 15-64: 699 (63%)
3. over 65: 316 (29%)

The neighborhood is not particularly characterized by emigration or immigration flows, in fact, the foreign population counts just 3.5% of its total population. Most of the foreigners in the area come from Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, or Romania.
48% of the households in the neighborhood are composed of 1 single person, 23% of 2 people, 18% of 3, 8% of 4, 2% of 5, and slightly more than 1% of 6 or more people (Ref. 6)

Socio-economic profile of the area

Unknown

Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts

Non-government actors

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches

Researchers, university

Citizens or community groups

Primary Beneficiaries

Researchers/University

Citizens or community groups

Marginalized groups

Specify primary beneficiaries

The primary beneficiaries of the project include local communities, particularly residents of the towns within the Molentargius-Saline Natural Park. Schools, university students, and the general public will benefit from educational activities, such as field labs and biodiversity trails, aimed at raising awareness about environmental protection. The University of Cagliari, through its departments of Biomedical and Life Sciences, will contribute to scientific studies, benefiting both researchers and students involved in the project's monitoring activities. Immigrant communities will also gain from cultural exchange and social inclusion initiatives tied to biodiversity (Refs. 1 & 2).

Marginalized groups

Children, young people or youth groups

Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants

Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups

The project has incorporated several measures to include marginalized groups, particularly focusing on immigrant communities from North Africa. These communities, connected by shared wetland ecosystems in their countries of origin, are engaged through cultural and environmental exchanges. Activities include guided tours, workshops on traditional crafts and culinary traditions, and the organization of a "Biodiversity Festival" featuring local products. These initiatives foster cultural integration and create opportunities for dialogue, allowing immigrants to actively participate in the conservation and appreciation of the Molentargius-Saline ecosystem.
Moreover, several activities address children's interactive education about the effects of climate change and the environmental conditions, threat, and benefits in the park (Refs. 1 & 2).

Specify measures taken for vulnerable or marginalized communities

Collaboration with local community organizations or advocacy groups representing these communities

Other beneficiaries

Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators)

Native plant vegetation

Natural habitats (e.g. wetland, forests, coastal areas)

4. Governance and financing

Governance

Governance arrangements

Led by non-government actors

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

The project commenced with a participatory planning workshop involving the community to analyze risks and design interventions for preserving the fossil beach, including cleaning the area and removing illegal dumps. The Associazione per il Parco Molentargius-Saline-Poetto led the project, while the University of Cagliari focused on monitoring the invasive crayfish through its Biomedical and Life Sciences departments. Legambiente (NGO) created educational trails, and the Regional ACLI (Catholic lay organisation) connected the initiative with immigrant communities for their integration. Community involvement came from the Kayak CKS Le Saline Club (Sports club) and the Agesci San Pio X Scout Group (Religious group), while the project was funded by Fondazione con il SUD (foundation).

(Refs. 1 & 2)

Key actors - initiating organization

Non-government organisation/civil society

Researchers/university

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

Non-government organisation/civil society

District/neighbourhood association

Citizens or community group

Private foundation/trust

Stages of citizen and community engagement

Planning and design (e.g. site selection, identification of key priorities)

On-the-ground implementation

Monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes

Reporting and dissemination of project results

Level of citizen and community engagement

High

Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives

Implementation of educational programs, workshops or trainings

Formation of community-led groups responsible for the the implementation, maintenace or monitoring of the project

Establishment of mentorship programs or partnerships with local institutions (e.g. schools, kinder gardens, hospitals, nursing homes)

Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)

Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)

Dissemination of information and education

Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)

Co-management/Joint management

Citizen science

Citizen monitoring and review

Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")

Community & Social Groups

Churches and other religious organisations or faith communities

Youth-led organizations/ citizens

Activist groups (e.g. climate, environment, justice, etc)

Land owners

Public space owned by the city

Policy drivers

NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy

Unknown

NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan

Unknown

NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan

Unknown

Mandatory or voluntary intervention

Voluntary (spontaneous)

Enablers & Barriers

Type of enablers

NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation

Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)

Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.

Fondazione con il Sud: network of financial institutions providing fundings for projects aiming at the prequalification of southern Italy. It gave funds for the project (Refs. 3 & 4).

Governace and decison-making instruments

Economic and fiscal instruments (e.g. subsidies or grants, charges or fees, payments for ecosystem services (PES))

Educational and knowledge sharing instruments (e.g. science/ living labs, awareness raising campaigns, specific educational programs, green hubs)

Arrangements for governance cooperation

Information-sharing platforms or networks (e.g. websites for sharing best practices, data or resources pertinent to the project)

Capacity-building initiatives for governance actors (e.g. training workshops for local government officials/ community leaders)

Barriers

Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€50,000 - €100,000

Please specify total cost (EUR)

€100,000 (Ref. 3)

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

n/a

Source(s) of funding

Private Foundation/Trust

Type of fund(s) used

Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Co-finance for NBS

Co-governance arrangement

Unknown

Entrepreneurship opportunities

Business models

Risk reduction model

Green education model

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)

5. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Water management and blue areas

Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems

Achieved enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems

Green space and habitat

Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems

Reduced biodiversity loss

Expected reduced biodiversity loss

Increased protection of threatened species

Achieved increased protection of threatened species

Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species

Achieved improved prevention or control of invasive alien species

Description of environmental benefits

- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems: "The project aims at the valorisation and protection of one of the areas of Is Arenas, in the heart of the park, with unique characteristics and critical points, identified on maps as a ‘botanical garden’. As yet insufficiently valorised, it is an area of great geological interest, with a precious fossil beach" (Ref. 1)
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystem: "A habitat with a delicate balance, which, if properly protected and enhanced, can contribute to enriching the Park's offer of enjoyment." (Ref. 1)
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss: (referring to the alien species) "The project will proceed through a dense programme of study and in-depth examination of the species, to then implement actions aimed at reducing its further spread and its consequences for biodiversity." (Ref. 2)
- Increased protection of threatened species: "key elements concern the monitoring and safeguarding, implementation and dissemination of biodiversity in both the geological and faunal fields" (Ref. 1)
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species: (referring to the alien species) "The project will proceed through a dense programme of study and in-depth examination of the species, to then implement actions aimed at reducing its further spread and its consequences for biodiversity." (Ref. 2)

Economic impacts

Unknown

Description of economic benefits

Unknown

Evidence for use of assessment

Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process

Yes

Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts

Non-government organisation/civil society

Researchers/university

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Name of any specific impact assessment tools

unknown

Use of GIS in mapping impacts

No evidence in public records

Cost-benefit analysis

Yes

Transparency

Meetings with stakeholders’ representatives

Inclusion of diverse stakeholders in project governance processes (e.g. planning, implementation, monitoring, etc.)

Public disclosure of project funding sources and/or budgets

Justice

Community satisfaction

Unknown

Description of locals satisfaction with the project

Unknown

Trade-offs & Negative impacts

Unknown

Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement

No initiatives or policies were implemented

High-quality & Transformative NBS

Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)

Goal setting and impacts delivery

No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas.

Reaching original project goals

Most of the project goals were achieved

Please specify the achievements of the project goals

Biodiversity Goals:
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems: "The project aims at the valorisation and protection of one of the areas of Is Arenas, in the heart of the park, with unique characteristics and critical points, identified on maps as a ‘botanical garden’. As yet insufficiently valorised, it is an area of great geological interest, with a precious fossil beach" (Ref. 1)
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystem: "A habitat with a delicate balance, which, if properly protected and enhanced, can contribute to enriching the Park's offer of enjoyment." (Ref. 1)
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss: (referring to the alien species) "The project will proceed through a dense programme of study and in-depth examination of the species, to then implement actions aimed at reducing its further spread and its consequences for biodiversity." (Ref. 2)
- Increased protection of threatened species: "key elements concern the monitoring and safeguarding, implementation and dissemination of biodiversity in both the geological and faunal fields" (Ref. 1)
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species: (referring to the alien species) "The project will proceed through a dense programme of study and in-depth examination of the species, to then implement actions aimed at reducing its further spread and its consequences for biodiversity." (Ref. 2)
Social Justice and community Goals:
- Improved social cohesion: "A particularly important aspect will be cultural exchange and social inclusion." (Ref. 1)
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples: "The Park will be an opportunity for meetings with immigrant communities from North African countries with wetlands (Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal ) with activities dedicated to cultural and environmental insights on their areas of origin, excursions and moments of confrontation, and with the organisation of a multicultural ‘Biodiversity Festival’ with tasting of traditional gastronomic products." (Ref. 1)
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces: "Promoting the adoption of the botanical garden by individual citizens or associates who will take care of periodic monitoring, reporting episodes of environmental alteration, collaborating with the park authority to carry out activities to care for the area and improve the habitat" (Ref. 2)
- Protection of natural heritage: "The project aims at the valorisation and protection of one of the areas of Is Arenas, in the heart of the park, with unique characteristics and critical points, identified on maps as a ‘botanical garden’. As yet insufficiently valorised, it is an area of great geological interest, with a precious fossil beach" (Ref. 1)
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging: "Strengthening the communities' sense of belonging to the Park's territory" (Ref. 2)
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: "Planned activities over the next two years include several Dissemination Days for schools and citizens and a scientific seminar on the complexity of the ecosystem." (Ref. 1)

Long-term perspective

Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability.

Cost-effective solutions

Unknown

Equitable impacts

A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project

Transformative capacity

Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them)

Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution)

Magnitude of change

Reformist: by focusing on addressing underlying drivers of change but failing to address the problem structurally or systemically

Application of lessons learned

Unknown

Perception of Environmental Change

Unknown

6. Sources

References

AP Molentargius (2015). SALVAGUARDIA E VALORIZZAZIONE DELLA BIODIVERSITA’ TRA PASSATO REMOTO E PRESENTE NEL PARCO NATURALE REGIONALE MOLENTARGIUS-SALINE. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

AP Molentargius (2015). Attività Progetto. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Fondazione con il Sud (n.d.). Salvaguardia E Valorizzazione Della Biodiversità Tra Passato Remoto E Presente Nel Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius Saline. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Fondazione con il Sud (n.d.). Chi Siamo. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Università di Cagliari (2019). Parco Molentargius-Saline, salvaguardia e valorizzazione delle biodiversità. Il progetto di due dipartimenti universitari e la caccia aperta al Gambero della Louisiana. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Comune di Cagliari (2022). Atlante demografico di Cagliari 2022. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Comments and notes

Public Images

Protection of fossil beach2.

https://web.unica.it/unica/it/news_notizie_s1.page?contentId=NTZ165027

Protection of fossil beach

https://web.unica.it/unica/it/news_notizie_s1.page?contentId=NTZ165027

Example of sign along the educational trails established around the park.

AP Molentargius. 2019. “I Nuovi Pannelli Illustrativi per Il Percorso ‘Spiaggia Fossile’ | AP Molentargius.” Apmolentargius.it. 2019. http://www.apmolentargius.it/fondazione-sud-i-nuovi-pannelli-sulla-spiaggia-fossile/.

Example of sign along the educational trails established around the park.

AP Molentargius. 2018. “Biopercorso Nell’Orto Botanico | AP Molentargius.” Apmolentargius.it. 2018. http://www.apmolentargius.it/biopercorso-nellorto-botanico/.