Two years of targeted interventions and concrete actions have brought splendor back to a stretch of the Gulf of Palermo, once a symbol of neglect and pollution. Thanks to Marevivo and the fundamental support of the 8×1000 funds ofSoka Gakkai Italian Buddhist Institutethe “3 Rs for the Sea: Regenerate, Recover and Respect” project has left an indelible mark. The Acqua dei Corsari area, in front of Bandita, known for its degradation caused by an open-air landfill, saw 10 tons of end-of-life tires recovered, 100 square meters of Posidonia meadows reforested and over 700 students involved in valuable environmental education activities.
Regenerate: the green breath of Posidonia
The beating heart of the “Regenerate” action was the reforestation of 100 m2 of Posidonia oceanica prairie, an endemic species of the Mediterranean and a true “underwater forest”. At approximately 14 meters deep, 2,400 bundles of Posidonia were transplanted and 78 anchoring modules positioned. An adult prairie of this size is capable of absorbing up to 8 tons of CO2 per year. Post-intervention monitoring has already revealed an encouraging 72% of surviving cuttings, a strong signal of the vitality of the recreated ecosystem.
Posidonia is not only beautiful: it is a precious ecological indicator, producer of oxygen and absorber of carbon dioxide, essential for life on our planet. Its meadows offer refuge and nourishment to hundreds of marine species, representing a bastion for Mediterranean biodiversity.
Recover: cleaning of the seabed from abandoned tyres
The “Recover” action saw a team of 26 divers at work who, with courage and dedication, brought 116 large End-of-Life Tires (ELTs) to the surface, for a total of 10 tonnes. This “silent waste” lay abandoned at about 10 meters deep in the waters in front of the seaside village of Acqua dei Corsari. Thanks to the support of CEDIFOP’s underwater technical operators and the involvement of the EcoTyre Consortium, the tires were sent for correct recycling, avoiding further damage to the marine environment.
Respect: environmental education for the new generations
But real change cannot ignore awareness. The “Respect” action involved over 700 students and around 60 teachers from 12 secondary schools in Palermo and its province. The environmental education and awareness-raising activities on the protection of the sea took place in the Marevivo Environmental Education Center “Baia del Corallo”, within the Marine Protected Area of Capo Gallo – Isola delle Femmine. Here, the operators of the Marevivo Sicilia Delegation guided the participants to discover the biodiversity of their territory, instilling in the new generations a profound respect for the Blue Planet.
Winning collaborations and a more sustainable future
The depletion of oceans and seas, the climate crisis, the loss of animal and plant species require an integrated, inclusive approach and concrete interventions which, despite their specificity, do not lose sight of the need to inform and involve an increasingly wider segment of the population,
he declared Laura GentileProject Manager for Marevivo, underlining the crucial role of the support of the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai.
Anna ContiVice President of the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai, reiterated how the project embodies the Buddhist principles of respect for the dignity of life and the interrelationship between human beings and the environment:
Taking care of the environment means taking care of ourselves and future generations. With the 8×1000 funds, the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai supports concrete interventions that combine direct action, regeneration of ecosystems and the training of new generations, because change always arises from education and awareness.
The success of “3 Rs for the Sea” in the Gulf of Palermo is the tangible demonstration that collaboration, science and education are the most powerful tools to protect and regenerate our seas. A virtuous example that reminds us of the importance of acting now, with determination and confidence, for a future in which our sea can breathe fully again.
