Header - Acronym and Title

icon priority
2 - Green and resilient shared environment
SO 2.2 - Protection of nature and biodiversity

ASPEH

Adriatic SPEcies and Habitats of coastal areas

Information - Card

Information

Start date
01/04/2024
End date
30/09/2026
Total budget
1.923.240,00
Partnership
IT - 3
HR - 3
Project typology:
Standard project

Project specific objectives - Card

Project specific objectives

  • To enhance biodiversity and environmental quality, we will develop tools for sustainable growth in the Programme area;
  • To enhance knowledge and protection of target species and habitats, we will implement pilot actions and test strategies for long-term conservation;
  • To develop a common strategy for managing Natura 2000 sites, we will foster synergies among Adriatic countries to preserve the ecological integrity of the "South Adriatic Ionian Strait" EBAS site and support marine protected areas.

Project main outputs - Card

Project main outputs

  • Cross-border workshop to showcase conservation measures;
  • Training sessions to educate participants on conservation strategies for priority species and habitats in Natura 2000 sites;
  • Joint testing and implementation of innovative solutions for potential users across the Adriatic region;
  • Joint document outlining the outcomes of concrete actions and providing guidelines to transfer pilot action know-how to other protected areas;
  • Transnational Joint Strategy to enhance management of priority species and habitats in Natura 2000 sites.

About section

About

The ASPEH project addresses biodiversity loss in the Adriatic Area by developing common tools and strategies to preserve natural heritage and landscapes, focusing on key species and habitats protected under EU directives. Partners will create conservation measures, training activities, and awareness campaigns for three target species: Aythya nyroca, Charadrius alexandrinus, and Caretta caretta, along with three habitats, including submerged sea caves and mudflats.

Transnational cooperation is essential for managing Natura 2000 sites and fostering synergies between Italy and Croatia to maintain the ecological integrity of the South Adriatic Ionian Strait, designated as an Ecologically or Biologically Significant Area. The project aims to support the EU's goal of protecting 30% of marine and terrestrial areas by 2030, with a focus on transboundary marine protected areas.

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Lead partner

The Lead partner represents and takes full financial and legal responsibility for the entire partnership.

Management Consortium of Torre Guaceto
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News & Events

  • NEWS
    30/07/2026

    🐢Getting to know Caretta caretta: conservation of a Mediterranean marine species in the Veneto Po Delta Park

    🌊 Along the Adriatic coastline, it is possible to find the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), a species that has inhabited the Mediterranean for millions of years.

    Read more
  • NEWS
    16/07/2026

    🦆 Let’s discover the Ferruginous Duck and its habitat

    🌿 Among the many species that inhabit wetlands, some remain almost invisible to the human eye. The Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) is one of them: a small diving duck that depends on suitable wetland habitats

    Read more
  • NEWS
    02/07/2026

    Inside the Green Cave: exploring the geology of Ravnik Island

    As part of the ASPEH project, the Croatian Geological Survey, with the support of the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Areas in Split-Dalmatia County – Sea and Karst, carried out geological and speleological research on Ravnik Island and in the Green Cave.

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  • NEWS
    18/06/2026

    Coastal vegetation and nature conservation in southern Croatia

    Coastal vegetation, the first natural barrier between land and sea, is showing signs of strain on Korčula, the Pelješac Peninsula and the Elafiti Islands: while rocky shore plant communities remain stable, several characteristic dune species are in decline under growing human pressure.

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  • NEWS
    03/06/2026

    Coastal Squeeze: A Growing Threat to Korčula's Natural Sandy Beaches

    At Bilin Žal and Vela Pržina on Korčula, two of Croatia's few remaining natural sandy beaches, fixed concrete walls are trapping the shoreline between rising seas and built infrastructure, a phenomenon known as coastal squeeze.

    Read more
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