The capacity building activities of the EFFICIENTN2k project continue!
18/07/2024
Following the specialized seminar held in Split last May 23 by Sunce, the project partners met in Ugento for two days of capacity building at the Visitor Center of the Regional Natural Park “Litorale di Ugento”.
Strengthening Institutional Collaboration on Surveillance and Enforcement in Coastal and Marine Natura 2000 sites
The event, titled “Strengthening Institutional Collaboration on Surveillance and Enforcement in Coastal and Marine Natura 2000 sites”, took place on July 9 and 10. It focused on the use of advanced and innovative technologies in the surveillance and management of marine and coastal areas, part of the Natura 2000 network.
Training the participants and enhancing their knowledge on the use of new technologies to increase the level of surveillance in protected natural areas was the main objective of these two days of work, with a particular focus on drone piloting. These devices, purchased by the Management Consortium of the Regional Natural Park “Litorale di Ugento”, are equipped with accessories for precision photogrammetry, fire detection, and territorial monitoring, proving to be essential for addressing the pressures that threaten these areas.
The agenda was rich and well-structured.
The first day of activities opened with welcome greetings from the Mayor of Ugento, Salvatore Chiga, and the Director of the Park, Giuseppe Scordella. Interesting speeches from representatives of important protected marine areas in Puglia, including Alessandro Mariggiò, the Director of the “Litorale Tarantino Orientale” Regional Nature Reserve, and Luciana Muscogiuri, Marine Biologist and Senior Project Manager at the Marine Protected Area of Torre Guaceto, opened the session dedicated to presenting innovative solutions adopted and to be adopted to improve surveillance systems in protected natural areas. This was followed by a field visit to the Ugento Coastal Regional Natural Park to discover the Park's surveillance system.
Second Day
The second day of the capacity building activity saw the active participation of the attendees. Dedicated to practical field exercises on the use of drones, the participants had the opportunity to experience firsthand the use of drones and to understand how a surveillance and monitoring system based on these innovative technologies works. The practical sessions, which concluded with an exam aimed at obtaining a certification, provided all participants with important skills and technical knowledge essential for improving the surveillance systems of protected marine and coastal areas and efficiently responding to the pressures that occur and damage natural areas.
Outcomes
Thanks to the project’s contribution, as many as 9 certifications were acquired by the designated institutional staff, thus equipping the Ugento Municipal Police and the municipal administration with advanced tools for constant territorial monitoring.
For the event, the Municipality of Ugento was pleased to welcome representatives from various Croatian entities, including Matea Špika from Sunce, Dominik Mihaljević from National Park, Laura Ključe from Dubrovnik Neretva County, and Boris Gavrić from Split Dalmatia County, demonstrating the importance of cross-border collaboration in protecting natural areas.
At the end of these meaningful days of capacity building, the Municipality of Ugento once again emphasized its determination to continue and strengthen cross-border collaboration within the EFFICIENTN2K project with the aim of overcoming common challenges and achieving common goals. The success of these training days represents an important step forward in the sustainable and efficient management of marine and coastal areas and their protection, through the promotion and use of innovative technologies for environmental conservation.
