LIFE terrAmare is a large-scale European project focusing on the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of coastal dune and marine habitats within the Natura 2000 network in Italy and Greece. The project addresses the increasing environmental pressures affecting Mediterranean coastal ecosystems, including tourism, urbanization, invasive alien plant species, coastal erosion, and biodiversity degradation. The project aims to improve the conservation status of key coastal habitats, including dune ecosystems and Posidonia oceanica meadows, through coordinated restoration activities, citizen engagement, awareness actions, and sustainable management practices. LIFE terrAmare promotes the creation of “Ecological Beach Communities” (EBCs), involving local authorities, citizens, researchers, tourism operators, and environmental organizations in collaborative habitat protection and monitoring activities. The project includes interventions across multiple Natura 2000 sites in Italy and Greece, targeting the restoration and long-term protection of ecologically important coastal habitats and species. In parallel, the project develops educational activities, dissemination campaigns, and digital tools to support citizen science and public participation. FORTH-ICS contributes to the project through the design and development of digital tools and services supporting citizen engagement, biodiversity observation, habitat monitoring, and environmental awareness. In particular, FORTH-ICS is responsible for the development and deployment of a mobile application supporting biodiversity recording, citizen science activities, ecological beach information services, and public interaction with coastal environmental data. More specifically, the project objectives include: • Restoration and conservation of coastal dune habitats and Posidonia oceanica ecosystems within Natura 2000 protected areas • Reduction and management of invasive alien plant species affecting Mediterranean coastal ecosystems • Promotion of sustainable tourism practices and environmental awareness among local communities and visitors • Establishment of Ecological Beach Communities for participatory environmental stewardship • Development of educational material, citizen science initiatives, and biodiversity observation activities • Design and deployment of digital platforms and mobile applications supporting environmental monitoring and citizen participation • Dissemination and replication of best practices across Mediterranean coastal regions
