POSIDONIA OCEANICA:
THE MEDITERRANEAN’S UNDERWATER
FORESTS
Endemic seagrass (not an alga) covering ≈ 1.2 M ha
Biodiversity hotspot > 1,000 species
Blue-carbon powerhouse 10 – 15 t CO2 ha−1 yr−1
Ecosystem services water clarity, sediment & coastline
defence
2 – 5 % meadow loss/year
(trawling, anchoring, pollution, climate)
2,000 m3/km of banquette/storm – up to 2,500 t wet
biomass on Tyrrhenian beaches.
93 kg/m3 of sediment lost → 1,700 m3 beach deficit.
≈ 40 t blue carbon/year removed
Classified as special waste (D.Lgs 152/06) → € 0.9/kg
landfill fee ARPAT (2024)
BEACHED POSIDONIA BANQUETTES: FROM ECOLOGICAL ALLY TO COASTAL WASTE
OUR CHALLENGE: UPGRADING “SPECIAL WASTE” INTO A CIRCULARMICRO-BIOREFINERY