The ARTEMIS project played a central role in the first-ever Greek Seagrass Forum, held at the French Institute of Greece in Athens from 28 to 30 April. The event was organised by partners of the Greek Islands Seagrass Alliance (GISA) programme and marked a milestone for marine conservation in Greece.
ARTEMIS projet partners The Green Tank and HCMR at Greek Seagrass Forum | Athens 28-30 April 2026
As a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Forum brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including leading Greek scientists, public authorities, local government representatives, civil society organisations, and private sector actors. The shared objective was to strengthen collaboration and advance concrete solutions for the conservation of seagrass meadows, with a particular focus on Posidonia oceanica, a vital Mediterranean habitat.
ARTEMIS actively supported the implementation of the Forum and was strongly represented through its partners, The Green Tank and Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR). Their contributions highlighted the urgent need to upscale policies and deploy effective tools to support the restoration of Posidonia oceanica across the Mediterranean.
On the second day, Dimitra Syrou contributed to the session titled “Social Participation, Impact & Civil Society Actions.” She presented a policy proposal aimed at advancing the practical implementation of Posidonia restoration. This proposal was co-developed with the Seagrass Ecology Laboratory of HCMR’s Institute of Oceanography and is grounded in scientific evidence, as well as in collaboration, knowledge exchange, and experience-sharing among authorities, stakeholders, and civil society actors.
ARTEMIS | Dimitra Syrou at Greek Seagrass Forum | Athens 28-30 April 2026
The third day featured a closed working session co-organised by The Green Tank and HCMR, in collaboration with the Cyclades Preservation Fund and WWF Greece. Discussions focused on strengthening the institutional framework for seagrass protection, addressing key challenges such as anchoring impacts and restoration strategies. The session also facilitated an exchange of views on policy proposals—an area that forms a core component of the ARTEMIS project under the leadership of The Green Tank.
The Forum concluded with a dedicated session on “Funding Sources and Priorities for Posidonia,” which explored available financial instruments and identified key investment needs to support protection and restoration efforts, as well as to mobilise resources for safeguarding seagrass ecosystems. Among the topics discussed, Ioli Christopoulou highlighted innovative mechanisms such as Posidonia credits, which are also being developed within the ARTEMIS project, as new opportunities to support conservation financing.
ARTEMIS | Ioli Chritopoulou at the Greek Seagrass Forum | Athens 28-30 April 2026
The first Greek Seagrass Forum marked a significant step forward in bringing together science, policy, and practice to address the urgent need for seagrass protection in Greece and across the Mediterranean. By fostering dialogue among public authorities, researchers, civil society, and the private sector, the Forum laid the groundwork for stronger, more coordinated action. Initiatives like ARTEMIS demonstrate how collaborative approaches can translate knowledge into concrete solutions advancing restoration efforts, strengthening policy frameworks, and unlocking innovative financing mechanisms.
Want to go further? Explore our latest reports and reference documents below.
ARTEMIS First Peer Learning Session
ARTEMIS Second Peer Learning Session
STATE OF ART REPORT ON MARKET BASED INSTRUMENTS FOR BOOSTING SEAGRASS RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
