Aplication of underwater systems and technologies in nature protection

-obligation and possibilitiesClick to edit Master subtitle style

Petra Rodi

27th of March, 2012., Project CURE, IPSIT 2012 , Zagreb

Nature protection

Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary profession, based on theoretical and applied sciences (above all on ecology and conservation biology)

MAIN GOAL: Preservation of diversity of life (biodiversity) Preservation of all natural resources (including geo-diversity)

HOW TO ACHIEVE IT?

Nature protection in Croatia

National Strategy and Action Plan (OG 143/08) Nature Protection Act (OG 70/05; 139/08; 57/11)
protection of all biodiversity, geological and landscape diversity

Incorporating nature proteciton measures in all sectors Ecological networks concept Institutionalization of nature protection Grater public involvement EU legislation in nature protection International Convantions/ Habitat directive Agreemnets Birds directive CBD, BERN, CMS, BARCELONA, What is missing for high quality implementation? ACCOBAMS

Data on Species and Habitats

2003 STATE INSTITUTE FOR NATURE PROTECITON Purpose: expert support to the Ministry:
GATHERING DATA (INVENTORY/MAPPING) ORGANIZATION OF DATA NATURE PROTECION INFORMATION SYSTEM EXPERT ANALYSIS OF DATA

EXPERT OPINIONS AND PROPOSALS OF NATURE PROTECTION MEASURES PREPARATION OF BACKGROUND STUDIES FOR PROTECTION OF SITES PREPARING PROPOSALS FOR ECOLOGICAL NETWORK (NATIONAL AND NATURA 2000) MONITORING EXPERT SUPERVISION AND COOPERATION WITH PIs for MANAGMENT of PROTECTED AREAS

Inventory & monitoring of marine species and habitats Sea represents one of the most important natural resources of Croatia,

and protection of marine biodiversity is one of the strategic goals of NBAP INVENTORY/MAPPING Which and how many species we have? Species distribution and range? Ecology of species? Which habitats do we have? Where are those habitats? Habitat characteristics structure, functions, typical species?

Assessment of conservation status Assessment of vulnerability Proposing protection measures Proposing conservation areas

Support for planning MONITORING TARGETED AREA- WHOLE MARIEN AREA UNDER

How?

Inventory and monitoring of marine species&habitats represents specific challenge Still very scarce data on marine s&h Continuous recearch missing, especially deep-water s&h

We need to map marine habitats in more detail, and priority are habitats important on level of whole Europe and also Mediterranean (Posidonia meadows, coralligene, coastal lagoons...)

Using new inteligent underwater systems and technologies should make this task much easier ?

? ?

Methods: Diving Reserach vessels equipped with different tools (cameras, sonars, probes,..)

How?

Underwater technologies - AUV/ROV besides existing, development pf new methods that would lead to fater and simpler data gathering

Habitat classification Species recognition Asseement of abundance Assessment of density Assessment of coverage ....

Inventory Monitoring

Inspection Defining important sites Research and surveillance of impacts of different

How?

Most common - combination of methods (Tools on research vessels // on AUVs/ROVs //divers ) underwater technology contributes efficiency:

Bigger depth and area can be covered in one trip More efficient use of divers time Possibility of reserach on habitats at grater depths not accessible to divers Longer time for observation of species behaviour in situ, especially at depths not accessible to divers Possibility of access and hihger precision of data on difficult and steep underwater terrain (surface acoustics + ROV cameras)

SINPs activities
Existing habitat map maintainance and update Priority in marine area - NATURA marine s&h (19 species i 8 habitats), but also other s&h important on national and international level

SINPs activities
1)

Vanost auriranih podataka

2)

Gathering existing data through cooperation with scientific and expert institutions, organisations and individuals Specific targeted research/ mapping financed from the State Budget last few years
-

Until now concentrated mostly on NATURA s&h preparing proposal NATURA 2000 ecological netowrk proposal for Croatia Limited financial resources and relatively small nuber of experts

3) 4) 5)

Support to projects of other institutions and organizations Information system development IPA project Identification and setting-up of the merine part of NATURA 2000 in Croatia

SINPs activities

Future:
1)

New projects in cooperation with Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing together with relevant experts on development of new methodologies in research, inventory and monitoring of marine habitats and species Project on detailed mapping of marine habitats in Croatian Adriatic - planned through Structural funds Preparation of national programs and protocols for monitoring of marine habitats and species

2)

3)

Application of inteligent underwater systems and technologies in nature protection

Big potential in research and protection of marine biodiversity Non-destructive methods Enabling closer look on marine biodiversity Rationalisation of time and resources by cooperation between sectors and professions Wide use in Europe and other countries Advanced technologies adapted for wider range of experts

Therefore as much as possible use the potential of inteligent underwater systems and technology in fullfilling obligations in nature protecion CONSERVATION OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY repectively

to be able to use it in future by other sectors that also use underwater technologies

Deepsea Challenger, 25.03.2012.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION