Seabirds to Seascapes, the world’s largest port-based marine ecosystem restoration initiative – an initiative led by the New South Wales Department of Planning and the Environment – ​​has announced that the State of New South Wales Receives $6.6 million in funding from the government.

Restoration of the project, which is the biggest element of From seabirds to seascapes The initiative will focus on Sydney Harbor and will receive $4.5 million in funding. The project restoration is led by the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), an innovative and collaborative marine science hub between UNSW Sydney, UTS, University of Sydney and Macquarie University. SIMS has over 100 scientists and graduate students representing a wide range of skills in marine science.

SIMS anticipates that the project will have a significant research impact, with an implementation strategy that includes communicating remediation processes and results on ferries that pass through Sydney Harbour. Extending current engagement with the community (both as citizen scientists and volunteers) to other diverse stakeholders. Formally document environmental, economic and social impacts from the start of a project.

SIMS CEO Martina Doblin said:

“Restoration of marine ecosystems on such a large scale is seldom attempted and Sydney Harbor will serve as an example of how seascape restoration works globally.”

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The project also aims to enhance NSW’s natural environment by restoring key ecosystems and habitats within Sydney Harbour. It covers the critically endangered Posidonia australis and the protected and endangered species that provide the habitat for giant seahorses, little penguins, green sea turtles, pipefish and sea dragons.

Professor Adriana Verges, UNSW Department of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) said:

“We focus on restoring kelp beds and endangered seagrass meadows, while restoring artificial habitats using living seawalls and fish habitats using seahorse hotels. We plan to work with colleagues who are focused on the restoration of , and we hope to see meaningful synergies and enhanced restoration by restoring all of these habitats at the same time and in the same location.”

Livings Seawalls is a global project that uses new ecological engineering methods to transform built structures into their former natural marine environments.

read more: Help the kelp: global movement to restore underwater forests

“Project Restore also includes a major science communication and community engagement component. This includes hands-on opportunities for people to participate in restoration. People learn more about their local marine environment. I think that’s great because we want to do that, and if we all work together, we can achieve a lot more,” explains Professor Verges.

Dr. Mariana Mayer Pinto, also from BEES, said: both nature and humans. ”

The project will be conducted in three phases, beginning with seascape restoration suitability modeling, followed by site selection, ground work, and evaluation of restoration results. Knowledge gained from Project Restore can be applied to other degraded habitats in NSW and even abroad.