{
  "abstract": "IntroductionPosidonia oceanica meadows are key blue carbon ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea, storing substantial carbon within biomass and underlying sediments. Unregulated recreational anchoring contributes to meadow degradation and may compromise the retention of previously stored carbon. The LIFE SeaForest project (LIFE17 CCM/IT/000121) aimed to reduce carbon losses associated with P. oceanica degradation through integrated management, monitoring, conservation, and restoration actions across three Mediterranean protected coastal areas.MethodsA comprehensive ex-ante accounting framework was developed to estimate anchoring-related potential carbon-stock losses, expressed in CO2-equivalent units, under baseline (business-as-usual) and project scenarios. The methodology considered vessel-size classes and substrate categories associated with P. oceanica (rocky, sandy, and degraded dead matte substrates). Project actions included environmentally friendly mooring systems, sustainable anchoring management plans, and regulation of recreational boating through a dedicated digital user platform.ResultsOver the ten-year accounting period, cumulative Net Emission Reductions (NERs) exceeded 5,000 tCO2eq across the three project areas. This value represents net avoided potential carbon-stock loss, rather than directly quantified atmospheric CO2 emissions, and identifies a potential SeaForest credit volume subject to monitoring, verification, and certification.DiscussionThe proposed framework represents one of the first structured ex-ante approaches for estimating potential blue carbon credits from conservation measures that reduce anchoring impacts in Mediterranean P. oceanica meadows. Although further validation and long-term monitoring are needed, the SeaForest approach provides a potentially replicable framework for blue carbon initiatives, sustainable coastal management, and climate-mitigation policies in the Mediterranean region.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology, Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Port of Civitavecchia, Civitavecchia, RM, Italy",
    "CMCC Foundation–Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, Lecce, Italy",
    "ISPRA Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Rome, Italy",
    "CarbonSink Group S.r.l., Milan, Italy",
    "Institute for the Study of Anthropic Impact and Sustainability in the Marine Environment (IAS), National Research Council (CNR), Torregrande, OR, Italy",
    "DREAM Italia soc. coop., Pratovecchio Stia, AR, Italy",
    "Ente Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena, La Maddalena, SS, Italy",
    "Ente Parco Nazionale dell’Asinara – Area Marina Protetta, Porto Torres, SS, Italy",
    "Ente Parco Nazionale del Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni, Vallo della Lucania, SA, Italy",
    "0Department for Innovation in Biological, Agri-Food and Forestry Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 18,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Simone Bonamano"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Simone Bonamano"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Matteo Bellotta"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Marina Pulcini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Silvia Maltese"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Michele Rumiz"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Simone Simeone"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Fabio Antognarelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Mariasole Galfrè"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Alice Madonia"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Arianna Resnati"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Giulio Ermenegildo Maria Plastina"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Aldo Zanello"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Francesco De Luca"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        9
      ],
      "name": "Riccardo Valentini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Marcello Miozzo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Marco Marcelli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Marco Marcelli"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/49mtsyfth9s6a.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fmars.2026.1910928",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1910928/full",
  "id": "49mtsyfth9s6a",
  "issns": [
    "2296-7745"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1910928",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "Q"
    ],
    [
      "lcc",
      "QH1-199.5"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1910|Marine and coastal plant biology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224671984",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2026.1910928/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media S.A.",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/49mtsyfth9s6a.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T14:22:28Z",
      "native_id": "0964257df7c24333af36f6edaa47a10c",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2026.1910928"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "openalex:1910|Marine and coastal plant biology",
      "subfield": "oceanography"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Generating blue carbon credits through conservation of Posidonia oceanica: experience from the LIFE SeaForest project",
  "title_text": "Generating blue carbon credits through conservation of Posidonia oceanica: experience from the LIFE SeaForest project",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T14:22:28Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/49mtsyfth9s6a",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Marine Science",
  "versions": []
}