The University of Dubrovnik is proud to announce its participation as a key partner in the Erasmus+ project ‘Educational platform for ecological restoration techniques with artificial reefs in Natura 2000 sites- RestReef”. This innovative project focuses on creating an educational platform for ecological restoration techniques using artificial reefs in Natura 2000 sites. The primary aim is to restore benthic biodiversity within the Reefs EU habitat while addressing climate change and other environmental pressures.

With a total budget of €250,000 and a 24-month duration (2024–2026), RestReef brings together leading institutions from Portugal, Spain, and Croatia, including the University of Porto, CTM, and Just Dive, to foster transnational collaboration and knowledge transfer. At the University of Dubrovnik, members of the Department of Applied ecology are actively involved as project partners. Their main contributions include developing an e-handbook for practical diving activities, hosting an international seminar in Dubrovnik, and co-authoring a scientific publication.

The project’s objectives are ambitious and comprehensive:

-Collection and comparison of European and national information about reef habitats, ecological restoration, and artificial reefs,

-Development of face-to-face training programs to promote participant mobility across the three countries,

– Establishment of learning outcomes focused on using artificial reefs for reef habitat restoration,

-Creation of a transversal and innovative higher education (HE) curriculum, including a specialization program aligned with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS),

– Development of an e-learning platform to support education on reef restoration and integrate results from previous EU projects.

This partnership underscores our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and preserving marine ecosystems.