Summer Schools 2024: Ocean Literacy from the Tremiti Islands to Malmö via the Dolomites

In the past month, the UNESCO-IOC Ocean Literacy team organized three initiatives to strengthen youth empowerment, capacity building, international collaboration, and awareness of the ocean’s fragility.

They highlighted the ocean’s importance for human health and the planet. A healthy ocean is crucial for our well-being: it produces between 50-80% of the planet’s oxygen, regulates the climate, and provides food and employment for 3 billion people..

The ocean’s water cycle feeds the planet’s glaciers, a vital resource for terrestrial ecosystems. By recognizing the interconnections between our daily lives and the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems, we can better appreciate their importance and work to preserve their health for future generations.

Save the Wave Summer School

The first initiative focused on the regeneration of Posidonia oceanica meadows: this seagrass, which is endemic to the Mediterranean, is protected at the European level by the Habitat Directive. The Summer School was organized at the Marine Protected Area of the Tremiti Islands, in southern Italy, in collaboration with the University of Bari and E.ON. The Save the Wave project aims to regenerate marine ecosystems through conservation and education actions. Particular attention is given to the meadows of Posidonia oceanica, as they offer various ecosystem services: from coastal erosion protection to wave motion contrast and water column purification, as well as acting as a nursery for various marine organisms. Posidonia meadows are biodiversity hotspots, and at the same time, important stores of atmospheric carbon. However, seagrass meadows face a series of threats: boat anchoring, and a rise both in water temperatures and sea levels are altering their delicate ecological balance.

In response, UNESCO and partners have mobilized to promote preservation and regeneration. For the Summer School on Ecosystem Regeneration and Ocean Literacy, 15 young international professionals were selected to engage with experts. They learned various regeneration methods, promoted knowledge exchange, and enhanced the skills required by the sector. One main objective was to work on communication skills and promote collaboration between the scientific, political, and community sectors.

From the Dolomites to the Sea

In parallel, the event “Water Resource; from the Dolomites to the Sea” was held at the Galassi Mountain Refuge in the Dolomites. The event was organized by the Municipality of Venice in collaboration with the CAI (Italian Alpine Club), the CNR (National Research Council of Italy), the UNESCO Regional Office for Science and Culture in Europe and the IOC, the Dolomites UNESCO Foundation, and Europe Direct Venezia Veneto of the Municipality of Venice. The event worked to raise awareness of the importance of water as a resource, focusing on the best water management practices that contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 6: (Clean Water) and 14 (Life Below Water).

Water plays a crucial role in agriculture and industry and is fundamental for ecosystem health. The water cycle, which begins with snowfall in the mountains, demonstrates the interconnectedness of planetary systems. Water vapor rises from the sea, cools in the air, returns to land as snow, melts, flows into rivers, sustains ecosystems, and finally returns to the sea. This cycle highlights the importance of preserving our water resources and conserving mountainous regions. Recognizing the vital role of water in our lives and ecosystems, we can work towards sustainable management practices.

In this context, the Ocean Literacy team brought five students from Ca’ Foscari University to the mountains as part of Young Blue Minds, an initiative dedicated to networking and among young ocean professionals. The goal was to empower young people to advocate for water conservation through experiential learning. Through presentations, discussions, and workshops with experts, the young participants developed innovative storytelling initiatives, identifying water resource issues and highlighting possible solutions.

EU4Ocean Summer School in Malmö, Sweden

Finally, with support from the European Commission DG Mare, and within the framework of the EU4Ocean program, the City of Malmö, Marint Kunskap Center, and the World Maritime University, another Summer School was organized on Ocean Literacy and nature-based solutions for the Baltic Sea and North Sea areas.

The programme involved 20 participants from 16 countries and with a range of backgrounds from engineering to maritime law, ecology, education, and history. The participants were enthusiastic about the “northern cousin” of Posidonia, Zostera marina, a marine plant endemic to colder climates, and found worldwide. The speakers organized interactive workshops to stimulate participants’ creativity to the maximum in a collaborative environment. The topics covered included empathy, storytelling, urban planning as a tool to reconnect people with the ocean and to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis, with an examination of case studies and best practices from around the region.

Beyond knowledge exchange, one of the most significant outcomes was the enthusiasm generated among participants, stemming from the bonds they formed and an awareness of their common ambition to preserve the marine environment, as well as a shared recognition that achieving ambitious goals requires collaboration across different sectors and forms of expertise.

The growing Ocean Literacy community sees young professionals as increasingly-relevant protagonists in our efforts to achieve the ocean we need for the future we want.

Cover photo: Participants at the EU4Ocean Summer School in Malmö, Sweden.