The Interreg Euro-MED project ARTEMIS took part on 30 January in the webinar “Nature Credits for the EU’s Coastal and Marine Ecosystems”, organised by the European Commission as part of the consultation process on the future Nature Credits Roadmap.
The session focused specifically on coastal and marine ecosystems, with the aim of reviewing existing experiences, analysing which approaches are working, and advancing the definition of transparent criteria and methodologies to ensure the integrity of future nature credits, both on the supply and demand sides.
During the event, the European Commission noted that 225 contributions had been received in response to the Roadmap consultation. ARTEMIS has also contributed to this process by sharing its perspective on the role that nature credits can play in mobilising finance for the restoration and conservation of seagrass meadows. para movilizar financiación hacia la restauración y conservación de las praderas marinas.
The project was presented by Arnaud Terisse, Biodiversity Programme Officer at Plan Bleu ARTEMIS coordinator, who highlighted the work carried out to build a credible, robust and investable pathway to scale up seagrass restoration in Europe.
During his presentation, Terisse introduced the project’s four pilot sites —Crete in Greece, Monfalcone and Sardinia in Italy, adn Menorca in Spain— as real-world testing grounds for restoration approaches, governance models and innovative financing mechanisms.
One of ARTEMIS’ core objectives is to demonstrate that seagrass restoration can be scaled up through additional financing linked to payments for ecosystem services and nature credit schemes. To this end, the project combines ecological science, natural capital accounting, economic valuation, stakeholder engagement and the design of financial instruments capable of attracting investment into marine restoration.
Among its expected results, ARTEMIS aims to provide knowledge and practical tools for designing robust seagrass restoration projects, identifying long-term financing options, supporting companies and investors in integrating marine ecosystem services into their portfolios, and strengthening communication on the ecological, climate and socio-economic benefits of these ecosystems.
Through its participation in this webinar, ARTEMIS contributes to the European debate on future nature credits and highlights the strategic role of blue carbon ecosystems, such as seagrass meadows, in advancing biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation and the resilience of coastal communities.
More information about Interreg Euro-MED ARTEMIS project:
https://artemis.interreg-euro-med.eu/
