15/01/2019

Daniele GRECH, FALLATI L., FARINA S., GUALA I.

Abstract

Mapping and monitoring of marine habitats are crucial tools for coastal management and the
implementation of conservation measures. CARLIT index is based on the cartography of littoral
assemblages and their sensitivity to changes of environmental conditions. It has been widely
tested and applied in the Mediterranean Sea since its introduction in 2007, to assess the
ecological status of water bodies within the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Sinis coast
(Sardinia, Western Mediterranean) comprises Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre MPA,
being a poorly inhabited and almost devoid of man-made structures. The methodology was for
the first time applied in 2008, representing the first application in Sardinia and among the first
ever. In 2018, we re-monitored the same coastline coupling a drone technology integration of the
classic methodology. The aim of the study was to compare the ecological status 10 years later
and to develop a GIS database with more detailed information respect to previous data that will
be available at high resolution for future monitoring and developments (e.g. coverage, DTM).
Data were gathered by boat or by walking along the coast and high-resolution images were
acquired by a commercial drone, elaborated using Structure from Motion (SfM) technique and
georeferenced. CARLIT revealed an overall stability of ecological status of water bodies 10 years
later, with some slight differences along restricted stretches of coast. The implementation of high
resolution GIS based mapping of littoral habitats will allow to obtain more detailed data on the
vertical zonation and extent of the most abundant assemblages. Furthermore, the drone
technology will represent even more a historical baseline to follow temporal dynamics of marine
vegetation, for both the early detection of native species regression and the spreading of non-
indigenous one.

UNEP/MAP – SPA/RAC, 2019