Discover, Participate, and Connect through Citizen Science: BlueMissionMed and Natura 2000

WHERE: Marine Protected Area “Plemmirio”, Syracuse, Italy
WHEN: 3-4 July 2025

On 3-4 July 2025, the conference “Communicating Natura 2000 – The Network that Protects, the Story that Engages”, held within the framework of the LIFE A-Mar Natura2000 project and promoted by LIPU and Regione Siciliana, brought together experts, educators, and communicators to exchange ideas on citizen engagement in nature conservation.

BlueMissionMed was among the organisers of the event, actively contributing to the delivery of key contents and training activities. The project showcased its commitment to fostering environmental stewardship through participatory science, particularly in the context of the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030”.

During the session on July 3, BlueMissionMed’s presentation “The Citizen Science Methodology: Discover, Participate, and Connect to the Territory” highlighted impactful initiatives such as “Piccoli Grandi Scienziati e Cittadini Crescono”, developed in collaboration with CNR and other national and international stakeholders, showcasing how participatory science can actively involve citizens, schools, and institutions in the protection and valorisation of Natura 2000 sites. The initiative engages schools and local communities in river and biodiversity monitoring, demonstrating how citizen science can raise awareness and generate valuable data. The session also discussed the use of River Contracts as participatory governance tools to strengthen civic involvement in environmental protection.

BlueMissionMed’s contribution was part of a broader session dedicated to communication and engagement strategies, including environmental education, territorial interpretation, and social media outreach.

On July 4, the project led a hands-on workshop on Citizen Science where participants, guided by BlueMissionMed facilitator Gloria Consoli, designed their own citizen science projects inspired by real-life Natura 2000 case studies.

The event reaffirmed the central role of citizen participation in achieving the goals of the EU Mission and emphasized the Mediterranean as a key testing ground for scalable, community-based environmental innovation.

Full programme available here: Workshop Programme – Communicating Natura 2000 (PDF)