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FORSTERK-Forsterkningsmidler

Maximizing long-term impacts and synergies of H2020 SponGES

Awarded: NOK 1.0 mill.

Project Manager:

Project Number:

309213

Project Period:

2020 - 2024

Funding received from:

Location:

The North Atlantic encompasses a variety of vulnerable sponge-dominated deep-sea ecosystems that are delivering key supporting, regulating, and provisioning goods and services. However, the impacts from established and emerging human activities, as well as climate change, have over such ecosystems are largely unknown. The occurrence of these ecosystems in fjords, on continental shelves and on seamounts and mid-ocean ridges, often coincides with fishing and other human activities. Until now sponge grounds have received relatively little research and conservation attention. In view of closing this knowledge gap, the EU H2020 project SponGES was implemented. The main objective of SponGES was to develop an integrated ecosystem-based approach to preserve and sustainably use vulnerable sponge ecosystems of the North Atlantic. SponGES outputs form the basis for modelling and predicting future ecosystem dynamics under environmental change, thereby enabling conservation and sustainable management of these marine resources at regional and international levels. Now that SponGES is closed, "SponGES Legacy" will aid in ensuring that SponGES results are made fully available and used by Norwegian stakeholders, management bodies and industry beyond the project period of SponGES. The project support will also ensure that the project lead can keep and use the momentum to expand on collaborations and to create further synergies with national and international institutions and a range of end-users. Giving travel support to young investigators from SponGES will give them some security and enable them to present their SponGES data and results, and in combination with tailored information sessions and printed material, long-term visibility and use of the already very successful Norway-coordinated H2020 project will be secured.

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The North Atlantic encompasses a variety of vulnerable sponge-dominated deep-sea ecosystems that are delivering key supporting, regulating, and provisioning goods and services. However, the impacts from established and emerging human activities, as well as climate change, have over such ecosystems are largely unknown. The occurrence of these ecosystems in fjords, on continental shelves and on seamounts and mid-ocean ridges, often coincides with fishing and other human activities. Until now sponge grounds have received relatively little research and conservation attention. In view of closing this knowledge gap, the EU H2020 project SponGES was implemented. The main objective of SponGES has been to develop an integrated ecosystem-based approach to preserve and sustainably use vulnerable sponge ecosystems of the North Atlantic. SponGES outputs will form the basis for modelling and predicting future ecosystem dynamics under environmental change, thereby enabling conservation and sustainable management of these marine resources at regional and international levels. Now that SponGES is entering its last year, "SponGES Leacy" will aid in ensuring that SponGES results are made fully available and uptaken by Norwegian stakeholders, management bodies and industry beyond the project period of SponGES. The project support will also ensure that the project lead can keep and use the momentum to expand on collaborations and to create further synergies with national and international institutions and a range of end-users. Giving travels support to young investigators from SponGES will give them some security and enable them to present their SponGES data and results, and in combination with tailored information sessions and printed material, long-term visibility and use of a already very successful Norway-coordinated H2020 project will be secured.

Funding scheme:

FORSTERK-Forsterkningsmidler

Funding Sources