The environmental organization iSea, in collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological Society and the Municipality of Lemnos, has launched an ambitious project to restore the Eastern Mediterranean’s largest marine meadow—a 140-square-kilometer Posidonia sanctuary off the coast of Lemnos, widely known as the region’s “Amazon.”
This massive underwater ecosystem serves as a vital carbon sink, holding over 270,000 tons of stored carbon dioxide and effectively absorbing the annual emissions produced by the vehicles of an entire small city.
To mark World Environment Day 2026, the project partners are celebrating the completion of the initiative’s pilot phase under the “Reviving Lemnos” program, which successfully transplanted more than 250 posidonia shoots.
A Vital Marine Ecosystem
Posidonia oceanica is not an algae, but a flowering marine plant (seagrass) that forms dense underwater meadows. These meadows act as a crucial sanctuary for an abundance of marine life. While most people recognize it from the long, brown “seaweed” leaves that wash ashore, its true value lies beneath the surface.
The Lemnos marine meadow thrives at depths of up to 30 meters and stretches over 20 kilometers long, extending beyond the boundaries of the Natura 2000 Protected Area and into international waters. According to data from iSea, this single ecosystem hosts more than 66 species of marine organisms.
Looking Ahead: The “Reviving Lemnos” Project
During this pilot phase, the transplanted shoots have been secured inside protective metal cages to shield them until they mature, and they will remain under close scientific monitoring.
This initial phase sets the foundation for a much larger effort: restoring more than 10,000 posidonia rhizomes across a 400-square-meter area over the coming years.
“The knowledge gained from monitoring this pilot application will provide a valuable roadmap for completing our restoration actions and ensuring the long-term success of ecosystem conservation in Lemnos,” said Nikoletta Sidiropoulou, Project Manager at iSea.
The “Reviving Lemnos” project is one of seven large-scale initiatives funded by the international Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme.
Related: Posidonia Seagrass Meadows in Greece Reveal their Secrets
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