Greece - Marine and Coastal Conservation

The project studies the Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and the sand dunes along south-east Kefalonia, categorised as vulnerable on the Red List.

Seagrass meadows are a larger carbon sink than the rainforest and play a critical role in mitigating climate change. They form an important ecosystem, providing vital habitats and nursery grounds for turtles, fish and lots of other marine life and organisms.

Sand dunes and their vegetation form coastal protection and a defence between sea and land and are a specialised ecosystem for many species including nesting turtles and rare dune vegetation. The dunes are under threat from development and climate change leading to degradation and erosion.

Volunteers support the work of the local conservation team and split the majority of their time between exploring the seagrass meadows and understanding the extensive dune systems. While surveying these areas, volunteers will document the flora and fauna, create topographies, and understand pressures both ecosystems face.

Volunteer tasks include:

In-water snorkelling surveys of the seagrass meadows - capturing geotagged photos of seagrass meadows
Assessment of seagrass meadows and geotagged photos to classify the sea floor
Sand dune habitat surveys, species identification and vegetation studies
Sand dune litter surveys - recording and collecting litter and debris
Data review and entry to databases
Drone surveys – assisting the team’s drone pilot and reviewing drone footage to identify threats and problems
You will get involved with hands-on research that will allow you to demonstrate standard scientific methodology that can be used in the field. You will learn about the importance of the ecosystems, current climate concerns and the impact these can have on both marine and terrestrial environments.

The seagrass meadow research is carried out by snorkelling on the surface of the sea, wearing a life jacket, in waters of up to 8 metres deep. Volunteers are monitored by a safety supervisor on a paddleboard and snorkel shifts will only take place in suitable sea and weather conditions. Surveying involves in-water photographic surveys, and recording GPS, depths and other properties of the sea environment.

You should be a confident swimmer who has tried snorkelled before. You should also be comfortable riding a bicycle, as this is the way you will travel to the beaches - the bikes are a great way to get around and explore the island!