Final event of the SiMaSeed project – Interreg V-A Italy Malta 2014-2020 Program – Catania, 27th October 2021

On 27th October 2021, at the former Conservatorio delle Vergini al Borgo of the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences – University of Catania, the work of the SiMaSeed project “Protecting biodiversity in Sicily – Malta Natura 2000 sites through Seed Banks and population reinforcement, carried out with the financial instrument INTERREG V-A Italia_Malta 2014-2020 were concluded.

The final event, organized by the Germplasm Bank of the University of Catania – project leader, opened with the institutional greetings from the research delegate for the University of Catania, Prof. Giovanni Li Volti, Director of the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Prof. Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo, Coordinator of the Joint Secretariat of the INTERREG V-A Italy-Malta 2014-2020 Program, Dr. Marco Sambataro and the Head of the S.S. ISAFOM of Catania, Dr. Giuseppe Puglia. The participants of the event were the project partners.

Antonia Cristaudo, Coordinator and Scientific Director of the SiMaSeed project, opened the work, introducing the scientific heads of the partnership, Joseph Buhagiar of the University of Malta, Antony Zammit of the Ministry for Gozo, Giancarlo Perrotta of the Department of Rural and Territorial Development – Service 16 for the Syracuse area and the project manager, Letizia Ferlito.

The partners and all the staff illustrated the goals achieved, the actions carried out and the possible future applications.

Sara Magrini, President of the Italian Network of Germplasm Banks (RIBES), was the guest of the meeting, highlighting the key role of Germplasm Banks in the conservation and enhancement of plant diversity.

Bachelor’s and master’s degree students from the University of Catania who were pursuing a training course and an experimental thesis at the laboratories of the Germplasm Bank of Catania also participated in the event.

The meeting also represented an opportunity for discussion with the representatives of the management bodies of protected areas, with whom the partners worked side by side during the implementation of conservation interventions in situ on species and habitats of community interest.

The day ended with a visit to the Germplasm Bank of the University of Catania.

PRESENTATIONS

• SiMaSeed – A European project in the heart of the Mediterranean: conservation actions and future challenges
  Antonia Cristaudo – Scientific director of the project – University of Catania
• SiMaSeed – Habitat restoration in Maltese Natura 2000 sites: actions and challenges
  Joseph Buhagiar – Project focal point – University of Malta
• The activities of the DRSRT in the SiMaSeed project
  Giancarlo Perrotta – Director of Syracuse Service 16 – Department
• The new germplasm bank at the Ministry for Gozo: institutional involvement and repercussions on the territory
  Anthony Zammit, Project focal point – Ministry for Gozo
• From planning to management: the experience of conservation in daily practice
  Letizia Ferlito – Project Manager di SiMaSeed
• From seeds to plants: SiMaSeed enters the nursery
  Carmen Impelluso – University of Catania
• Back home: in situ conservation in areas of the Sicilian Natura 2000 Network
  Maria Castrogiovanni – University of Catania
• “Seeds” for the future: germination protocols of native species of Sicilian flora
  Francesca Carruggio – University of Catania
• Growing indigenous plants for SiMaSeed Natura 2000 sites restoration
  Marco Iannaccone – University of Malta
• Seed Germination protocol & morphocolorimetric analysis of Ferula melitensis, Anagyris foetida, Coronilla valentina and Euphorbia melitensis
  Arthur Lamoliere – University of Malta
• RIBES, an integrated strategy: from conventional methods to modern technologies to improve ex situ conservation
  Sara Magrini – President of RIBES, Italian Network of Germplasm Banks

PROGRAMME