Conservation of the worlds natural resources and ecosystems is a crucial method in the longevity of humanity and its economies. Without protection crucial ecosystems such as forest and bays could be completely of tree’s and fish which could cause devastating affects to the environment and human economies. Luckily conservation is becoming much more popular is nations around the world. A great example of conservation is the MPA (marine protected area) of Punta Campanella. Punta Campanella is nestled right on the Amalfi coast of Italy which is a very popular international tourism spot. Due to its geography and biodiversity the MPA of Punta Campanella has many unique characteristics that I will present to you today.
Bountiful Biodiversity
The Mediterranean sea has many characteristics that make it unlike any other sea in the world. It is almost entirely enclosed by land with only a small straight connecting it to the Atlantic Ocean. This means that many species found here are only found in the Mediterranean and nowhere else. The Mediterranean is also much saltier and has a higher nutrient density than the open ocean. This high level of nutrients is what allows it to be so biodiverse. The Mediterranean contains 8% of all marine species despite only containing 1% of Earths water. This incredible level of Marine productivity and biodiversity is what makes these waters so special, which also means we must do everything possible to conserve this incredible sea.
2. Punta Campanella
As stated in the introduction Punta Campanella is a great example of a conservation success story. The Marine Protected Area of Punta Campanella is located between two important gulfs, the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno. It was established in 1997, spanning an extension of 31 km with a total area of 1539 ha. The entire park officially opened to the public in 2002 and has been a massive success. Not only has the conservation efforts restored much of the lost biodiversity, but MPA welcomes thousands of tourist every year and teaches visitors that humans and beautiful ecosystems can exist together in a happy medium.
3. Diversity of Ieranto bay
One of the most important places in the MPA of Punta Campanella is Ieranto bay. The bay is under level B conservation which means human activities are limited to swimming, kayaking, and hiking. This makes Ieranto bay an excellent place to do outdoor activities and experience the natural world in its purest form. This increased conservation has allowed massive returns in biodiversity. In six years of monitoring Ieranto 271 total species have been discovered with more being discovered each year. With all data collected in these years, the species found in the bay can be divided into 3 groups, with Invertebrates representing more than 50% of the species (55.7%) and Vertebrates and Plantae representing together the other 50% (24.0% and 20.3%, respectively).
4. Quarry Qualms
Ieranto bay was formerly a quarry where limestone was excavated. It functioned as a quarry from 1925-1952 until it was sold by its owner to the Italian Environmental Fund (FAI) in 1986. The area that was mined for Limestone is still quite barren today as Mediterranean vegetation is very slow growing. As seen in the picture above a chunk of the mountain is completely gone, leaving a big crater in the park. However increased conservation of this area of the park has led to accelerated returns of vegetation despite its slow growing nature.
5. Unique Geography
The mountainous structure of Ieranto bay allows for incredible biodiversity. The mountains cause some areas to be very shaded while some receive direct sunlight. This causes the sunny areas to host incredible plant life, most notably seagrasses and red algae. The less sunny areas typically have less plant life and unique species of algae that can survive with minimal sunlight. This is important because it is very rare to see these rocky coastal environments right next to a seagrass meadow.
In conclusion the marine protected area of Punta Campanella has various geologic, anthropic, and hydrologic features that make it incredibly unique. The incredible biodiversity, location, and views make it one of the best places on earth for outdoor adventure. However, the large human presence in the area have caused significant degradation of marine habitats and biodiversity. Luckily places like Ieranto Bay have increased regulation to protect ecosystems will still encouraging human visitors. I definitely recommend a visit to Ieranto to anyone interested in a beautiful day of outdoor adventures!
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