Peter Stæhr1, Federica Montesanto1
1Aarhus University, Denmark
Over the last century, more than 55 km2 of boulder reefs have been removed by stone fishermen in Danish seas. These temperate reefs provide essential habitats for a range of marine organisms, and large-scale restoration efforts are therefore being planned. Here we present a spatial decision support tool which is being applied to assess the suitability of areas for restoration of boulder reefs in Danish seas. The tool involves screening of suitable sites in relation to several physical, environmental and historical conditions as well as information on marine area management. The tool is a first important step in the successful restoration of boulder reefs and estimates the gained ecosystem ser-vices of the planned restoration activities.
Biography
Trained as a marine ecologist with expertise in effects of human pressures on the distribution of species and habitats in marine coastal environments and their importance for ecosystem functioning including transformation and storage of carbon and nutrients. Active partner of a Danish national center for marine restoration.