Monitoring transitional environments in protected areas: biodiversity, habitats and ecosystem services
In the framework of Erasmus+, University of Patras and the Department of Biology organized a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) entitled “Monitoring transitional environments in protected areas: biodiversity, habitats and ecosystem services”. It is essentially a short program with a specific theme that combines physical movement and a virtual dimension.
In this program, the University of Patras serves as the Coordinating Institution, and the partners are: 1. the University of Cagliari (Italy), represented by 8 graduate students and Dr. Mauro Fois, and 2. the University of Primorska (Slovenia), represented by 5 graduate students and Professor Ziva Fiser. Professor Carolina Sanchez from the University of Malaga (Spain) participated in the online lectures. From the Department of Biology, graduate students from the Master’s Program in “Applied Ecology and Environmental Management” participated in the program.
The plan includes:
- May – July 2026: Online lectures and training involving fieldwork, with in-person sessions from May 10–16, 2026, at the University of Patras and the Department of Biology, for students from Italy, Slovenia, and Greece (graduate students in the “Applied Ecology & Environmental Management” of the Department of Biology).
- 10-16 of May 2026: In-person training and fieldwork: Graduate students from Italy and Slovenia came to Greece, to the University of Patras and the Department of Biology and initially visited the Zoological and Botanical Museums of the Department of Biology and the Paleontology Laboratory of the Department of Geology at the University of Patras. This was followed by Training and fieldwork alongside graduate students from the Master’s Program in “Applied Ecology & Environmental Management” of the Department of Biology, at the National Parks of Amvrakikos Lagoon, of Kotychi – Strofylia Lagoons, and of Mesolonghi-Aitoliko Lagoons, where the following took place: a. a guided tour and briefing by the heads of the Management Units, b. a briefing on the rich biodiversity, monitoring of the conservation status of ecosystems, and populations of rare species by the responsible professors, and c. the collection of samples. Two laboratory exercises related to data analysis were also conducted in the Biology Department’s computer lab.
The coordinator of the Εrasmus+ BIP “Monitoring transitional environments in protected areas: biodiversity, habitats and ecosystem services”
Maria Panitsa
Professor, Department of Biology, University of Patras
