WG6 activities
The MAF-WORLD COST Action organised the training school on “Bridging Ecology and Economics: valuation and restoration of Animal Forests” as part of WG6 activities
Aims and rationale: Animal forests are well known as ecosystem capable of enhancing biodiversity, regulatingbiogeochemical cycles, and supporting fisheries and tourism. However, they remain underrepresented in economic assessments and marine policy, often limiting effective conservation and restoration efforts. To address this gap, this summer school is designed to provide an integrated, interdisciplinary approach that connects ecological understanding with economic valuation and real-world restoration practices.
The course begins with an overview of ecological economics and the ecosystem service cascade, followed by hands-on sessions in biophysical accounting and economic tools for environmental decision-making. Through guided case studies, participants will learn to apply these techniques to real marine contexts and will explore methods for assessing the monetary value of ecosystem services. Finally, participants will engage directly with marine restoration practices through sessions based on the Maldivian coral reef case. A practical visit to the research aquarium will allow participants to explore ex-situ conservation methods for tropical animal forests.
This training school will take place at the Aquarium of Genoa, Italy, from 15 to 19 September 2025 (5 days, Monday to Friday). The program comprises 4 days of training sessions, including the visit to the aquarium facilities and a guided tour to Portofino marine protected area with the possibility to dive insome of the most famous animal forests of the Mediterranean.
Application Deadline: August 10th – 2025
Travel grants: This training school is funded by the MAF-WORLD COST Action. Limited travel funding is available for members of the COST Action, and interested individuals are encouraged to refer to the website and Guidelines to verify eligibility and to find instructions for joining the Action. In general, travel grants are accessible to candidates affiliated with research organisations within the EU and associated countries. These grants cover round-trip travel expenses and per diem costs for a limited number of participants attending the workshop in person. Applicants seeking travel assistance should:
Enroll in the MAF-World COST action by joining one of its working groups here.
Submit their funding request via email, including a CV (1-2 pages) and a brief statement (> 200 words), outlining why they wish to participate in the training school and how they anticipate benefiting from it, to: Paolo Vassallo (paolo.vassallo@unige.it).
Notification of acceptance: Successful applicants will be notified by email by August 25th, 2025.
