SEF Newsletter – January 2025
We’re thrilled to kick off the new year with some exciting news!
SEF has been awarded a grant to implement a project aimed at developing an integrated strategy for a circular economy for fishing gear. We have established the best dream team, with a new team member to manage the project and amazing new partners.
We are grateful to everyone who has applied to the call for proposals opened in September 2024. We were positively overwhelmed by the brilliant applications received and we look forward to joint efforts with new partners across Sicily. The first three grants of the new year, have been awarded to initiatives focusing on building community through gardening and composting, addressing the wildfires crisis, and protecting the endemic Aeolian lizard.
A fresh start to the new year, with new projects and partners, sharing the same dreams for a sustainable, green and resilient Sicily!
SEF Team
SEF new projects
Untangling the sea – Mini Destination Zero Waste Sicily
SEF will conduct a 1-year project aimed at assessing the feasibility of a circular economy of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and setting up a regional network of stakeholders engaged in addressing this environmental threat. We will involve local stakeholders, including diving centers to map ALDFG; fishing companies to improve fishing gear management; artisans and recycling facilities to explore reuse and recycle options; and public authorities to draw long-term governance.
This project is enabled by TUI Care Foundation and will be implemented by SEF in collaboration with Abyss Clean Up, association specialized in the identification and removal of marine litter and ghost nets and CNR-IGAG who will provide scientific support for environmental impact assessment.
Growing connections: community garden and composting
The project aims to foster active citizenship in the ecological transition by engaging citizens, both locals from Agrigento and migrants, especially the residents of the Vallicaldi neighborhood. The association Local Impact, in collaboration with Rifiuti Zero Sicilia, will promote a community garden and composting initiative, transforming a degraded area into a green hub. The area will be cleaned, secured, and developed as a space for experimenting with sustainable practices like horticulture, composting and waste reduction. The initiative emphasises the link between environmental preservation and quality of life, while strengthening connections between people and nature.
Save the Aeolian lizard
The project will support the continuation of the ongoing initiative led by local NGO Nesos aimed at conserving the endemic Aeolian wall lizard (Podarcis raffonei). The project aims at increasing the number of the existing populations, overall estimated at around 2,000 individuals. Through a captive breeding program carried out on-site, the project will establish new small populations of this critically endangered species, releasing juveniles on suitable islets of the Aeolian Islands, where no other lizard species and possible competitors are present. Awareness initiatives will involve the local community and students.
The activities of the project are made possible thanks to the support of Blue Marine Foundation and the boat provided to the Nesos association.
Wildfires Citizen Observatory
This project led by Fenice Verde will set up a Wildfire Citizen Observatory aimed at facilitating Municipalities in compiling the Wildfire Registry and enabling local communities to report wildfires. According to Law 353/2000, Municipalities must update annually a database of wildfire to enforce post-fire environmental constraints, helping to prevent future man-made fires. The project involves the design and development of a digital platform, in collaboration with PUSH, which will allow citizens to submit their reports, providing additional data for the Wildfire Registry. The framework will be piloted with the Municipalities of Carlentini (Siracusa) and San Mauro Castelverde (Palermo), laying the groundwork for scaling up the initiative across Sicily.
The project, supported by SEF, has received the patronage of the Department of Territory and Environment of the Sicily Region and the Regional Department of Civil Protection (DPRC Sicilia) and will benefit from the collaboration of the National Higher Institute for Operational Training of Civil Protection in Rome (INSFO PC) and the Operational Coordination of Volunteering in the Sicily Region (COV).
The initiative will be part of the Alliance of European Citizen Observatories established by the EU-funded Horizon project CitiObs, aimed at enhancing citizen observatories across Europe.
Current projects
A special thank you to Liberty Global for supporting the growth of the Foundation and its projects.
SEF new team member
SEF team is growing! We are happy to introduce Carlo Roccafiorita, our new team member responsible for the “Untangling the sea” project. Carlo has worked extensively in the fields of urban regeneration, cultural management, and circular economy, founding and managing innovative initiatives.
Distribution of grants
Support our projects
Support the Sicily Environment Fund with the 5×1000 portion of your IRPEF tax, which the Italian State allocates to support organizations carrying out socially significant activities.
You can give a huge boost to our work by donating the 5×1000, indicating the SEF tax code: 97141380838 in the “Support for non-profit organizations” section of your income tax return.
Donations can be made by bank transfer either to the Italian bank account, to the UK bank account hosted by the Conservation Collective, or through Paypal. Please note that donations are eligible for tax deductions.
Our network
Conservation Collective comprises a global network of locally-focused environmental foundations, emerging from the natural instinct of all people to protect what they love. Conservation Collective facilitates funding for the most effective grassroots environmental initiatives, with world-class oversight, management, and programme aid.
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