Background Over the past few decades, coastal areas in Europe have been subjected to major changes and pressures. Threats to coastal habitats include uncontrolled tourism, the spread of invasive exotic flora, and natural and/or human induced erosion. Coastal ecosystems are severely constrained systems and contain a distinctive biodiversity in which flora and fauna are highly specialised. Mediterranean coastal dunes could be classified as two major groups: western and eastern Mediterranean types, with the separation line passing through the Italian peninsula. The coast of Molise, on the Adriatic sea, still contains areas of great natural value and is home to 19 habitats of Community interest and three SCIs: “Foce Trigno - Marina di Petacciato (IT7228221), “Foce Saccione-Bonifica Ramitelli” (IT7222217) and “Foce Biferno – Litorale Campomarino” (IT7282216). These SCIs are important areas for the biodiversity of sandy coastal ecosystems of the Italian Adriatic coast, but, similar to the other European coastal areas, they are increasingly threatened by anthropic pressure. Objectives The overall objective of the project is the conservation of both dune habitats and humid brackish areas, as well as the protection of flora and fauna species in the costal habitats of Molise. The specific project objectives include: Increasing the value and recovery rate of coastal habitats, in particular costal dune habitats, temporary Mediterranean ponds and Mediterranean salt steppes present in the three Natura 2000 sites. Recovery and monitoring activities will also target other habitats of Community interest, such as the mobile dunes (seaward dunes); Protecting fauna species of Community interest (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus mehely, Rhinolophus hypposideros, Rhinolophus euryale, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis myotis, Miniopterus schreibersii Myotis capaccinii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis myotis, Myotis blythii, Myotis daubentonii e Miniopterus schreibersii, Testudo hermanni and Emys orbicularis); Educating and raising awareness among those who operate on the coast – i.e. stakeholders, tourists, the local population and students.Expected results: The main expected results include: The restoration and improvement of the state of conservation of dune pine forest habitat through the elimination of exotic trees, increasing the cover of native species, and the planting of autochthonous bushes and shrubs. These measure will be carried out over a surface area of 51 ha; Improvement in the conservation status of dune habitats with Juniperus by increasing the cover of native species over an area of 9 ha; Propagation of at least 10 000 plants of native woody species and ex-situ conservation of at least 10 000 seeds of the species considered most important for the conservation of dune habitats; Increasing the area of temporary ponds and salt meadows and improving their conservation status; Increasing Chiroptea populations (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus mehely, Rhinolophus hypposideros, Rhinolophus euryale, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis capaccinii, Myotis myotis, Miniopterus schreibersii Myotis capaccinii, Myotis emarginatus, Myotis myotis, Myotis blythii, Myotis daubentonii e Miniopterus schreibersii), increasing the frequency of foraging, and improving their conservation status through the installation of 400 bat boxes and a roost in a dune pine forest habitat; Increasing the population of Testudo hermanni and Emys orbicularis and the improvement in their conservation through the establishment of a recovery centre for individuals that have been injured; The implementation of an environmental education programme and the establishment of teaching laboratories.