Kick-off Meeting of the RECLAIM Project

The University of Malta participated in the official kick-off Meeting of the Interreg Italia-Malta Project RECLAIM – REstoration and Conservation through the Limitation of Alien  and Invasive Menace, which took place on 24 September 2025 at the Aula Giacomini of the Botanical Garden, University of Catania.

The meeting brought together all project partners to officially launch RECLAIM and discuss its implementation strategy.

The event opened with institutional greetings from the Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences at the University 
of Catania, followed by a presentation by Professor Pietro Minissale (UNICT) introducing the overall framework of the RECLAIM project. The

University of Malta’s contribution was presented by Professor Sandro Lanfranco, who outlined the Maltese team’s planned activities and areas of responsibility within the project.

Further presentations were delivered by representatives from the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), the Città Metropolitana di Catania, and the Libero Consorzio Comunale di Ragusa, highlighting the restoration and monitoring actions to be implemented within protected natural areas in both Sicily and Malta. Dr Carmelo Fruciano (UNICT) also introduced the innovative aspects and research methodologies  that will guide RECLAIM’s scientific work.

Following the morning presentations, participants shared a light lunch, offering an opportunity for informal discussion and collaboration. In the afternoon, the partners convened for a dedicated working session to present their responsibilities in greater detail, discuss expected outcomes, and outline the next steps for the project’s implementation phase.

About the RECLAIM Project

The RECLAIM project aims to address the growing challenge of invasive alien species (IAS) that threaten the natural and agricultural ecosystems of both Malta and Sicily. Through a combination of mapping, monitoring, experimental modelling, and restoration efforts, the project seeks to strengthen cross-border cooperation and develop sustainable management and eradication methods for invasive or potentially invasive species.

Key objectives include carrying out targeted interventions in selected natural areas, developing predictive distribution models under future climate scenarios, and promoting restoration using native species in sites where IAS control actions are undertaken. RECLAIM also builds on results achieved through previous initiatives, such as the Interreg FAST project, to ensure continuity and long-term environmental resilience in both islands.

By fostering close collaboration between Italian and Maltese partners, RECLAIM represents an important step towards a shared strategy for biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration across the central Mediterranean region.