Unseen guardians: routes for biodiversity

Today, more than 150 million people live along European coastlines, placing increasing pressure on ecosystems that are fundamental to our future. It is within this context that Invisible Guardians: Routes for Biodiversity was created — a documentary produced by Triton Research as part of the LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 project.

The film is a journey into the heart of the Mediterranean, discovering the marine and coastal sites of the Natura 2000 Network, the largest system of protected areas in the world. These areas are often perfectly integrated into our daily lives, where extraordinary natural richness coexists with human activities and, for this very reason, can remain invisible to a distracted eye. Yet these territories are true guardians of species, habitats and ecological balances essential for biodiversity.

On board the Triton sailing boat, symbol of a slow and respectful approach to exploring the sea, the documentary crosses some of the most emblematic sites of the network in Italy and Spain — Torre Guaceto, Calafuria, Isola del Giglio, the Aeolian Islands— creating a mosaic of precious environments that preserve biodiversity, culture and identity.

The narrative follows the actions carried out by the project partners and unfolds within an integrated communication strategy, combining online and offline activities, both in-person and remote. This approach made it possible to build relationships and organize activities involving researchers, institutions, local authorities, maritime operators, citizens and volunteers, with the aim of promoting greater knowledge of Natura 2000 sites and their value.

With a duration of 24 minutes, available in Italian, English and Spanish, Unseen Guardians shows how Natura 2000 sites are not spaces to be preserved in a static way, but living and dynamic networks, capable of generating awareness, value and future. Biodiversity thus emerges not as something distant or abstract, but as a constant presence, revealed to those who take the time to observe.

The documentary will be presented through three online premières on YouTube, starting on 1 February 2026 at 6:00 PM (CET). After the premières, the film will be available on the official LIFE A-MAR NATURA2000 project website, as a communication and awareness-raising tool dedicated to promoting knowledge of the marine and coastal Natura 2000 sites, their value and their beauty.