Background The Salina di Tarquinia, one of the few remaining salt marshes on the Tyrrhenian coast, is the last vestige of the coastal marshes that in the past formed the Maremma, the Lazio marshland. The entire protected area has been proposed as a site of Community importance and has been declared a Special Protection Area on account of its plant content and its strategic location for migrating birds from sub-Saharan African wintering areas to Europe. The main habitats targetted by the project are coastal lagoons, Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand, and Mediterranean halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornetea fruticosi). In addition, approximately 17 bird species of Community interest will benefit from the conservation of the ecosystem. As the Salina is a man-made environment, its basins and canals require continuous maintenance to ensure an adequate flow of water to prevent poor water exchange, water stagnation, silting up and the consequent disappearance of the ecosystem. Objectives The project aimed to preserve the Tarquinia salt marsh as part of a strategy for the protection of coastal lagoons in Europe and within the Natura 2000 network. The project took a global approach to the ecosystem: its first key objective was to improve water exchange in the marsh basins by restoring the old canal embankments, carrying out maintenance on the locks and pumps and reopening the canals connecting with the sea. Another key objective was the removal of sediment from basin and canal bottoms to prevent silting. Chemical, physical and biological monitoring would be carried out throughout the project to assess the effects of the project’s actions and to plan further action. Results The project activities restored Tarquinia saltpan by removing excess sediment accumulated in the partially (55,565 m3) and completely (46,000 m3) filled-in ponds. Other key results of work include the restoration of: • 1,450 m of wooden and stone (520 m) banks as well as the western and eastern mouths. • The building that hosts the pumps and four pumps • The hydraulic functionality of the saltpan. Restoration work also included the substitution of 70 wooden sluices. The vegetation from wooden and stone pools and canals, however, was not removed because of delays accumulated during the project. Monitoring activities of habitat and species through chemical-physical and biological parameters were undertaken throughout the project. Three full-time workers were employed to carry out this task. The project also produced a management plan for the saltpan approved by the managing body of the Natural Reserve, that is the State Forestry Service, and by the Municipal Council for the continued protection of the salt marshes. Good coordination among the different institutions involved in the management of the protected area is further ensured by an agreement signed by the two above institutions and the University of Tuscia, which carried out the scientific studies and helped draw up the management plan. Owing to their closeness to Rome, the Tarquinia salt-marshes could become a very important place not only for migratory birds, but also for educating the public about nature protection and the impact of EU environmental legislation. It is anticipated that the project will regenerate the area and create new jobs at the salt museum, hotel and visitors’ centre. The project has also led local authorities to access other EU funding lines (for example, Docup) to support further activities. Though fewer than foreseen due to delays in implementing the project, dissemination activities were also undertaken.