Sardinia: A Biodiversity Hotspot
Sardinia is a biodiversity hotspot, characterized by coastal, agro-silvo-pastoral, urban, and wetland green and blue infrastructures that provide crucial ecosystem services for the well-being of people and communities. These services include atmospheric CO2 absorption, hydrogeological risk prevention, and climate change mitigation.
The main research and application lines of WP5 on green infrastructures within Spoke 9 are organized around research, training, and knowledge transfer, aiming to promote the sustainable growth of green small and medium-sized enterprises, enhance research results within academia and among external stakeholders, and focus on community engagement and empowerment. The ultimate goal is to facilitate technological progress and knowledge transfer to businesses, generating socio-economic impacts across the region.
WP5 Objectives and Actions:
1. Mapping green infrastructures and their perception by local communities in selected Sardinian target areas, both urban and agro-silvo-pastoral, using diachronic cartographic approaches to describe their evolutionary dynamics.
2. Studying the biotic and abiotic components of selected Sardinian green infrastructures, both urban and agro-silvo-pastoral, to define their main environmental and management drivers. This also involves mapping the ecosystem services they provide, particularly in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
3. Developing innovative monitoring systems, including citizen science and participatory approaches, to conserve, restore, and enhance selected Sardinian green infrastructures, both urban and agro-silvo-pastoral.
4. Creating innovative digital systems for monitoring and optimizing the connectivity of urban and agro-silvo-pastoral green infrastructures.
Key Achievements (2022–2024):
In addition to scientific research outputs, including five publications and numerous participations in national and international conferences, Spoke 9 has organized around 40 events and initiatives aimed at businesses, governance support, knowledge sharing, communication, and community engagement.
• 41% Public Engagement: Initiatives for citizen involvement, traditional communication activities, participatory democracy events, and interactions with schools.
• 15% Training and Learning Activities: Courses for continuous education, skill-building, and the creation of MOOCs.
• 15% Multi-Stakeholder Collaborations: Agreements, memorandums of understanding, and partnerships to foster collaboration between project stakeholders.
• 10% Institutional Communication: Dissemination activities through articles in the press, thematic journals, online publications, and radio/television programs.
• 8% Networking Activities: Institutional participation in research and innovation consortia and collaborations with external institutions.
• Other Initiatives:
• Cultural and artistic productions, such as supporting a geological museum at the Asinara National Park.
• Sustainability projects, including Participatory Green Infrastructure.
• Policy support, such as drafting sustainable management plans for the Dune di Maria Pia in Alghero.
• High-impact social initiatives, like the Social Agriculture Project in collaboration with the Penitentiary University Hub at the prisons in Alghero and Tempio Pausania.
Further Reading:
• “Climate Change Effects Discussed in Alghero”, Alguer.it, November 27, 2024 – Emmanuele Farris
• “Two Rare Herbaceous Species Discovered in Porto Conte”, ANSA, October 23, 2024 – Alfredo Maccioni, Emmanuele Farris
• “A Natural Insecticide from Catnip Found on Sardinian Coasts”, ANSA, July 10, 2023 – Alfredo Maccioni, Silvia Macis, Emmanuele Farris
• “Renewables Are Essential to Save Our Ecosystem”, La Nuova Sardegna, September 23, 2024, p. 6 – Emmanuele Farris
• “Bono: The Future Lies in Ecosystem and Environmental Development”, La Nuova Sardegna, March 13, 2024 – Alfredo Maccioni, Emmanuele Farris