Supporting animal-mediated services in disturbed small green areas of the city
1
Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, P.zza della Scienza, 2, Milano, MI - 20126, Italia
2
, Nantional Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), -, Palermo, PA - 90121, Italia
Supporting animal-mediated services in disturbed small green areas of the city
AUTORI:
Biella Paolo, Università degli Studi Milano - Bicocca, Milano, Italia
Brambilla Giulia, Università degli Studi Milano - Bicocca, Milano, Italia
Labra Massimo, Università degli Studi Milano - Bicocca, Milano, Italia; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italia
ABSTRACT
In recent decades, human activities have highly affected global biodiversity through intensive agriculture, pollution and urbanization, leading to a significant decline in species diversity. As a consequence, the services provided by biodiversity can be affected in these areas. In this context, it is crucial to implement strategies that support and preserve communities.
We developed the “Urban Biodiversity Enhancement kit” within the National Biodiversity Future Center, spoke 5. This tool aimed to increase biodiversity at the local scale, focusing on the enhancement of habitat quality in green spaces. The kit is composed of a bird nest box supporting biological control, and to enhance pollination, it includes a solitary bee’s nest and a mix of native, insect-pollinated, herbaceous seeds with bioinoculants to enhance plant survival.
The tool was distributed to 18 Italian big cities, with a total of 175 areas managed by 103 different local entities, including community gardens, allotments, universities and schools. This variety of entities, directly involved also in the monitoring of the effectiveness of the tool, provides a solid basis in order reverse biodiversity decline and evaluate the society perception on this topic.
In addition, thanks to the horizon project “BUTTERFLY- Mainstreaming pollinator stewardship in view of cascading ecological, societal and economic impacts of pollinator decline”, we established a multi-actor network (living lab) in Lombardy with 27 actors from urban and farmland areas, where collect, integrate, manage and share ecological and spatial information on a wide range of known and lesser known pollinators and pollination services, quantify direct and indirect economic values and co-create tools for a proactive pollinator stewardship in vulnerable sectors.
These initiatives not only supported the creation of microhabitats for biodiversity in urban areas but also increased public awareness on the importance of environmental conservation.
Ruolo dell’Ecologia in conservazione, restauro e pianificazione