Monte Pisano Bioblitz 2024
- Taskscape Associates
- May 8, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The second project-supported citizen science initiative in Italy...
On May 4, 2024, the hills of Monte Pisano once again came alive with the enthusiasm of citizen scientists as a FRAMEwork-supported partnership of local organisations hosted a successful BioBlitz at the Parco della Ricordanza in Montemagno, Calci. This biodiversity event brought together local residents, studentsa and nature enthusiasts to document the remarkable recovery of an area that had been devastated by fire just six years earlier.
The choice of location was particularly meaningful. The Parco della Ricordanza, inaugurated in May 2023, stands as a living memorial to the countless volunteers who mobilized after the catastrophic fire that swept through Monte Pisano in September 2018. What was once a scarred landscape has transformed into a vibrant symbol of resilience and community dedication to environmental restoration.
Discoveries in the Field
The Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies contributed through its Agroecology Group of the Institute of Plant Sciences, while the local Agroecology Desk of Calci helped coordinate community involvement.
From 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, participants explored the park and surrounding areas under the guidance of botanical and zoological experts. Armed with cameras, notebooks, magnifying glasses and binoculars, they set out to document the biodiversity that has returned to this recovering ecosystem.
The focus of the survey was comprehensive, targeting several key groups of organisms that serve as indicators of ecosystem health:
Amphibians and reptiles - sensitive indicators of environmental quality
Pollinating insects - crucial for ecosystem services and agricultural productivity
Decomposer insects - essential for nutrient cycling
Orchids - indicators of mature, undisturbed habitats
Nitrogen-fixing legumes - important for soil fertility restoration
The structured approach allowed participants to contribute meaningful data while learning about the intricate web of life that characterizes Mediterranean ecosystems. Expert naturalists shared their knowledge generously, turning every observation into a learning opportunity.
Biodiversity Helps Build Community
The event concluded with a bring-and-share aperitif, transforming the scientific expedition into a true community celebration. This social element reinforced the BioBlitz's dual purpose: not only to collect valuable biodiversity data but also to strengthen the bonds between people and place, fostering a deeper appreciation for local nature.
The Monte Pisano BioBlitz demonstrated how areas affected by natural disasters can become living laboratories for studying ecological recovery. The park now serves multiple functions - as a memorial to community resilience, an educational resource for sustainability, and a space where traditional agricultural practices coexist with natural elements characteristic of the territory.
The integration with the City Nature Challenge 2024 through iNaturalist ensured that the observations made during the event would contribute to global biodiversity databases, making local efforts part of a worldwide scientific endeavor.
The success of this BioBlitz highlights the importance of citizen science in monitoring biodiversity recovery and engaging communities in conservation efforts. By combining accessible scientific tools with accessible public participation, events like these create a new generation of nature advocates who understand and value their local ecosystems.
With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires across the Mediterranean, Monte Pisano offers hope and a roadmap for recovery. It shows that with community dedication, scientific guidance and sustained effort, even the most damaged landscapes can bloom again - both ecologically and socially. As participants headed home that evening, they hopefully carried with them not just photographs and field notes, but a renewed connection to their local environment and the knowledge that they had played a part in documenting nature's remarkable comeback story. Read more on Recodo.
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