Building Networks for Biodiversity
- Taskscape Associates
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
Monte Pisano Conference explores FRAMEwork and future opportunities...
On a warm Friday morning in late June, the historic Monte Pisano Oil Mill in Vicopisano opened its doors to a gathering of researchers, local producers and community leaders. Explore the event program in English and Italian here.
The conference "Activities and Networks of Monte Pisano Between Present and Future", brought together diverse local actors united by the shared goal of preserving and revitalising the Monte Pisano territory. It was organised by project partner Scuola Sant'Anna and Taskscape in collaboration with local organisations and initatives as part of 'Recodo In Real Life', an event series associated with the project's online knowledge, action and legacy platform, Recodo. Previous events include webinars on key resources and topic areas as well as a hybrid congress.
The June 27 2025 event brought together a diverse mix of stakeholders representing multiple facets of the Monte Pisano territory. Project researchers from Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies shared space with hands-on olive producers and millers, while local government representatives from municipalities like Calci engaged with community cooperatives and business networks. The Natural History Museum contributed cultural and educational perspectives, while specialized entities like the Monte Pisano Forest Community and the Agroecology Office provided expertise in sustainable land management.
The multi-sectoral gathering also included consumers interested in olive oil quality, territorial development professionals exploring innovative funding mechanisms like Payment for Ecosystem Services, and community leaders focused on sustainable tourism and cultural heritage preservation. The diversity of participants reflected the conference's holistic approach to addressing Monte Pisano's challenges through collaborative networks.
The day began with event lead Camilla Moonen from Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies welcoming participants and introducing FRAMEwork's activity and results, setting a collaborative tone for the event. What followed was a rich tapestry of presentations that painted both the challenges and opportunities facing this unique Tuscan region.
Val Graziosa Cluster Farmer Francesco Elter's presentation on the 'Monti Pisani Olive Road' struck a chord with many attendees, emphasizing the fundamental truth that "good oil comes from good olives." This simple yet profound statement underscored the importance of care for natural resources and quality throughout the production chain.
Another compelling moment came when Fabio Mencarelli from the Municipality of Calci addressed the risk of olive grove abandonment threatening Monte Pisano. His strategies for prevention sparked animated discussions during the coffee break, with participants exchanging contacts and ideas.
An introduction to Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes by Mario Pestarini from the Monti Pisani Business Network closed the morning, offering a joined-up approach to incentivising biodiversity production and conservation. His presentations illustrated how mechanisms could potentially transform how the community values and protects its natural heritage.
After a light lunch featuring local products, the conference shifted into a more interactive phase. Two working groups dove deep into practical solutions. The first group explored PES as a territorial development tool, while the second focused on strengthening collaboration among olive oil producers, millers, and consumers.
As the day concluded, there was a palpable sense of momentum. The Forest Community's vision of 'Shared Roots for a Shared Future' resonated. Participants left not just with new knowledge, but with concrete connections and developing plans of action. Overall, the conference demonstrated that Monte Pisano's future lies not in isolated efforts, but in the strength of its networks connecting tradition with innovation, research with practice, and communities with their landscape.
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