First BioBlitz in Monte Pisano 2023

Discovering Nature Together in the Heart of Tuscany...

On April 29, 2023, the slopes of Monte Pisano came alive with the excited voices of families, children and nature enthusiasts as the first-ever BioBlitz of this Tuscan mountain took place. This citizen science event, supported by the H2020 FRAMEwork project, brought together over 100 participants in a day-long exploration of local biodiversity that would ultimately rank eighth in Italy's City Nature Challenge competition.

Credit: Scuola Sant'Anna

This area is home to the project's Val Graziosa Farmer Cluster, with members taking part in the BioBlitz. Don't forget, our Clusters do much more than just Citizen Science events! You can follow their news directly on our online platform.

The event was organized by an impressive coalition of institutions and organizations, demonstrating the power of community collaboration in environmental education and conservation. The Plant Science Research Center of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies led the initiative within the FRAMEwork project, partnering with:

• Successione Ecologica APS

• Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa

• Calci Agroecology Desk (Sportello Agroecologico)

• Forest Community (Comunità del Bosco)

• Olive Oil Trail of the Monti Pisani (Strada dell'Olio dei Monti Pisani)

• OliValGraziosa Farmer Cluster

• National Biodiversity Future Center

The Day's Adventure

The BioBlitz began at the Natural History Museum of Calci, where participants gathered before setting off on their biodiversity adventures. The event was thoughtfully designed to accommodate different interests and age groups, with 120 participants divided into five groups, each guided by expert naturalists.

The day featured both afternoon and evening excursions through the Calci area, allowing participants to observe different species active at various times. Twelve experts specializing in different fields accompanied the groups:

• Botanists identified local plant species

• Herpetologists pointed out reptiles and amphibians

• Ornithologists helped spot and identify birds

• Entomologists revealed the fascinating world of insects

Results

The collective effort of all participants resulted in remarkable biodiversity documentation:

• 430 total observations were recorded

• 199 different species were identified

• The project achieved 8th place in the Italian classification of the City Nature Challenge 2023

  
  

These numbers reflect not just the rich biodiversity of Monte Pisano, but also the enthusiasm and dedication of the local community in documenting their natural heritage.

Tech and a Taster of Local Tradition

All observations made during the BioBlitz were uploaded to iNaturalist, a global citizen science platform. A dedicated project page was created for the event as part of the City Nature Challenge 2023, ensuring that the biodiversity data collected would contribute to both local and global conservation efforts.

The BioBlitz concluded at San Vito Farm, an organic farm that is part of the FRAMEwork Farmer Cluster. Here, participants were treated to a delightful taste of local gastronomy that perfectly complemented their nature exploration. Participants got to sample slices of homemade toasted bread drizzled with locally produced olive oil, homemade desserts and Glasses of Tuscan wine for the adults!

This culinary finale highlighted the connection between biodiversity conservation and sustainable local food production, a key theme of the FRAMEwork project.

Legacy and Impact

The success of the first Monte Pisano BioBlitz may help establish it as an annual tradition. The event demonstrated how citizen science can effectively engage communities in biodiversity monitoring while fostering environmental awareness and appreciation for local ecosystems. By combining scientific expertise with community participation, supported by the H2020 FRAMEwork project's resources, the 2023 BioBlitz created a model for future biodiversity monitoring efforts. It showed that when families, children, scientists, and local farmers come together, they can create meaningful contributions to our understanding and conservation of natural heritage.

Ultimately, the BioBlitz was was a celebration of biodiversity, community and the vital connection between people and their environment. As participants headed home with new knowledge, full stomachs, and memories of their discoveries, they hopefully carried with them a deeper appreciation for the natural treasures of Monte Pisano and their role in protecting them for future generations.