Rete biodiversità
The Parco del Ticino and the Parco del Campo dei Fiori, located in western Lombardy, are protected areas of high naturalistic value, identified as Nature 2000 sites by the European Commission and Priority Areas for Biodiversity, as well as first-level elements of the Regional Ecological Network by the Lombardy Region. The land between these two parks, in the province of Varese, includes various smaller areas that are also of considerable naturalistic value, interspersed with urban areas and linear infrastructure such as roads, highways, railways and overhead cables.
In this area, Fondazione Cariplo carried out the “Biodiversity Network” project (2010-2016), based on a multidisciplinary study the aim of which was to verify the level of ecological connection between the two protected areas. This study, entitled “The ecological connection for biodiversity”, considered naturalistic, urbanistic, technical and social issues and saw the involvement of various professionals such as botanists, zoologists, engineers, architects, lawyers, communication and participation experts. It was therefore possible to verify how the two parks are ecologically interconnected along two ecological corridors located in this part of Varese province, and to identify the critical points (known as “gates”) where the corridors are narrow or require improvement or defragmentation.
Subsequently, a participatory process conducted with the municipalities adjoining the study area resulted in the signing of a “Network Contract” by the vast majority of the municipalities involved.
The results obtained from the study eventually made it possible to access EU funding under the LIFE+ programme for the “TIB – Trans Insubria Bionet” project; between 2012-2015, the latter undertook the most urgent interventions to improve the state of conservation of the ecological corridors between the two parks.
Finally, in March 2012 the “Only those who move can live – Ecological networks for the conservation of biodiversity – Science, politics and citizens in discussion” conference was held, where the publication relating to the methodology used during the project was presented.