The Department of Agricultural Sciences, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (Dafne) of the University of Foggia enters the Bosco Incoronata regional natural park for scientific research activities.
This is provided for by a framework agreement between the University and the Park, managed by the Municipality of Foggia.
The activities will be aimed at “development of ‘nature based’ management techniques for the protection and conservation of the ecological functionality of natural and agricultural ecosystems, also in the context of land protection interventions, for example environmental restoration/requalification, protection of biodiversity, defense of soil, reduction of the impact resulting from human activities, valorisation of landscape components, etc., according to rigorous and coherent criteria of environmental compatibility and ecological sustainability”.
Study activities, environmental analysis, experimentation and technical-scientific analysis are envisaged, both for cognitive and applicative purposes, in the naturalistic and agricultural fields, carrying out research of common interest aimed at developing territorial plans, local planning, management interventions of a naturalistic nature. or agricultural.
Another point of the agreement concerns training activities and the implementation of practical-applicative internships, school construction sites, theoretical-practical courses and dissemination initiatives on issues related to the complex of activities carried out.
The parties also undertake to promote activities for the dissemination of scientific and technological culture in the territory as well as to any possible initiative regarding technical-scientific and/or training activities deemed to be of common interest.
The collaboration will also be useful for the purposes of joint participation in regional, national, European and international calls and research programs, with particular attention to the framework programs of the European Commission.
Contact person for the University of Foggia, Dafne, is Professor Massimo Monteleone. The agreement lasts for five years.
Doctoral student Maurizio Gioiosa, naturalist, will carry out his research activities in the Park. It will deal with the study, analysis, definition, implementation and verification of territorial strategies for the benefit of biodiversity of wild origin in rural areas, with particular reference to agroecosystems that exist within territories of high natural value (HNVF), as well as to the Regional Ecological Network (RER) with its main constituent elements (waterways and protected areas) and to the Regional Tratturi System with the heritage made up of meadows and tree-lined pastures.
Exemplary proposals and applications regarding conflicts between agriculture and the environment will therefore be the subject of research activity with the aim of developing strategies suitable for preserving biodiversity and the original characteristics of the rural landscape and at the same time promoting agricultural production according to profoundly respectful cultivation methods the integrity of ecological resources.
The details of the agreement will be illustrated on Monday 17 June, at 10am, in the Council Chamber of Palazzo di Città.
The presentation will be attended by the mayor of Foggia Maria Aida Episcopo, the deputy mayor with responsibility for the Environment Lucia Aprile, the director of Dafne Agostino Sevi, the professors of the Faculty of Agriculture Massimo Monteleone and Maurizio Gioiosa, the city councilor with responsibility for the Parco dell’ Francesco Strippoli and the Puglia representative of the Wikimedia Foundation Ferdinando Traversa were crowned.
