Brescia. The Biodiversity Park, built in Brescia, was inaugurated on Tuesday Montagnola forest on the Cidneo hill. This new green area is part of the operations to increase the habitats of project A Natural Thread.
The aim of the initiative is to facilitate the spread of local biodiversity and the diversification of habitats for species, in the wake of a first attempt at “urban forestry” dating back to 1948. The planning was shared with the Superintendence and took into account the indications offered by Museum of Natural Sciences and by a series of naturalistic associations in the city: Centro Studi Naturalistici Bresciani, Associazione Botanica Bresciana, Gruppo Ricerche Avifauna, Lipu, Amici dei Parchi.
The spontaneous evolution of the ecosystem already present was supported, respecting the flora and fauna and indeed facilitating their diffusion. The species of little importance from the point of view of biodiversity have been reduced but without removing the woody biomass, which will instead be used for create microhabitats and enrich the soil.
The park is crossed by a stream surrounded by aquatic plant species, habitat for invertebrates and amphibians. The flat stretch that rises from the forest is characterized by a panoramic point surrounded by white hornbeams. On the surrounding slopes they are located a hornbeam and a chestnut grovelocated on the cooler side.
It is found in the most open spaces a large lawn, which will be mowed in late spring and autumn to facilitate the spread of pollinators and the dissemination of herbaceous species. On the most exposed slopes it has been enriched with xeric species, typical of meadows in arid environments. These are habitats recognized as priorities by the European Community and which are now in a state of decline, close to extinction in all the Pre-Alps.
Furthermore, some were placed stony ground reminiscent of the so-called “Brescian Karst”the area that extends from Brescia north-east to the beginning of Valsabbia and south to the plain of the Chiese river.
Finally, the project is completed by the installation of an exhibition itinerarycreated in collaboration with the volunteers of‘Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired of Brescia and with those of the Universal Civil Service 2023/2024, which explains the importance of urban forests in combating climate changes.
