🗓 Thursday, February 20, 2025
⏱ from 9:00 AM to 18:30 PM
🏛KOSMOS – Natural History Museum, Piazza Botta no. 9 – PAVIA – Aula Spallanzani
LIFE DRYLANDS PARTY
Final conference of the project
LIFE18 NAT/IT/000803 Restoration of dry acidophilous grasslands and heathlands in Natura 2000 sites in Piedmont and Lombardy – LIFE Drylands
A festive day to share, with anyone who wishes to join, the results and the story of this beautiful project—LifeDrylands—jumping between science, art, research, food, literature, games, and, we’re sure, many wonderful people.
👍 Participation is free, both in person and online. Registration is required via Eventbrite at this link: https://lifedrylandsparty2025.eventbrite.it
PARTICIPATION NOTICE
In-person registration: closed on February 17 due to full capacity (waitlist available)
Online registration: open until February 18 at 11:59 PM
DAY PROGRAM
We look forward to welcoming you in the beautiful setting of the Kosmos Museum!
9:00 Welcome and participant registration, with breakfast ☕️ 🥐
9:30 Opening remarks
Paolo Mazzarello ⎟ Director, KOSMOS Museum
Paolo Siccardi ⎟ Cariplo Foundation
Silvia Assini ⎟ Scientific Coordinator, LIFE Drylands Project
The first part of the morning is dedicated to the EU LIFE Programme, which has supported environmental protection actions since 1992, investing €12 billion in 5,500 projects—including ours.
LIFE “Nature & Biodiversity” Projects
10:00 Inspiring LIFE restoration projects ⎟ Joseph Van Der Stegen – CINEA
10:20 LIFE Programme implementation in Italy: Nature & Biodiversity ⎟ Federico Benvenuti, Carmen Gangale – LIFE National Contact Point Team, Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security
10:40 LIFE18 NAT/IT/000803 Drylands ⎟ Stefano Picchi, Project Manager
The second part of the morning dives into the actions carried out by the LifeDrylands team.
Habitat Management and Monitoring: Final Results
10:50 Interventions by Parco Lombardo Valle del Ticino ⎟ Valentina Parco – Project manager
11:05 Interventions by Ticino and Lake Maggiore Protected Areas Authority ⎟ Edoardo Villa – Project manager
11:20 Interventions by Po Piedmontese Park Authority ⎟ Luca Cristaldi – Project manager
11:30 Biodiversity monitoring: plants, mosses, lichens, and butterflies ⎟ Juri Nascimbene, Gabriele Gheza – BIGEA, University of Bologna
11:50 Biodiversity monitoring: ground beetles (Carabidae) ⎟ Francesca Della Rocca – University of Pavia
12:05 Ecosystem services monitoring: ornamental potential, pollination, and refuge for cryptogamic crusts ⎟ Silvia Assini – University of Pavia; Gabriele Gheza – BIGEA, University of Bologna
12:25 Ecosystem services monitoring: medicinal potential ⎟ Francesco Bracco – University of Pavia
12:40 Socio-economic impact monitoring results ⎟ Stefano Picchi – Project manager
13:00 – 14.10 🌮🥗🍝🍰🍷LUNCH – curated by Balancin Social Cooperative
Afternoon Sessions.
Presentation of the new Guidelines
14:10 Guidelines for habitat management and monitoring ⎟ Matteo Barcella – University of Pavia, Gabriele Gheza – BIGEA
How do you communicate and engage the public with such a complex topic? We’ll present the creative strategies used with schools and the general public.
Educational and Outreach Activities
14:30 “I live, you live, he HABITAT – Discovery KIT” ⎟ Patrizia Berera – Lombardy Botanical Gardens Network
14:45 School engagement: “Habitat Ambassadors“, PCTO program with G. Torno High School of Castano Primo (MI) ⎟ Serena Dorigotti – Lombardy Botanical Gardens Network, Tommaso Achilli, Mattia Ciapparelli – students of G. Torno High School.
15.00 University theses and student experiences ⎟ Alessia Gressani – University of Pavia
Stakeholder Engagement
15:30 Lombardy Region: activities and future perspectives ⎟ Cristina Bollini – Directorate General for Territory and Green Systems; Dario Kian, Patrizia Digiovinazzo – ERSAF
15:45 Piedmont Region: activities and future perspectives ⎟ Matteo Massara –Directorate for Environment, Energy and Territory
16:00 Vauda Nature Reserve ZSC IT1110005 – VAUDA⎟ Antonio Tacchino, LucaValente –Park Rangers
16:15 Networking with LIFE Granatha and ShepForBio projects ⎟ Tommaso Campedelli – DREAM Italia
16:30 Environmental associations and heathland awareness ⎟ Barbara Meggetto – Legambiente Lombardia
From 17:00
Final discussion and toast with aperitif🥂 and Spritz 🥂
A convivial moment to get to know each other, exchange ideas, explore project materials, and—who knows—spark new collaborations for future projects!
For logistical info and registration details: lifedrylandsparty@echo.pv.it
Download HERE the full conference program