Nature and biodiversity

Knowing the environment in which we live is a fundamental process for the survival itself, with a strategic relevance.
The difficult path toward knowledge has been characterized, throughout history, by different types of approach, conditioned by the availability of means and resources, but also by the peculiar historical, social and political phases. It is universally acknowledged by now the need to conduct the study of nature, environment and territory through a methodological formulation that involves all the complex aspects of nature. In this perspective, the “ Carta della Natura” project represents a tool that allows the identification and the monitoring of the state of the natural environment.

The holistic approach to knowledge is the conceptual base on which the ecology stands. Ecology is a (relatively) recent science, that studies the connection between living organisms and the surrounding environment and the consequences of such connection. Thanks to these features, it achieves useful tools for the territory planning and management, especially in order to locate the natural resources and areas to be submitted to protection.

The concept of ecosystem is related to a series of other concepts coming from traditionally separated sciences (biology, ecology, geology, general theory of the systems, thermodynamics). It focuses the attention on the flow of energy as a cause and expression of the connection among the components of the ecosystem itself. 

The ecology of the landscape, studies in turn the geographical space at a higher level of systemic organization, interpreting it as a result of physical, biotic and cultural factors interaction, that shape the landscape through dynamic processes. The landscape is therefore to be considered at a superior level in comparison with the single ecosystems, with reference to the scale of levels of living matter aggregation. Hence it is definable as a system of ecosystems. 

The vegetal component holds a key role in the functional ecosystem dynamics. Therefore a particular attention is devoted, in the study of nature and territory, to the cognitive and conservative strategies of vegetation and forests. The flora is also more accessible to observation and monitoring and the gathered data can be extended to other sciences. 

Moreover, the aspects connected to agriculture and the effects produced by it on the environment cannot be skipped. The recent and constantly evolving Genetically Modified Organisms theme has also a place in the interdisciplinary approach through which an integrated study can be conducted on nature and sustainable development.