001.png
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability
The University of Parma is actively involved in protecting biodiversity and promoting environmental sustainability through the Parma Climate Neutral 2030 project, in collaboration with the Municipality. Here are the main initiatives:
Environmental research and monitoring: Students enrolled in the Master's Degree program in Environmental and Resource Sciences and Technologies participate in educational field trips and site visits to natural areas to analyze water quality, vegetation, and small fauna.
Education and awareness: The University organizes events such as BioBlitz, workshops, and webinars to promote awareness of biodiversity among citizens and students, including through Citizen Science approaches.
Institutional collaboration: The Department of Chemical, Life, and Environmental Sustainability Sciences (SCVSA) works with the Municipality's Ecological Transition Sector to update knowledge on the state of ecosystems and enhance natural capital.
May 2025: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning: Agreement Between the Municipality and the University of Parma
In May 2025, the Municipality of Parma and the University of Parma signed an agreement on biodiversity as part of the “Parma Climate Neutral 2030” project, strengthening their collaboration to update knowledge on local ecosystems.
The agreement includes two main lines of action:
the involvement of students in educational and outreach activities (such as BioBlitz events, webinars, and workshops);
raising public awareness through Citizen Science initiatives.
In 2025, activities will focus on the spring areas of Beneceto and San Donato, with environmental analyses also carried out through student fieldwork, studying water quality, vegetation, and fauna.
Preliminary results will be presented at a workshop on May 30 at the University of Parma and will support the proposal to establish an Ecological Rebalancing Area to the Emilia-Romagna Region.
The initiative is considered important both for student education and for the protection of biodiversity, as well as for engaging the local community.
Citizen Science
Citizen Science is a form of participatory scientific research in which citizens collaborate with researchers in collecting and analyzing data useful for scientific studies. This collaboration helps expand research activities through the direct involvement of the community. At the University of Parma, four Citizen Science projects are currently active to support scientific and environmental activities.
How much water is consumed in private gardens? The University Botanical Garden launches a citizen science project
In 2025, the Botanical Garden of the University of Parma launched a citizen science project to monitor water consumption in private gardens and assess its environmental impact. The initiative, funded by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and open to the public, involves the free distribution of water meters to collect anonymous data on irrigation habits. The results will help promote sustainable practices and more responsible water resource management in green spaces, in response to climate change and increasing pressure on water resources.
Quantità di acqua consumata nei giardini privati - un progetto di Citizen Science dell'Orto Botanico
Citizen Science: “Water Blitz” in Parma from 10 to 13 October 2025
In late October 2025, the Municipality of Parma supported a “Water Blitz”, a citizen science initiative involving citizens in monitoring the water quality of rivers, canals, and streams through free testing kits. The collected data were uploaded to an online map and used to identify environmental issues and promote actions for the protection of aquatic ecosystems. The initiative is part of the FreshWater Watch Parma project, coordinated by several partners including the University of Parma, with the aim of raising community awareness and encouraging participatory monitoring of local water resources.