Last updated: April 2025
In September 2018, a new didactic itinerary on invasive alien species was inaugurated in Cagliari's botanic garden. The initiative has been initiated in order to raise awareness and share important legislative and scientific knowledge on the matter (Refs. 1, 2 & 3). It has been curated by Life ASAP, which is an EU co-funded project focused on targeting the introduction of animal and vegetal alien species in Italian territory (Refs. 4 & 5). The initiative in the botanic garden focuses on a 13-pannels pathway through the garden, which will guide visitors towards the discovery of the issue of the introduction of alien invasive species on the territory. The goal is to attract the population's attention to the topic through a sensorial and interactive experience. In fact, the panels are easy to understand, colorful, and accompanied by explanatory images and bas reliefs. Children and youngsters can also participate in a laboratory called "the alien's identikit," according to which they have to recognize the newly learned alien species around the garden (Refs. 1, 2 & 3). This Path represents the first (and only) permanent space dedicated to biological invasion processes and invasive alien species in the network of Italian Botanical Gardens. (Ref.2). Therefore, the project, in collaboration with the University of Cagliari, promotes education for all ages on the risks and consequences of such an underestimated problem and aims to educate citizens on how their actions can prevent the phenomenon from spreading further (Refs. 1, 2 & 3).
One of the 13 panels in the Botanic Garden of Cagliari
Life ASAP. 2018. “Inaugurato Oggi Il Percorso ‘Flora Aliena Invasiva’ Nell’Orto Botanico Di Cagliari.” Lifeasap.eu. February 4, 2018. https://www.lifeasap.eu/index.php/it/component/content/article?id=199:piante-aliene-tra-noi-2.
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Botanical gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Sense of community and community engagement
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Invasive alien species
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Protection of natural ecosystems, Habitat conservation, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Educational and awareness raising programs
Project objectives
The intervention aims to:
1. To raise public awareness, spread knowledge, and educate people about the issue of invasive alien species through a sensory and interactive experience.
2. To educate people of all ages about the risks and consequences of this often-overlooked problem and encourages citizens to take action to prevent its further spread.
3. To educate on how to distinguish between alien pieces that are not harmful and bring socio-economic benefits and those that have a negative impact on the local ecosystem (Refs. 1, 2 & 3).
Implementation activities
- installation of 13 pannels
- kids laboratory: "The alien's identikit"
The project is mainly based on educational material: therefore, its various educational and awareness purposes are fulfilled with didactic material on the area of the botanic garden (all curated by the University of Cagliari) and are made more accessible thanks to the additional laboratories and deepened thanks to the connection through QR's to the Life ASAP's website, which provides additional material on the spread and differentiation of Invasive Alien Spieces, on how they impact the environmental's ecosystem and how to prevent their negative impacts, such as the alteration of local habitats. Sustainable production is also included, given the role phytosanitay products have on the control of the spread of invasive species. However, such products can be highly toxic and need to be used responsibly and with particular attention to the environment (Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 6).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Public sector institution
- Researchers/university
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
- Social enterprise
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Cagliari University in collaboration with the Life ASAP project started the initiative.
- EU: co-funded the Life ASAP education program (Refs. 4 & 5).
- University of Cagliari: contributed to setting up the project in their botanic garden and helped in the preparation of the didactic material (Refs. 1, 2 & 3).
- ISPRA (Superior Institute for Environmental Protection and Research - Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale) in cooperation with Legambiente, Federparchi, Lazio Region, University of Cagliari, Nemo S.r.l., Tic Media Art and the national parks of the Tuscan Archipelago, Aspromonte, Gran Paradiso and the Lucanian Apennines. They were all responsible of managing the Life ASAP Project (Refs. 1, 2 & 3).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Expected improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
- Reduced illegal trade of species
- Expected reduced illegal trade of species
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of natural heritage
- Expected protection of natural heritage
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
Yes
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Life ASAP (2018). Inaugurato oggi il percorso "Flora Aliena Invasiva" nell’Orto Botanico di Cagliari. Accessed on August 10, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Casteddu Online; La Nuova Ecologia; Sardegna Reporter; L'Unione Sarda (2018). Rassegna Stampa - Orto Botanico. Cagliari: Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Università degli Studi di Cagliari (2018). Flora aliena invasiva, inaugurato il percorso all’Orto botanico. Cagliari: Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Life ASAP (n.d.). Life ASAP. Accessed on August 10, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Life ASAP (n.d.). Il programma LIFE. Accessed on August 10, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Tricarico, E; Lazzaro, L; Giunti, M; Bartolini, F; Inghilesi, A; Brundu, G; Cogoni, A; Iiriti, G; Loi, M; Marignani, M; Caddeo, A; Carnevali, L; Genovesi, P; Carotenuto, L; Monaco, A (n.d.). LE SPECIE ALIENE INVASIVE: COME GESTIRLE. Accessed on August 10, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Univeristy of Cagliari (n.d.). Orto Botanico. Accessed on August 10, 2024, [Source link];
8.
European Commission (n.d.). Alien Species Awareness Program. Accessed on August 11, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Comune di Cagliari (2022). Atlante Demografico di Cagliari. Cagliari: Accessed on August 10, 2024, [Source link];
One of the 13 panels in the Botanic Garden of Cagliari displaying information on the Acetosella Gialla specie.
Università di Cagliari. 2018. “Flora Aliena Invasiva, Inaugurato Il Percorso All’Orto Botanico.” Unica.it. 2018. https://web.unica.it/unica/it/news_notizie_s1.page?contentId=NTZ130348.
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.