Last updated: October 2021
This project focuses on the development of environmental regulations stimulating the connection of existing green areas and developing new ones in the urban area of Rome to stimulate biodiversity by rehabilitating 73% of free/derelict areas. This was done to guarantee an integrated protection of already existing areas as well as restoration of green and blue landscapes (1). The Ecologic Network is still ongoing and provides specific limitations to any new infrastructural project to make sure specific environmental standards are respected (3).
http://www.urbanistica.comune.roma.it/prg-adottato/prg-adottato-elaborati-prescrittivi/prg-adottato-4.html
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Green corridors and green belts
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
1. Protection and rehabilitation of valuable areas and natural resources.
2. Definition of criteria and design regulations for the restoration and recovery of degraded areas that have a strategic function in network building, "ecological corridors", by strengthening natural elements (1).
Implementation activities
The Ecological Network completes this Historic-Environmental system by identifying specific components, articulated for levels of naturalness, that integrate and intersect with the settlement system and the service system. The Prescriptive Paper was further improved on the basis of studies and surveys entrusted to the Universities, which made available new updated data, allowing for a more detailed redefinition of the "network" with an enlargement of the affected green areas, plus 12% as new green corridors were created to connect already existing green spaces (2).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore ecological connectivity
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
In this regard, the important activity carried out at the interdepartmental level between the Department of Territory and the Department of Environment of the City of Rome, as well as the creation of a specific working group made up of Municipal Administration and Universities, in particular as regards the extension of the Ecological network based on studies and research carried out.
A memorial to the Municipal Council foresees the establishment of a specific Interdepartmental Office for the management of ecological network areas and interventions, as well as a Scientific Technical Commission for the evaluation and monitoring of interventions (2).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(“Oiseaux”(79/409/CEE); “Habitat” (92/43/CEE); NATURA 2000; Pan European Ecological Network (1996); Progetto EECONET(1991) (6).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(D.P.R. 8 settembre 1997 n. 357. (Bioitaly Program). The Bioitaly project was started by the Ministry of the Environment in implementing the Habitats Directive 92/43. They identified provisionally 2425 Sites of Community Importance (SIC) and 267 special protection zones (SPS), many of which often overlap in national protected areas (6).)
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The intervention is part of the Piano Regolatore Generale (General Regulatory Plan) of the City of Rome (1 and 2). )
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved soil quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
- Restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Unknown
Type of reported impacts
Achieved 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
References
1. ISPRA (no date), Project info, Available at Source link (Accessed 18-10-2020)
2. ISPRA (no date), Project results, Available at Source link (Accessed 18-10-2020)
3. Municipality of Rome (2003), Status of the project, Available at Source link (Accessed 18-10-2020)
4. Regulation on the project: Source link (Website not available in 2020)
5. Project page: Source link (Website not available in 2020)
6. Universita degli Studi della Sapienza (2004), Guidelines of the intervention, Available at Source link (Accessed 18-10-2020)
7. Project plan: attached.
8. Publication on intervention: attached
2. ISPRA (no date), Project results, Available at Source link (Accessed 18-10-2020)
3. Municipality of Rome (2003), Status of the project, Available at Source link (Accessed 18-10-2020)
4. Regulation on the project: Source link (Website not available in 2020)
5. Project page: Source link (Website not available in 2020)
6. Universita degli Studi della Sapienza (2004), Guidelines of the intervention, Available at Source link (Accessed 18-10-2020)
7. Project plan: attached.
8. Publication on intervention: attached