🌿 MICROBIOMO
Microhabitat for biodiversity in the city of Modena
Nature exists not only in vast national parks or tropical forests but also in cities, where precious pockets of biodiversity continue to survive, adapt, and flourish.
With the MICROBIOME project – Enhancing and Creating Microhabitats to Boost Biodiversity in the City of Modena – we aim to show that protecting nature also means caring for urban green spaces.
🌍 A project for ecological transition
MICROBIOME is an integral part of the transformative territorial innovation pathways for ecological transition, included in the Public Engagement activities of the PNRR project ECOSISTER – Ecosystem for Sustainable Transition in Emilia-Romagna.
It is a project promoted by Foreste per Sempre OdV, in collaboration with LIPU Modena, Gruppo Modenese Scienze Naturali, Legambiente Modena, and UNIMORE, proposed to the Municipality of Modena.
The goal is clear and bold: 🌱 to revive small natural habitats within cities, supporting vulnerable species while fostering community awareness.
🐸 A special spotlight on the European green toad
A flagship species of the project is the European green toad (Bufotes viridis), an amphibian that was once common even in urban areas but is now rapidly declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and climate change.
The emerald toad is included among the rare and threatened species of the Minor Fauna of the Emilia Romagna Region, protected under Regional Law no. 15 of 2006.
In the Parco della Resistenza di Modena, we will establish a specialized reproductive microhabitat designed to encourage egg laying and support tadpole development.
A small intervention with profound impact: restoring space for nature even in densely urbanized areas.
💧 Our Creation Journey
- Small temporary and permanent water bodies in publicly accessible green spaces
- A dedicated breeding site for the green toad in Resistenza Park
- Collaborative Scientific Monitoring with the University
- Educational signage and interactive multimedia materials
- Educational Programs and Activities for Schools in Modena
🎓 An Outdoor Learning Lab for Schools
- The microhabitat of Resistenza Park will serve not only as an ecological restoration but also as a vibrant space for environmental education.
- Students and teachers will have the ability to:
- Understanding the Life Cycle of Amphibians
- Understanding the Connection Between Climate Change and Biodiversity
- Discover how even small local actions can make a significant impact on preserving nature
- Protecting biodiversity is not a distant concern; it directly impacts our neighborhoods, the parks near our homes, and the overall quality of the environment we live in.
🤝 A Shared Project
MICROBIOME emerges from the partnership between environmental organizations, the research community, and local institutions.
Foreste per Sempre OdV coordinates activities in collaboration with scientific and associative partners, actively engaging the community in every initiative.
The project is supervised by Cecilia Bozzoli, a dedicated volunteer member of the association, as part of the university internship.
🌱 Why It Matters
Amphibians serve as crucial indicators of environmental health. Their decline signals that the ecosystem is under stress.
- Creating microhabitats in the city means:
- Enhancing Urban Resilience to Climate Change
- enhance the ecological quality of the area
- deepen the connection between people and the natural world
- Even a small wetland can have a significant impact.
Project Status Update
Photo of the pool area prior to excavation
Excavation pit photo
The MicroBioMO Project
