CASE STUDY 13
Italian Case Study
The Italian case study site Parco Nord Milano, is a demo area of the SUPERB project, which aims to enhance forest connectivity through reforestation. Our research focuses on monitoring mosquito species diversity, abundance, seasonality and host-preference, including molecular analyses of blood meals and screening of mosquito-borne pathogens, in particular West Nile Virus across contrasting successional stages (forest stands < 5 years versus forest stands > 20 years). The bird community potentially involved in virus circulation will be assessed using passive acoustic monitoring. The main objective is to evaluate the ecological significance and public health implications of rewilding within an urban landscape. Local stakeholders and human and animal public health agencies have been involved in all stages of the project.
RESTORATION &
INTERVENTION MEASURES
Nature restoration
Reforestations
Spontaneous vegetation succession
Public health interventions
Yes
ENVIRONMENTAL
SAMPLES
Reservoirs
rodent
bat
Vectors
mosquito
tick
Environment
soil/sediment
HUMAN
DIMENSION
Case Study Activities
Parco Nord Milano (https://parconord.milano.it/) is an urban park in the Milan metropolitan area (Lombardy region) covering an area of 8 km². After serving as an airport during the Second World War, the site has been involved in several reforestation projects since the 1960s. It is also a demo site for the SUPERB project (Systemic solutions for upscaling of urgent ecosystem restoration for forest-related biodiversity and ecosystem services). The park is important not only for recreation, but also for its role in mitigating the urban heat island effect, absorbing air pollution, acting as an acoustic barrier and regulating water runoff. Furthermore, it provides significant biodiversity value, offering habitats for over 100 species of trees, shrubs and ornamental plants, as well as small lakes, ponds and agricultural areas. The aim of this study is to monitor the zoonotic risk across different reforestation periods using mosquitoes and mosquito-borne pathogens as a model.
