CASE STUDY 13
Italian Case Study
The Italian case study site named Parco Nord located in the Milano suburb, is a demo area of the SUPERB project which aims at enhancing forest connectivity through reforestation activities. Here we focus on the monitoring of mosquitoes’ species diversity, abundance, seasonality and host-preference and on the molecular analyses of blood meal and screening of related mosquito-borne pathogens, in particular West Nile Virus, at contrasting (<5 years versus > 20 years) temporal forest stands. The bird species community potentially involved in virus circulation will be assessed with the use of acoustic readers. The main scope is to understand the importance and consequences of rewilding in an urban area. Local stakeholders and human and animal public health agencies have been involved throughout all stages of the project.
Habitat type: Coniferous and mixed forest
Contact persons: Annapaola Rizzoli, Heidi C. Hauffe, Valentina Tagliapietra
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 (https://parconord.milano.it/) is an urban park in the Milano metropolitan area (Lombardy region) with a surface of 8 kmq. After being used as an airport during the Second World War, since the ‘60 it has been involved in several reforestation projects and is also a demo site of the SUPERB (Systemic solutions for upscaling of urgent ecosystem restoration for forest-related biodiversity and ecosystem services) project.
It is considered an important area not only for recreation, but also for its role in mitigating the heat island effect in urban and peri-urban environments, absorbing air pollution, acting as an acoustic barrier and controlling water runoff. Moreover, it holds important value for biodiversity offering habitat to over 100 species of trees, shrubs and ornamental plants, small lakes and ponds and some agricultural areas. The aim of the study is therefore to monitor the zoonotic risk at contrasting reforestation periods using mosquitoes and mosquito-borne pathogens as study model.
