Conference at RAISE Village: the National Biodiversity Future Center for biodiversity conservation

On november 2nd, RAISE Village hosted a conference of great significance for the future of biodiversity, involving the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), a center funded by the PNRR – NextGeneration EU and dedicated to interdisciplinary research and environmental sustainability.

The National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) shares numerous points of connection with RAISE, thanks to the mutual interaction between biodiversity and advanced technology. Biodiversity not only inspires progress in fields such as biorobotics and biomimetics, but technology itself—from robots to sensors and artificial intelligence—provides essential tools for the four pillars of NBFC: conserving, monitoring, restoring, and enhancing biodiversity.

The event featured the participation of internationally renowned experts, gathered to discuss the ambitious European Union and United Nations project aimed at preserving and restoring terrestrial and marine biodiversity.

The recently approved Nature Restoration Law establishes fundamental goals for 2030 and 2050: protecting 30% of the EU’s land and marine areas, with 10% under strict protection, and restoring at least 20% of degraded areas by 2030, with further efforts toward full ecosystem restoration by 2050. The NBFC supports these objectives with innovative projects that integrate monitoring, conservation, restoration, and enhancement of Italian biodiversity, positioning itself as a pillar of national research and development.

Among the speakers at the conference, moderated by Maria Chiara Chiantore, Professor of Ecology at the University of Genoa, were:
– Massimo Labra, Full Professor of Botany at the University of Milano-Bicocca, scientific leader of the NBFC, and leader of Spoke 1, dedicated to ecological transition. With expertise in biomolecular techniques for analyzing genetic variability in plants, Labra contributes to developing cutting-edge methodologies for biodiversity.
– Silvia Bianchelli, Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Marche, with a background in marine biology and ecology and extensive experience in international research projects such as H2020 MERCES and EU-EASME AFRIMED. She is the co-coordinator of Spoke 2, which focuses on the restoration of marine ecosystems within the NBFC.
– Francesco Frati, Full Professor of Zoology at the University of Siena, whose career includes serving as Rector and head of the Department of Evolutionary Biology. His research spans insect phylogeny to genomic and mitochondrial evolution, making a valuable contribution to the phylogeography and systematics of organisms.
– Lorena Rebecchi, Full Professor of Zoology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Director of the Department of Life Sciences, leads Spoke 3, dedicated to terrestrial biodiversity. Her research on the biodiversity of animals in extreme environments has been widely published and recognized internationally.

The conference provided an important platform for knowledge and skills exchange among scientists and researchers, promoting a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to addressing the biodiversity crisis and global environmental challenges. The National Biodiversity Future Center stands as a key player in biodiversity research and conservation, actively contributing to building a sustainable future.

“The main value of these large ecosystems of national centers is their capacity to aggregate. These centers bring together a multitude of researchers, each with their own projects, both new and past studies, which are often brought back to life. When data and knowledge are combined, the effect is astounding: it’s as if ‘one plus one plus one’ doesn’t equal ten, but a thousand. The aggregation of skills and resources generates immense potential. Another fundamental aspect is the creation of shared knowledge across various laboratories. Technologies and discoveries from one research group can be shared with others, facilitating rapid learning and continuous improvement. This process significantly accelerates the development of new knowledge and technologies.
In this context, young researchers also find great opportunities. They can complete parts of their doctoral studies in different centers, working with diverse colleagues and learning varied skills. This allows them to explore different methodologies and areas of research, enriching their education in a unique way. One of the main goals of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) is to reduce gender, generational, and territorial disparities. These large ecosystems, distributed throughout the country, give many people the opportunity to access resources and skills, creating a more inclusive and accessible system,” commented Massimo Labra at the end of the conference.

“Participating in a large-scale national center is an extraordinary opportunity for a researcher. It is one of the first experiences in Italy that succeeds in bringing together skills and resources, offering a unique experience even beyond national borders. This type of collaboration allows for a real exchange of experiences and the creation of a solid network that can also be used for future projects, both at the European level and in other international initiatives. Furthermore, it offers the opportunity to represent an entity with the potential to engage in dialogue with those who, institutionally, are reference points in biodiversity management and conservation. Thus, we become representative interlocutors of the Italian scientific community involved in biodiversity research. This makes us necessary and recognized figures by those who govern, and it gives us the strength to assert and promote the importance of science in institutional decisions concerning the environment and biodiversity,” added Maria Chiara Chiantore.