Sandro Pignatti: a pioneer in the research on urban ecology

Abstract

Urban ecology has developed through different scientific traditions, including the Arizona school focusing on urban biotic communities, the Chinese school emphasizing urban metabolism and ecosystem services, and the Berlin school highlighting biodiversity and urban planning. Inspired by the work of Herbert Sukopp and the Berlin school, urban ecology was introduced in Rome in the 1980s by Sandro Pignatti, who initiated systematic studies of the city’s flora and ecosystems. Rome represents a unique case among European cities due to its exceptionally high biodiversity, with more than 1,600 vascular plant species recorded within the municipal territory. This richness is linked to the presence of extensive natural areas within the urban matrix, a relatively loose urban fabric with many semi-natural and abandoned spaces, and an ecological network of corridors connecting urban and peri-urban habitats.

The recognition of this biodiversity led in the 1990s to the establishment of the RomaNatura network of protected areas. This paper examines the ecological and social dynamics underlying urban biodiversity conservation in Rome, focusing on two case studies: the Aguzzano Urban Regional Park and the ex SNIA Viscosa Natural Monument. In Aguzzano Park, a citizen science project combining grid-based floristic surveys and remote sensing analysis enabled the mapping of vegetation communities and highlighted the role of collaborative research in documenting urban biodiversity. The ex SNIA site illustrates how spontaneous ecological restoration following industrial abandonment generated a highly diverse ecosystem that mobilized citizen activism and ultimately resulted in legal protection.

These cases demonstrate how the interaction between scientific research, civic engagement, and urban planning can foster the recognition and protection of novel urban ecosystems. The Roman experience highlights the potential of cities as biodiversity reservoirs and living laboratories for studying socio-ecological systems, emphasizing the importance of integrating ecological knowledge, citizen participation, and urban governance in biodiversity conservation.