Two-day event on biodiversity

The aim of the event was to discuss the challenges and opportunities in Italy (in the Oltrepò Pavese area, south of Pavia, in Lombardy) and in Germany (in the Hanover region), as well as the potential for international collaboration and joint projects. The event highlighted the importance of biodiversity in today’s world, as well as the international and multidisciplinary nature of Leibniz University.

On 7 June 2018, following a welcome address by Prof. W. Nejdl, director of the L3S research centre, the workshop was officially opened by the mayor of Valverde, Giovanni Andrini, the mayor of Varzi, Gianfranco Alberti, and the representative of the Province of Pavia, Paolo Gramigna. The documentary “Il giardino delle farfalle” was followed by two presentations on biodiversity in Italy and Germany: “The Oltrepò as a paradigm of problems and opportunities for biodiversity conservation” (Prof. Giuseppe Bogliani, University of Pavia) and “Biodiversity and the transformation of land-use systems: examples from the Hanover region” (Prof. Hansjörg Küster, Institute of Geobotany, Leibniz University of Hanover).

On 8 June, Consul General Dr Giorgio Taborri welcomed the Italian delegation to the Consulate and described the event as an opportunity to further highlight the great potential of Italy’s regions, particularly the Oltrepò Pavese area, with its wealth of natural resources. In addition to Prof. Bogliani’s presentation, two other experts outlined their work: Dr Sergio Canobbio (ERSAF Lombardia) presented the “LIFE Gestire 2020 Integrated Project: a key opportunity for biodiversity in the Oltrepò”, and Francesco Gatti (butterfly observer and director of IOLAS, http://www.iolas.it) described Valverde Park: “A special place for butterflies and butterfly watching”.
The closing presentation was given by Bernd Galland (chairman of the board of trustees of the Paul Feindt Foundation for Ornithology, Animal and Biotope Conservation of the Hildesheim Ornithological Society OVH), who outlined the cultural landscape around Hildesheim and drew an interesting comparison between the Hildesheim region and the Oltrepò Pavese.

At the end of the event, guests were able to sample traditional specialities from the Otrepò Pavese region.