Biodiversity and the fight against climate change
Flower Riviera, Genoa and surroundings, Gulf of Poets, Palm Riviera, Portofino and the Tigullio, The Cinque Terre
Six places in Liguria where biodiversity triumphs and the fight against climate change
Human activities are causing unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss, and the effects of climate change are further exacerbating this decline. However, squeezed between the sea and the mountains, Liguria has learnt how to mitigate its effects and maintain its unique, extraordinary characteristics. Here are six places where this happens!
The stages
Neptune grass meadowsMigratory birds in Beigua Park
The island of Bergeggi
Bees and Biodiversity in Aveto Park
Monumental Trees
The dry
stone walls of the Cinque Terre
The Neptune Grass Meadwows
Posidonia oceanica, commonly known as Neptune grass, is a marine plant endemic to the Mediterranean Sea that forms veritable underwater forests that are fundamental to the balance of the coastal marine ecosystem. It is also excellent at absorbing large quantities of atmospheric and marine CO2, helping to mitigate climate change and counteracting acidification of the seas as well as being fundamental in maintaining marine biodiversity. The Ligurian sea, which is rich in posidonia, can make an important contribution, therefore many reforestation projects have sprung up. The “BRAIN (Blue Restoration) - The underwater prairies of Laigueglia” project will operate in the sea in front of the village until 2027 to reforest the Neptune grass prairie, using a technique never before applied in Liguria, monitoring the development of underwater action and spreading new awareness about the sea and its importance for human life among citizens and tourists. 200 square metres of grassland will be reforested by laying metal 'cages' containing limestone rocks of different sizes, between which Neptune grass cuttings will be placed. The project is implemented by Reef Check Italia, with the Municipality of Laigueglia, the Politecnica University of the Marche - Department of Life and Environmental Sciences and ERI (European Research Institute).
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The wonder of migratory birds at Beigua Park
A paradise of biodiversity, in late winter by the passage of many migratory birds fly over Beigua Park. Between February e March , hundreds, thousands of cranes fly over Liguria heading north, guided by instinct, by the extraordinary innate compass of migratory birds. This phenomenon has been on the increase in recent years, and the area where it is easiest to see them is western Liguria, in particular between Monte Beigua and the Turchino Pass. Sunday 16 March will be Short-toed Eagle Day 2025, a day dedicated to observing the passage of large migratory birds of prey in the skies over Beigua: Short-toed eagles, Honey Buzzards, Kites, Marsh Harriers, Lesser Spotted Eagles and many other birds.
The island of Bergeggi
Not far from the coast and the Via Aurelia, the small Island of Bergeggi is a limestone cone in the middle of the sea that reaches an altitude of 53 metres. Years ago it was connected to the land, but then erosion and the action of the sea condemned (or saved) it to splendid isolation. Humans abandoned it many years ago, but some traces of them can still be found: the remains of the monastery built by the Bishop of Savona in 992 A.D. to venerate St Eugene, Bishop of Carthage, who confined himself to the island to save himself from the Vandals. There are also the ruins of the deportation colony that the Genoa people established there in 1385. But since then, the island has remained virtually the same. Treasure has grown over it: incredible nature, an area rich in biodiversityunique in the Mediterranean. In the sea between Noli and Bergeggi , there is an important prairie of Neptune grass, extending some 83 hectares as far as the island that was recently reforestedby the University of Genoa and the Yacht Club Italiano, on the occasion of the Rolex Giraglia 2024. The seabed is also home to algae such as Cymodocea nodosa and Cystoseira, indicators of a healthy environment, not to mention the large colonies of coral (of the 117 types surveyed in Italy, 54 are from Bergeggi), gorgonians, anemones and incredible fish fauna (how can we forget the famous 'Bergeggi mechanical shrimp'?) that provide unforgettable moments for divers, open water swimmers and snorkelers. The incrediblly transparent waters also attract kayakers and SUPs from all over Europe.
Bees and biodiversity in the Aveto Park
The Aveto Park is a mosaic of environments and biodiversity: meadows, pastures, areas created and maintained thanks to thousands of years of animal activity that are also important productive environments for bees. These very environments and the human activities that maintain them are showcased and promoted by the Interreg project#CamBioVIA, in which the Aveto Park also participates.
These are beautiful environments to visit with easy trekking, such as the Sentiero Natura del Laghetto del Bocco, discovering the flora and fauna of the Park's wetlands or the beautiful foresta del Monte Zatta.
In the area, there are many honey producers offering experiences to learn about the world of bees and how honey is produced, as well as offering products of exceptional quality.
Here is the list of honey producers in the Aveto Valley:
https://www.parcoaveto.it/prodotti_dettaglio.php?id=2405
Monumental Trees
Liguria is the Italian region with the highest number of trees: around 75 per cent of its surface area is covered in forest.
In the home of The Baron in the Trees, trees are an important presence. But while in the days of the novel by Italo Calvino,it was possible to travel through Liguria from branch to branch, today monumental trees,are not only a natural and cultural heritage, they are also fundamental to combating climate change and preserving biodiversity.
Currently, the regional list of monumental trees, includes 145 specimens, distributed throughout the Ligurian territory and belonging to the most varied species, representative of Liguria's immense green heritage, forests and rural landscapes, but also of the valuable trees found in many urban parks, historic gardens and villas, as well as in the churchyards of ancient religious buildings. Here are six monumental trees not to be missed in Liguria. . From 27 February to 22 March 2025, an exhibition and a series of lectures in the Liguria Room at the Palazzo Ducale in Genoa informed the public of the historical, cultural and environmental importance of trees in our country: Trees, fragments of Italian history. d’Italia
App for the Cinque Terre Dry Stone Walls
Today, Porto Venere, Cinque Terre and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and we compare the dry stone walls to the pyramids, or the Great Wall of China. However, once upon a time, paths and walls were the roads, communication routes, the 'infrastructure' of this territory. The great thing is, however, that it is still the case today: they still fulfil their original function. However, this is a fragile paradise and someone needs to take care of it continuously, with all the care reserved for a living monument, who never stops moving and stems the battle with the climate, as is typical in Liguria. To this end, the Cinque Terre Park has set up a register for the daily care of the trail network and the area is monitored quite precisely. There is a system for walkers to check the walkability of the trail network in the Park in real time: it is the App Cinque Terre Hiking Guide which, in addition to providing information on the paths, their type and the various levels of difficulty, provides maps, indications on the locations, the state of the paths and allows interruptions or problems to be reported along the way.
