The ecosystem services provided by the Nature Based Solutions: a case study in Reggio Emilia

Overurbanization is leading to environmental challenges to both human health and biodiversity. Nature based solution (NBS) have an essential and functional role within the cities, enhancing urban livability, restoring biodiversity and providing several ecosystem services (ES). This research presents results regarding the intervention of natural restoration occurred on an experimental project in "Marco Biagi" park in Reggio Emilia (Italy), as a part of the European Project Life CityAdap3, with the scientific support of Natural Biodiversity and Future Centre. Four types of environmental landscape elements were introduced in the area: two micro-forests, rural edges, trees in rows and a wetland, where several hydrophytes have been planted. Micro- - density pattern trying to simulate natural processes of ecological succession, from pioneer species to climax vegetation. The two micro-forests were realized involving different chorotypes: native species, characteristics of the woods of Po plain for the native micro-forest while adaptive microforest had primarily Mediterranean species, being these more suitable for future climatic conditions. Data about the first year of environmental monitoring and ES evaluation were collected through 2024. Biodiversity assessment was performed with Shannon-Weiner index and the biological spectrum on the two micro-forests and on the entire green area. The evaluation of microclimatic mitigation occurred through the comparison of climate data collected on the green area with ones collected within built up area in the same city. Moreover, iTree model has been applied to estimate carbon storage to find out which species have a greater carbon sink capacity, using allometric data. Lastly, the analysis of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by the two types of micro-forest were determined through gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer. The present research has tried to quantify the ES supplied by an urban green area enriched with environmental landscape elements, providing a repeatable and reproducible example of natural restoration within the cities.