Final Forum of the cycle conceived and planned by the UrbanLab BiodiverCity Project
The event will be held on February 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., in the L. Quaroni Architecture and Design Hall.
On February 19, 2026 , at 9:30 a.m. , the CONCLUDING FORUM of the cycle conceived and planned by the UrbanLab BiodiverCity Project will take place in the 'L. Quaroni' Aula Magna of the Architecture and Design complex. This project is the product of the activities of the Third University Mission of the Integrated Laboratory for the Strait of Messina Area for the development of the territory of the Department of Architecture and Design and the Precision Mechanization Laboratory for agriculture and agri-food of the Department of Agriculture of the Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, in collaboration with the 'Planning - Special Laws' Sector of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria. The UrbanLab BiodiverCity Laboratory, among the actions envisaged by the Integrated Plan 'Aspromonte in Città', has been admitted to funding under line M5C2 – Investment 2.2 – Integrated Plans of the PNRR.
Following the three Forums dedicated to the Grecanica Area, the Locride Area, the Piana Area, and the Strait Area in 2024 exactly one year ago, conceived as an opportunity to exchange and share ideas, listen to the local community, and disseminate a new culture of greenery and issues related to the ecological transition, the Final Forum will be dedicated to the presentation of the project's outcomes, collected in the volume published by FrancoAngeli, " Atlas of ecosystem services of urban greenery. BiodiverCity for the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria ," and on the dedicated web portal https://biodivercity.unirc.it
In particular, some reflections developed during previous meetings will be shared with the formal and informal stakeholders present, as objectives of a new green culture and issues relating to the ecological transition. These have become key themes of the final volume, such as the design of the urban ecological network, the planning and management of metropolitan greenery, the relationship between hydraulic safety and ecological redevelopment, forest species useful for greenery planning, and the criteria for using tree species in urban areas .
The Final Forum will be opened by Rector Giuseppe Zimbalatti and Director General Pietro Foti of the Università Mediterranea, Director of the Department of Architecture and Design Consuelo Nava and Director of the Department of Agriculture Marco Poiana, Mayor of the City of Reggio Calabria Domenico Battaglia, Acting Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria Carmelo Versace, Councilor for the Environment of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria Salvatore Fuda, Director of the 'Planning - Special Laws' Sector of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria Domenica Catalfamo, and Project Manager Giandomenico Gangemi.
The Project's Scientific Director, Professor Concetta Fallanca, will present the project's results and the scheduled presentations, along with the experimental group composed of Professors Bruno Bernardi, Giuseppe Bombino, Fabio Lombardi, Pasquale A. Marziliano, Antonio Taccone, and Rocco Zappia.
The Mayors and Technicians of the Municipalities of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria are invited to the discussion
The following are invited to participate: the Professional Associations of Architects, PPC, Agronomists, Forestry Engineers, and Engineers; Professionals, Designers, and Planning Office Managers; Headmasters of secondary schools; the INU-Calabria Section; Directors of Archaeological Parks and the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape; the Aspromonte National Park Authority; cultural, environmental, and voluntary associations; trade associations; the Third Sector Forum; the Economic and Social Partnership; and Associations and Unions of Municipalities in the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria.
Research and Experimentation Group: Dr. Bruno Gianmarco Carrà, Dr. Chiara Corazziere, Architect Valentina Monteleone, Architect Maria Teresa Rizzo, Architect Elvira Stagno, and Dr. Giandomenico Gangemi, Planner
