Spotlight on VERA in ISPRA magazine
15/01/2025
The VERA project team is excited to announce that VERA has been featured in the latest edition of the prestigious ISPRA magazine, "Innovazioni per la sostenibilità locale". This comprehensive feature showcases the project's pivotal role in addressing critical challenges related to biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience.
The editorial team of ISPRA (Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) recently interviewed Paolo Belloni, founder of the Botanical Conservatory of "I Giardini di Pomona" and a partner in the VERA project. He illustrated and described the project, its objectives, and the main activities it encompasses.
Paolo Belloni's interview in brief
Belloni delves into the project's core objectives, completed activities, and ongoing initiatives, such as the exchange and transplantation of Ficus carica varieties between Puglia and Dalmatia. He also emphasizes the critical role of collaboration among project partners, including the Municipality of Larino, the Lead Partner, with its focus on sustainable farming education, and the Croatian associations, Sunce and Permaculture Dalmatia, contributing expertise in environmental education and permaculture. Belloni expressed satisfaction with the partnership he was involved in. Each partner's specialized expertise - from biodiversity conservation to sustainable farming techniques - has been instrumental in the project's success. By fostering cross-border cooperation, VERA exemplifies how unified efforts can address shared challenges and create lasting impacts.
The project's mission is to preserve endangered agricultural species, engage younger generations in sustainable practices, and reconnect local communities with nature. As detailed in the article, VERA has achieved remarkable milestones, with the team from I Giardini di Pomona being directly involved. Among the activities Belloni is particularly proud of is the creationg of a digital catalog of over 125 fig varieties, showcasing their unique pomological and morphological characteristics, the conduction of cross-border exchanges of traditional fig varieties between Italy and Croatia to foster agircultural biodiversity and climate adaptation, and the organization interactive workshops and educational activities for farmers and students to promote sustainable agricultural practices such as permaculture, agroforesty, and organic farming.
A recognition of excellence
Being featured in the ISPRA megazine is a significant honor for the VERA project. This recognition from ISPRA underscores the importance of the partnership in addressing glocal environmental challenges while promoting local sustainability. It is a testament to the dedication, collaboration and innovative spirit of the entire VERA team. The latter is proud to see its efforts highlighted in such a respected publication, which further motivates it to continue championing biodiversity preservation and sustainable practices.
Read the interview in the latest edition of the ISPRA magazine attached!