MONALISA at SIEP-IALE 2025: Landscape Ecology and Nature Restoration in Focus

From June 26–28, 2025, the MONALISA project was presented at the SIEP-IALE Conference 2025, held at the Botanical Garden of the University of Palermo, Italy. This year’s theme, “Nature Restoration Law: the role and challenges for Landscape Ecology”, provided a timely and relevant platform to discuss how landscape-level approaches and ecological knowledge can support the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Law.

Representing MONALISA, Valentina Rastelli (ISPRA) delivered a general presentation of the project, outlining its objectives, structure, and key partners, while highlighting one of its core outputs: the Decision Support System (DSS) for sustainable land management. The presentation placed special emphasis on the Alta Murgia case study, offering insights into its role within the broader MONALISA framework.

The SIEP-IALE Conference brought together around 40 experts and participants, from local institutions to national stakeholders, with backgrounds in landscape ecology, ecological restoration, and environmental policy. The event fostered open dialogue on the implications and opportunities presented by the EU’s proposed Nature Restoration Law, with a particular focus on:

• The challenges of integrating restoration objectives at landscape scale
• The role of science-based tools, such as MONALISA’s DSS, in guiding restoration priorities
• The importance of data, mapping, and ecological connectivity in landscape-level planning

MONALISA’s contribution helped situate the project within ongoing efforts to translate scientific research into policy-relevant actions, demonstrating how its transdisciplinary methodology and territorial case studies directly support EU restoration targets.

The Alta Murgia National Park (Italy) is one of MONALISA’s six Mediterranean case studies, selected for its socio-ecological complexity and exposure to land degradation risks. At the conference, the MONALISA team illustrated how targeted restoration actions, informed by spatial analysis and stakeholder engagement, are being tested in this region. The presentation also explored how the lessons learned can be scaled and replicated across other vulnerable landscapes in the Mediterranean.

Participation in the SIEP-IALE Conference strengthens MONALISA’s engagement with the academic and ecological restoration community, while advancing its mission to integrate cutting-edge landscape ecology, policy alignment, and local action. As the Nature Restoration Law moves toward implementation, MONALISA’s tools and case studies offer practical pathways for achieving measurable environmental improvements on the ground.