Environment: An "open data" green archive for sustainable urban green
4/6/2020
Research offers new solutions for greener and more sustainable cities. Anthosart Green Tool, an open data tool developed by ENEA and Forum Plinianum onlus to learn about plants and design green areas, optimizing water consumption and costs while protecting biodiversity, has been indicated by the Ministry of the Environment for the Protection of the Territory and the Sea as a useful tool to facilitate an economic and sustainable management of public green spaces.
In particular, Anthosart Green Tool has been included among the tools capable of supporting PAs and operators engaged in the management of public green areas, to comply with the new Minimum Environmental Criteria [1] (CAM) adopted by Minister Sergio Costa[2] with the objective of identifying optimal solutions, products and services from an environmental point of view, throughout the life cycle, also taking into account market availability. Free of charge via PC, smartphone and tablet, the tool will also enable nurserymen, designers and citizens to optimize management costs of greenery and reduce water consumption, an item of expenditure that exceeds 190 million euro in Italy every year. Anthosart Green Tool also facilitates the identification of criteria for the correct choice of plant species, preserving biodiversity from the risk of introducing 'alien' species that can cause damage.
Created as part of the project Anthosart, funded by MIUR, the tool is dedicated to over 7000 species of Italian flora and their cultural and ethnobotanical value and offers a choice among 1400 annual or perennial plant species. Specifically, by selecting some parameters (geographical area, altitude, type of infrastructure to be built, level of brightness, humidity and salinity of the soil) users can access information on the species of the spontaneous Italian flora suitable for aesthetic, physiognomic, ecological, edaphic (relative to the soil) and climatic characteristics of the place where the plants will be introduced.
There’s more. Access to photographs, botanical cards, cultural insights, practical advice and useful links with references to gastronomy, art, literature and folklore is also provided. "Anthosart Green Tool is a database offering a useful contribution both for green infrastructures designers and those who want to approach the monumental heritage of Italian plants variety, which is a powerful cultural engine " Patrizia Menegoni of the ENEA Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, pointed out.
This tool is a step forward towards the construction of cheaper urban green, more integrated with the local floristic and landscape contexts, more effective in contributing to the public health and beauty of our cities, in short, a sustainable, “high quality” green.
For more information please contact:
Patrizia Menegoni, ENEA - Division Protection and Enhancement of the Territory and Natural Heritage - patrizia.menegoni@enea.it
To access Anthosart Green Tool: https://anthosart.florintesa.it
Videos of the project Anthosart: https://www.florintesa.it/video/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpKftVoNi84
Decree and technical attachment containing CAM: https://www.minambiente.it/sites/default/files/archivio/allegati/GPP/2020/guri_dm_63_del_2020_verde_002.pdf
[1] Decreto del Ministro n. 63 del 10 marzo 2020 e pubblicazione in Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 90 del 4 aprile 2020 -