On September 3rd, 2022, the Bosco Colto Festival took place in Caltagirone, specifically in the village of Santo Pietro and at the Experimental Station of Granicoltura, weaving together research and innovation through a diverse program of events that included music, theater, meetings, dialogues, and gastronomic tastings, all focused on rediscovering and regenerating places. The event, organized by Prof. Arch. Marco Navarra, a professor of architectural design at the University of Catania, offered various moments of sharing and discovery.
In this context, Professor Giuseppe Cirelli delivered a presentation titled “Nature-based solution (NBS) for water management in urban and sub-urban areas,”. The discussion highlighted the challenges posed by climate change and the increasing soil impermeabilization due to urbanization. Furthermore, ongoing activities and initial results from hydraulic modeling activities within the GIFLUID project, involving the cross-border territories of Malta and Sicily, were presented to evaluate the effects of green infrastructures.
The report highlighted the limitations of traditional grey infrastructures in effectively managing meteoric waters and explored the importance and applicability of NBS and Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRM). These multifunctional tools aim to protect water resources and address water-related challenges, maintaining or restoring ecosystems. The concept of “Sponge City” was introduced, and various types of urban green infrastructures, such as rain gardens and porous pavements, were explored, with the aim of reducing drainage volume and improving water quality through pre-treatment systems for pollutant removal. Through practical examples and case studies, such as the implementation of green infrastructures in Sicily and the use of phytodepuration techniques, the report illustrated how the planning, design, and management of green infrastructures require a multidisciplinary and multi-objective approach.
These strategies are addressed in detail in the CSEI notebook volume 17, available online on the CSEI CATANIA website titled “GREEN INFRASTRUCTURES FOR WATER MANAGEMENT: CRITERIA AND CASE STUDIES“, available at the link https://globaluserfiles.com/media/110822_86b4995fa86cc2cfd6cd0e33df07e020d4c901a4.pdf/o/csei_catania_17.pdf, emphasizing the importance of trees and green infrastructures, not only for water management but also for improving biodiversity and quality of life in urban areas.
