In the implementation of EUPress project’s activities the students from Liceo Machiavelli (Rome) were involved in an educational visit to an important nature reserve on the outskirts of Rome, the Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano. This area was chosen both for its institutional role and for the naturalistic value and high level of biodiversity found within it. The Estate, in fact, falls both as a Special Protection Area and as a Site of Community Importance, within the EU Natura 2000 Network, introduced with the Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC.
The students were guided by researchers, who were directly involved in the reserve to discover the importance of protected areas in safeguarding natural habitats. They were also shown bird ringing techniques for monitoring the migratory routes of birds and the role of such monitoring in detecting any effects of human activities on them.
The visit was preceded by a preparatory didactic activity, during which the concept of biodiversity was introduced, emphasising the importance of its conservation also in relation to some of the goals of the 2030 Agenda (15 Life on Earth, 14 Life under Water and 13 Fight against Climate Change).
After these activities, the students were involved in a shared reflection on the issues addressed and the strategies that the European community could implement in this regard. At the end, they were asked to develop short videos or billboards with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of environmental protection.
