Events

MONALISA project

Foto monalisa

Testing effective solutions to prevent and reverse land degradation and desertification, highlighting the socio-economic and environmental benefits of the proposed actions. This is the main objective of the MONALISA project, which was launched on Tuesday 1 October in Sassari in the new Teaching Building of the Department of Agriculture (v.le Italia 39a).
Funded by the Horizon Europe program (MISS-2023-SOIL-01-04) with approximately 7.4 million euros and coordinated by the Desertification Research Unit of the University of Sassari, MONALISA (MONitoring and Assessing prevention and restoration soLutIons to combat deSertificAtion) involves a large international consortium composed of 20 partners, 2 associated partners and 1 affiliated entity, from 9 EU and non-EU countries: Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, Greece, Romania, Switzerland, Tunisia and Palestine.
The stakeholders are research institutes, public authorities, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and small and medium-sized enterprises.
MONALISA will adopt a transdisciplinary approach, integrating scientific and local knowledge, emerging from new and consolidated social learning spaces. These spaces will involve multi-sectoral stakeholders and multi- and interdisciplinary researchers, focusing on several innovative solutions, including: adaptive multi-paddock grazing systems, microorganism-based solutions, conservation agriculture practices, ecological restoration techniques, water harvesting systems and reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture. One of the main outcomes of the project will be the creation of a multi-modular and practice-oriented Decision Support System (DSS). This system will use advanced technologies, including remote sensing and artificial intelligence, to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.

The ultimate goal of MONALISA is to foster new business opportunities and stimulate public and private investments in sustainable solutions, thus contributing to the economic growth and environmental sustainability of European and Mediterranean arid areas.

NRD at COP16 in Riyadh

As in previous editions, the Research Unit on Desertification (NRD) will be present at COP16 as co-organizer, together with DesertNet International (DNI), the French Scientific Committee on Desertification (CSFD) and the UN University for Peace (UPEACE), of two important events. The first "Promoting a new system of scientific and societal knowledge: research, education and training for an effective and contextualized fight against land degradation", a round table that will be held on 7 December moderated by the Director of the NRD prof. Quirico Migheli: researchers, representatives of civil society and members of the UNCCD Science Policy Interface will discuss the role of research and education to create a new generation of researchers capable of addressing the issues of desertification and drought through ethical and interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting global citizenship and sustainable land management. The second event "Rethinking desertification and land restoration: bridging science, policy and practice at COP16 UNCCD", will be held on 10 December. Organized with the support of the PRIMA research projects "SALAM MED" (coordinated by Prof. Pier Paolo Roggero, NRD - University of Sassari) and "WATDEV" (coordinated by Dr. Mauro Centritto, CNR Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection), it will explore the challenges of "desert greening" and changes in land use to combat desertification.

For more information: Quirico Migheli – qmigheli@uniss.it

Desertification drought day

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the NRD center has organized, for the next week, a series of thematic events:

June 17 - Opening event One week for our land: research and innovation to combat drought and desertification; A week for our land: research and innovation to combat desertification and drought processes

June 18 - Our Water, Our Legacy: Current Solutions for Future Generations

June 19 - Soil organic amendments: sustainability for soil health

June 20 - Combating desertification: success stories from across the African continent, this event is co-organized by DesertNetInternational

The events of the 17th in the evening and the 20th in the morning are in person in Italian

Downloading the posters you can access the Zoom links.