RETURN TO NATURE - Digital Landscape at the Service of Sustainable Development
"RITORNO ALLA NATURA: Digital Landscape at the Service of Sustainable Development", a symposium regarding projects, perspectives, and actions to advance the European Green Deal and accelerate the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Projects, perspectives, and actions to advance the European Green Deal and accelerate the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were at the heart of the symposium “RITORNO ALLA NATURA: Digital Landscape at the Service of Sustainable Development” held on 9 October at the LAC in Lugano. In the post-COVID era, the synergy between nature and innovation has emerged as a key driver for socio-economic revitalisation.
The symposium was organised by LAND Suisse and the Fondazione Möbius, a cultural institution dedicated to innovation, with the support of the Republic and Canton of Ticino, and the Municipalities of Airolo, Bellinzona, and Lugano, alongside technical partner IKON Digital Farm.
As Europe navigates an era of profound transition, marked by the impact of human activity and the increasing pressure on the ecological, economic, and social balance of its territories, the event aimed to identify development opportunities that can foster sustainable community growth.
Digital Landscape was highlighted as a crucial tool for shaping the regenerative future, reconnecting people with nature. This concept was presented as key for both public administrations and design firms to:
- Propose new formats that make visible the actions taken in the territory, engaging the community in ongoing and potential transformations, and fostering new forms of interaction with “landscape-driven” communities to understand local needs and aspirations.
- Enhance the communicative effectiveness of environmental data to promote ecological awareness and encourage citizen involvement in sustainability, climate emergency, and biodiversity issues.
- Disseminate knowledge of the territory through digital means, valorising the pre-existing historical and cultural identity of a place to foster civic awareness and promote sustainable tourism, in line with the United Nations SDGs.
- Redesign the role and use of public spaces in the post-pandemic phase, aiming to build cities that are resilient and capable of responding to the need for greater connection with nature. The increased use of technology, driven by the necessity for safety and physical distancing, can enhance the everyday urban experience, improving livability and human scale in urban landscapes.
- Digitalise the measurement of environmental and biodiversity data by integrating green spaces into a “green digital infrastructure.” This system can serve as a sustainable tool in the fight against climate change, generating functional benefits in terms of environmental resilience.
The symposium featured selected case studies from Switzerland, demonstrating a synergistic collaboration between LAND and local authorities. These included the Airolo Valley Renaturation (one of Switzerland’s major environmental recovery projects as part of the Gottardo Tunnel’s enhancement), the Bellinzona PAC (Municipal Action Programme aimed at guiding the future development of the new municipality by 2040 and transforming the “Ex Officine FFS” into a multifunctional district), and the “Raggio Verde” del Cassarate and “Parco dello Sport” in Lugano (an integrated regeneration project to enhance the environmental system and change the perception and use of urban territory).
The discussion on development strategies focused on tourism and territorial knowledge, sectors that can act as catalysts for economic recovery. The potential of digitalisation to create synergies with culture, sport, and events was also explored.
Participants in the symposium included: Andreas Kipar; Federico Scopinich, Director of LAND Suisse; Alessio Petralli, Director of the Fondazione Möbius; Paolo Poggiati, Head of Territorial Development for Canton Ticino; Franco Pedrini, Mayor of Airolo, and Francesca Pedrina of the Municipality of Airolo; Mario Branda, Mayor of Bellinzona, and Simone Gianini of the Municipality of Bellinzona; Marco Borradori, Mayor of Lugano; and Enrico Degrassi, CEO of IKON. The panel discussion was moderated by Francesca Motta, a journalist with RSI.
