BioBlitz on Monte Pisano organized by Sant'Anna School contributes to the global success of the City Nature Challenge
The event engaged approximately 200 citizens, including 86 observers who collected over 1,400 observations, documenting 433 species and contributing to the world’s largest biodiversity census.
The counts for the City Nature Challenge 2026 have concluded — the world's largest participatory biodiversity monitoring initiative. Once again this year, BioBlitz Monte Pisano made a significant contribution to this great collective census of nature, engaging citizens, enthusiasts, naturalists and families in the discovery and documentation of species inhabiting the area.
On Sunday 26 April,
The event engaged approximately 200 citizens, including 86 observers collected 1,422 observations, documenting 433 different species of plants, animals and fungi present on Monte Pisano. As many as 667 observations reached Research Grade status, thus becoming part of the scientific databases used by researchers and institutions around the world.
The BioBlitz Monte Pisano initiative is organised by the Agroecology Group, led by Professor Anna Camilla Moonen, and by the Ecosystems and Public Engagement organisational unit of Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, in collaboration with the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa, the Municipalities of Calci, Buti, San Giuliano Terme, Vecchiano and Vicopisano, together with WWF, La Strada dell'Olio, the Agroecology Desk of Calci and the association Dèi Camminanti.
A territory rich in biodiversity
The results confirm the naturalistic value of Monte Pisano, an area that encompasses diverse habitats and hosts a rich variety of plant, animal and fungal species. The observations collected during the BioBlitz represent an up-to-date snapshot of local biodiversity and constitute an important contribution to the scientific knowledge of the territory.
At the same time, the initiative offered citizens a unique opportunity to get closer to the nature around them, discovering the local fauna and flora through expert-led excursions. An occasion to learn to observe biodiversity with a keener eye, develop greater environmental awareness and personally contribute to its protection.
Among the most significant findings are the numerous records of plant and animal species characteristic of Mediterranean ecosystems, as well as the documentation of species of particular conservation interest.
Among the most observed species on Monte Pisano during the event were pink garlic, the butterfly orchid and the Napoleon spider. Among the protected species recorded were the lesser orchid, the Italian sparrow and the common toad.
The power of participation
One of the most remarkable aspects of BioBlitz Monte Pisano was the direct involvement of the entire local community — from local authorities and territorial associations, to social promotion and voluntary organisations, through to the general public. Citizens of all ages explored trails, woodlands, farmland, parks and urban areas, contributing to the collection of scientific data through the iNaturalist app.
The initiative fostered an important meeting between expert naturalists, students, families and curious citizens, who worked side by side, demonstrating how knowledge of nature can become a shared experience accessible to all.
Every observation uploaded represents a valuable piece of the puzzle for scientific research and biodiversity conservation. The contribution of citizens makes it possible to monitor species distribution, identify changes in ecosystems and improve knowledge of the local natural heritage.
A local event in a global challenge
The City Nature Challenge was born in 2016 as a friendly competition among a few cities in California and today involves hundreds of cities and territories worldwide. The 2026 edition saw the participation of over 100,000 people across 754 cities in 62 countries on 6 continents, recording over 3 million observations.
In this global context, Monte Pisano's contribution takes on an international dimension: every observation collected in the area becomes part of a vast worldwide biodiversity archive, accessible to the international scientific community.
The results achieved demonstrate how even a local community can make a concrete contribution to the knowledge and protection of nature, participating in one of the largest citizen science projects in the world.
The success of the initiative confirms the growing interest of citizens in biodiversity and reinforces the role of BioBlitz Monte Pisano as a meeting point between science, environmental education and civic participation.
