Home » Sorapiss, glaciers in retreat and biodiversity in extinction: a video to raise awareness

Sorapiss, glaciers in retreat and biodiversity in extinction: a video to raise awareness

by admin

Science Museum, University of Milan and Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites, for the European Day of Parks, have launched the new video, in which they tell the research conducted in recent years in this glacial area with the aim of highlighting the uniqueness, but also the risks of this Unesco World Heritage site.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO. Frequented every summer by thousands of tourists, the turquoise lake of Sorapiss, located in the Ampezzo Dolomites, and the glaciers that feed it, represent an extremely dynamic environment, but at the same time vulnerable, in which the living and non-living components seek a continuous balance conveying their charm to visitors. Science Museum, University of Milan and Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites, for the European Day of Parks, have launched the new video “Glaciers in retreat. Biodiversity in extinction ”, in which they recount the research carried out in recent years in this glacial area with the aim of highlighting the uniqueness, but also the risks of this Unesco World Heritage site.

«Until a few years ago, Lake Sorapiss was one of the many destinations in the Ampezzo Dolomites, together with many other beautiful lakes in this area. For some time, tourism has been gradually increasing. Climate change and the increasing number of people in certain areas of the Dolomites have hit this area in an accelerated manner, putting us in front of serious problems of conservation and doubts about the sustainability of tourist traffic », explains Michele Da Pozzo, director of the Ampezzo Dolomites Park. “With the specialists of Muse and the University of Milan we are studying the past and present dynamics as well as the flora and fauna biodiversity of this site, and we will do everything to safeguard it and leave it, as far as possible, still usable”.

See also  Francesca's appeal: "My son Lorenzo isolated from illness and pain. Write him letters, tell him about the world out there"

Among the Sorapiss peaks, Muse and the University of Milan are studying the vegetation and fauna (in particular insects and spiders) that live on the glacial surface. Cryophilic species, some endemic and accustomed to thermally extreme environments, which – such as Saxifraga sedoides for the plant world and some species of insects belonging to the Carabidae family – are found mainly on the surface of the glacier, and no longer in neighboring environments such as scree, as it is no longer able to offer suitable thermal conditions. Hence, the importance of studying them: rapid climate change could lead in a few decades to significant ecological changes in these environments and the communities they host.

«The retreat of glaciers frees ever larger areas that are colonized by plant and animal organisms. It is like moving in time, observing the stages of this slow and progressive conquest of originally barren land. Difficult and unstable soils, which require particular adaptations: an example is the Alpine Poppy, yellow in color to attract pollinators. The slow passage from these pioneer communities to mature and structured communities is one of those dynamic phenomena triggered by climate change that we must learn to know and monitor because they affect all high altitude environments in an important way “, underlines Marco Caccianiga, botanist of the University of Milan.

Finally, a word to the caretaker of the “Alfonso Vandelli” refuge at Sorapiss Sabrina Pais: «We need a greater awareness of the environment, nature and everything that surrounds us. They are gifts that we have received and we have the duty to keep them both for ourselves and for future generations ».

You may also like

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More

Privacy & Cookies Policy