Non-native invasive species as paradoxical ecosystem services in urban conservation education
C. Battisti,
G. Fanelli,
S. Bertolino,
L. Luiselli,
L. Luiselli,
G. Amori,
S. Gippoliti
Affiliations
C. Battisti
“Torre Flavia” LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station,
Città Metropolitana di Roma, Servizio Aree protette, parchi regionali, via Tiburtina, 691, 00159 Rome, Italy
G. Fanelli
Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, via della ricerca scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
S. Bertolino
Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi,
Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy
L. Luiselli
IDECC – Institute for Development, Ecology, Conservation and
Cooperation, via G. Tomasi di Lampedusa 33, 00144 Rome, Italy
L. Luiselli
Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University
of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080 Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
G. Amori
National Research Council (CNR) Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Rome, Italy
S. Gippoliti
Società Italiana per la Storia della Fauna “Giuseppe Altobello” Viale Liegi, 48A, 00198 Rome, Italy
Many practices have been proposed in conservation education to facilitate a re-connection between nature and the young digital generation in anthropized contexts. In this paper we suggest that, at least in some specific circumstances (urban and suburban areas), non-native invasive species may have a paradoxical and positive impact in conservation education strategies, playing a role as an experiential tool, which represents a cultural ecosystem service, i.e. an ecosystem service that produces cultural benefits by improving pro-environmental behaviours in young people.
