A model of the solar system made by children at the Crescere nel bosco (“Growing up in the Wood”) elementary school in Velletri. "The Crescere nel Bosco association firmly believes that we can and should guarantee and protect the natural rights of children and it also believes in the right of the earth that hosts us to be loved. It’s a slow, gentle revolution, with strong and secure roots," a teacher tells us.

A robin (Erithacus rubecula) about to be released after being fitted with an identification ring by researchers at the Bocca di Caset research station in Tremalzo. The station, which opened in 1997 and is managed by the MUSE science museum in Trento, is part of EURING, a European network of bird ringing centers. Sharing information with similar centers throughout Europe has enabled researchers to record, in the case of some species, a shifting trend in the migratory period and a fluctuation in migratory populations. This is both in terms of numbers and places of origin, with ranges moving further and further north. Climate change is believed to be driving these variations.

Django on one of the trees in the playground at the Crescere nel bosco (“Growing up in the Wood”) school at Pratoni del Vivaro in the municipality of Velletri. Constant and direct contact with the natural environment enables children to understand that they are an integral part of it.

The tattoos of an environmental activist at the Venice Climate Camp, an event for discussion and dialogue on issues of climate justice and the defense of the local area.

Alice, 11 years old, and Cosimo, 6 years old, from Giudecca Island, cleaning up the shores of Poveglia Island on Venice’s southern lagoon. The land re-appropriation projects by Poveglia Per Tutti (“Poveglia For Everyone”) activists and volunteers include organizing clean-up days.

Emanuela Granata, Diana Sciandra, Alessandro Franzoi, Giovanni Colombo and Corrado Alessandroni at the Bocca di Caset bird ringing station near Tremalzo in the province of Trento. During the summer season, researchers are active 24 hours a day, capturing bird specimens with nets, then surveying their vital characteristics, taking body measurements, and applying an identification ring, prior to releasing them.

The Monte Cairo (Mount Cairo) forest, which was destroyed by fires started by arsonists in 2017 and 2020, is an area that has been chosen for collective reforestation by Driade volunteers. To date, volunteers have planted about 1.5 million seeds of pioneer trees and shrubs on more than 80 hectares of land.

A specimen of the mountain hare, or alpine or variable hare (Lepus timidus) in the vertebrate zoology collection at the MUSE science museum in Trento. This species lives at medium and high alpine altitudes and is extremely exposed to ongoing climate change. In mountainous areas, due to rising temperatures, there has been an increase in the number of specimens of the common hare, which is more generalist and therefore more adaptable than the mountain hare, which suffers from increasing interspecific competition (i.e., between species).

A detail of the Cervaiole Quarry. The Apuane Libere (“Free the Apuan Alps”) association carries out monitoring activities and reports by irregularities by companies that engage in marble quarrying.

Elena Bocelli from the Mondeggi community during an event for the must (wort) festival on the farm. The Mondeggi community finances and promotes agricultural production on the farm with public events such as the must (wort) festival which promotes small-scale wine producers in synergy with the local area.

A detail of the entrance to the Rucciano Estate on the Mondeggi Farm. The Mondeggi experience began when farmers occupied a 200-farm hectare farm, claiming the right to land and self-production. Today Mondeggi is one of the most vibrant organizations in the area and its legitimacy has been recognized by institutions.

Activists at the Venice Climate Camp, an event held annually at the Venice Lido where participants discuss issues of climate justice and defense of the local area.

A town hall meeting of "lands in convergence" movements for discussing issues related to the transformations of the Mondeggi community. In recent years, the community has begun a process of recognition by institutions and redevelopment of the land itself through funds allocated by the national recovery and resilience plan.

The photovoltaic system at the Mondeggi Farm which provides electricity to the Rucciano Estate, thus making it completely self-sufficient.

Susanna Sarno, a member of the Mondeggi community, cutting up a piglet. Raising animals on the farm is part of the food self-determination projects underlying the community’s principles.

A volunteer collects hornbeam seeds during a group activity organized by the Driade association near Esperia, in the province of Frosinone. Harvesting is carried out during the summer and fall months, and the seeds are then put in cold storage. During the two days of activity, the volunteers collected nearly 400,000 seeds of various tree species, including dogwood, hawthorn, terebinth, dogwood, and blackthorn. During the same period, arsonists started three fires, burning dozens of hectares of forest in the surrounding area.

A volunteer collects hornbeam seeds during a group activity organized by the Driade association near Esperia, in the province of Frosinone. Harvesting is carried out during the summer and fall months, and the seeds are then put in cold storage. During the two days of activity, the volunteers collected nearly 400,000 seeds of various tree species, including dogwood, hawthorn, terebinth, dogwood, and blackthorn. During the same period, arsonists started three fires, burning dozens of hectares of forest in the surrounding area.

Danilo Mollicone in the burned forest on Monte Cairo (Mount Cairo) in the Aurunci mountain range. Danilo is an FAO forest ecologist and scientific coordinator in the Monte Cairo reforestation project that is being carried out by the Driade association. The association brings together dozens of volunteers from all over Italy for direct harvesting and planting activities for pioneer trees and shrubs typical of the central Apennines, with a focus on fruit-bearing species that support local wildlife.