Copernicus
Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 for structural metrics, productivity, moisture, vegetation and temporal continuity.
Project
Ecological Restoration Living Lab.
A living laboratory in a real landscape, using technology, science and field monitoring to measure ecosystem condition and demonstrate ecological improvement with defensible data.
What it is
A Living Lab is a real-world laboratory embedded in a territory.
It is not a conventional laboratory or a one-off technical report. It is a real landscape where land managers, public authorities, science and the private sector design, test and adapt ecological restoration interventions while the ecosystem itself responds.
Technology makes that response observable over time: Copernicus Sentinel imagery, ecological modelling, field sensors, camera traps, passive acoustic monitoring and periodic follow-up. The outcome is a time series of evidence: what changes, where it changes, how much it improves and which intervention explains that improvement best.
Ecosystem condition
Structure, composition and function measured over time.
Ecosystem condition is measured through three complementary dimensions: the physical configuration of habitat, the biological communities present and the ecological processes sustained by the system.
- Structure. Cover, productivity, connectivity and the spatial configuration of habitat.
- Composition. Identity and abundance of species and biological communities.
- Function. Ecological processes, water regulation, soil, refuge, food resources and ecosystem services.
How it is measured
Four layers to move from environmental claims to evidence.
Modelling
Translation of satellite signals into condition indicators and ecological evolution scenarios.
Field evidence
Camera traps and passive acoustic monitoring to verify biological response in fauna, birds, orthoptera and bats.
Monitoring
Baseline, periodic measurements and traceability to demonstrate additional improvement against the initial state.
Biological verification
Restoration is corrected through evidence, not assumptions.
Each measurement cycle feeds back into the intervention design: if an action does not generate ecological response, it is adjusted; if satellite improvement is not confirmed in the field, it is reviewed; if wildlife responds, the project gains evidence that is difficult to replace.
- Camera trapping for presence, habitat use and activity.
- Passive acoustic monitoring for birds, bats and indicator insects.
- Comparison against baseline and reference areas.
What it enables
A defensible time series for decisions, finance and reporting.
- Demonstrate improvement. Evidence of positive evolution against baseline, not only an intention to restore.
- No deterioration principle. A useful basis for aligning projects with Regulation (EU) 2024/1991.
- Double materiality. Technical information that can support corporate reporting linked to biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Outcomes-based finance. A foundation for mechanisms where payment or investment depends on measurable improvement.
Practical reference
A living lab needs territory, time and collaboration.
The approach is inspired by living-lab experiences in real territories, such as La Ronca’s ACC Lab, where ecological measurement is combined with management, learning and continuous improvement.
- Baseline. Measure the starting point before intervening.
- Intervention. Restore, manage and adjust based on evidence.
- Monitoring. Learn, demonstrate improvement and communicate responsibly.
The Living Lab does not replace official certification or regulatory verification where those are required. Its role is to create a measurement, learning and evidence infrastructure so restoration can be assessed rigorously.
Discuss the Living Lab