Responsible Silvano Fares
Head office: Via Cavour, 4/6 - 87036 Rende (CS) - Calabria
Tel: +39.0984.841423
E-mail: silvano.fares@cnr.it

Secretariat

E-mail:administration.cs @isafom.cnr.it
Tel: +39.0984.841421 

ISAFOM Rende was initially characterised by research activities related to the study and analysis of the ecological processes that determine the functioning and dynamics of ecosystems in Mediterranean climate environments, for the optimisation of the use of natural resources, and for the enhancement of the functions of forest systems.

In particular, many activities have involved the natural laboratory of the Bonis Experimental Basin in the Sila National Park, where studies have been conducted since 1986 to assess the impact of forest cover on the hydrological balance and surface runoff, also in relation to changes in forest density.

 Currently, research activities cover the following macro-categories:

• Study of physical, geochemical, biological, geostatic and hydrological processes inherent to soil and forest systems in the Mediterranean environment;
• Monitoring and forecasting the impacts and responses of agricultural and forest ecosystems to anthropogenic and climatic pressures;
• Mapping Quiet Areas Forest Therapy;
• Landscape/Landscape Ecology;
• Ethno-botany; Ethno-pharmacology;
• Higher Education-Divulgation/Evaluation.

The research activities are detailed below:

• Characterisation of the physical and bio-chemical properties of soil;
• Application of statistical and geostatistical methods to the analysis of spatial variability of soil properties, modelling of soil processes, delineation of homogeneous management areas for precision agriculture;
• Microbiological and biochemical analyses for the assessment and characterisation of soil health and quality;
• Botany, cell biology, soil microbiome;
• Climate Change, Natural Hazards, Modelling and Simulation of Hydrological and Water Resources, Geographical Information Systems, Land Use Possibilities and Forest Ecology;
• Soil geochemistry (urban, agricultural and forestry), Geochemistry of environmental matrices (soil-water)/GIS tools and geostatistics, Precision agriculture, Remote sensing;
• Ecological processes, functioning and dynamics of ecosystems in Mediterranean climate environments, optimising the use of natural resources, and enhancing the functions of forest systems;
• Forest ecosystems, sustainable management and valorisation of natural resources in ecosystems; environmental resources and ecosystem services; agricultural and forest landscape studies; landscape ecology;
• Ethnopharmacology, Ethnobotany;
• Mapping of areas of Tranquillity and definition of Oases of Tranquillity, Green-Care, Forest Therapy, Ecosystem Services and enhancement of Natural Capital for health and well-being. Nutrition and Active Ageing.
• Technologies for the Made in Italy agro-food industry - Higher education;
• Sustainable local development and territorial animation;
• Scientific outreach activities.

The following facilities are currently active at the Isafom site in Rende:

• HIGHLY STRUMENTED BACINO / EXPERIMENTAL SITE "BONIS" - Località Petrarella - Longobucco (CS) - Sila National Park (CS)
• SOIL PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY LABORATORY - Via Cavour 4/6 - 87036 Rende (CS)

The following Workshops are also being implemented:

• Biology and Microbiology of Ecosystems Laboratory;
• Environmental Geochemistry Laboratory;
• Proximal and Remote Sensing Laboratory.