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Department of Territorial Ecology and Environment |
The Department of Territorial Ecology and
Environment is a public institution
within the University of Pavia, concerning scientific research and education
(Botany, Natural Sciences, Biology), established in 1977 (before Institute
of Botany). 
It
includes research laboratories, administrative offices, teaching rooms,
the Library, the Herbarium,
and the Botanic Garden. Currently it is organized in three scientific sections:
Geobotany,
Mycology
and the Botanic Garden.
The Botanic Garden was here established in 1773.
It consists of about 20.000.000 m2 surrounding the main building
of the department, in the city centre of Pavia.
The Herbarium (PAV) was here established in 1780
and is now mostly involved in the collections of specimens coming from
Lombardy and surrounding areas. It also houses historical collections.
The Department staff comprises 10 professors, 9 researchers, 21 technicians, 2 librarian, 1 herbarium curator, and 6 gardeners. The Department professors and researchers are committed to teaching botany classes for the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Biological Sciences, Pharmacy, and for the Doctorate School of "Experimental Ecology and Geobotany". The Department staff also give lectures in courses for primary/ secondary school teachers and Third Age University classes, and provide a service of guided tours for schoolchildren and organised groups wishing to visit the Botanic Garden or the Herbarium.
The Garden houses botany and art exhibitions, during all the year, with the help of the "Botanic Garden Friends" Association (Associazione "Amici dell'Orto Botanico")
The main research tasks of the Department are: analysis and description of vegetation, landscape ecology, human impact on vegetation, climate change and biomonitoring, bioindication and phyto-remediation, high mountain ecology, dendroecology, mycology, conservation of rare and endangered plant species, taxonomy, history of botany, histochemistry of farmacological principles in medicinal plants of the Lombardy flora, herbarium collections, etc.
The Department is involved in international projects funded by the European Community:
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FORMAT (EU, ENV4-CT97-0641), under the responsibility of Dr. Paola Nola;
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GLORIA-EUROPE, Global Observation Research Iniziative in Alpine Environment, (V EC-frame programme), under the responsibility of Prof. Graziano Rossi (http://www.gloria.ac.at/europe);
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ENSCONET, European Native Seed Conservation Network (VI-EC framework programme) under the responsability of Prof. Graziano Rossi (http://www.unipv.it/labecove)
The Department co-operates with several institutions in Italy, in Europe
and in the world, including Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, U.K.; University
of Vienna; University of Madrid; University of Marseilles, France; University
of Otago, New Zeland.
Research funds are granted by the Italian Ministry of Instruction,
University and Research; Italian Ministry of Environment; Pavia University;
EC; Italian National Research Council; Lombardy Region Administration;
Emilia-Romagna Region Administration; other public agencies; private enterprises.
Funds for education programmes are provided by the Ministry of Instruction,
University and Research and by the University of Pavia.
The Department publishes Archivio Geobotanico, international journal dedicated to geobotany, plant ecology and plant sistematics.
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