The Castelporziano Super Site: a cross-research infrastructure integration of ICOS, LifeWatch and eLTER observatory for terrestrial ecosystems restauration

Global changes and biological invasions are probably the main causes of forest ecosystem degradation, negatively affecting all the ecosystem services they provide us. At the Castelporziano Presidential Estate, a 6000 km2 sout west of Rome (Italy), the combined attack of two invasive pests, Toumeyella parvicornis (Cockerell) and Tomicus destruens (Wollaston), has led in less than six years to the complete destruction of more than 600 ha of mostly monospecific stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) stands. The death and subsequent felling of the pine trees opened up vast areas that made it possible to test and compare different approaches to ecosystem recovery in an integrated manner, including active reforestation and passive natural evolution.

This opportunity has been fully exploited for the first time thanks to the coordinated and synergistic action of three European research infrastructures: ICOS, LifeWatch and LTER. Thanks to a joint effort made possible by the ITINERIS project, three new integrated monitoring plots have been implemented, two of which represent a post-pine forest restoration option, while the other two (one ICOS site already existed) represent two mature deciduous and evergreen oak forest ecosystems. Together, these plots create a true inter-infrastructural super-site for the study of terrestrial ecosystems. Each plot is equipped with an eddy covariance system for continuous measurements of CO₂, water and energy exchanges, ensuring high-resolution quantification of ecosystem–atmosphere fluxes. At the same time, the integration with LifeWatch and LTER frameworks enables long-term, multi-trophic ecological monitoring, including vegetation dynamics, soil properties, nutrient cycles and biodiversity which play a key role in ecosystem functioning and recovery processes. The Castelporziano supersite clearly demonstrates the added value of integrating research infrastructures operating on the biosphere, as no single infrastructure would have had the strength and expertise to offer this level of observational depth, temporal continuity and ecological breadth on its own. The resulting dataset provides and will continue to provide a solid basis for evaluating restoration strategies from multiple perspectives, including carbon sequestration, water balance, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.