Pisa

IRET-Pisa is located in the largest CNR Territorial Research Area, where it occupies a total surface area of about 1000 sq. m., utilized as offices, and analytical and instrumental laboratories. A greenhouse of 120 sq. m. is also present. 

 Historically, IRET-Pisa descends from the Institute for Soil Chemistry of CNR, dating back to the 70s. CNR IRET of Pisa has always been involved in studying the structure, dynamics and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. The IRET-Pisa research activities focus on understanding the soil-plant system and its ecosystem services in the frame of global climate change and the dramatic increase of urban areas. Particular attention is paid to contaminated sites, the impact of pollutants and the processes that regulate their diffusion in environmental matrices. 

 The resulting scientific knowledge is necessary to identify the best strategies for i) sustainable management of the environmental resources, ii) mitigation of the anthropic impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, iii) protection and recovery of soil, sediment and substrate quality according to nature-based solutions (NbS). 

 IRET-Pisa is part of a vast international network and promotes and manages advanced Research & Development projects concerning soil health and recovery, waste management and recycling in the perspective of the circular economy, and development of specific bioindicators. 

A priority of IRET-Pisa is the collaboration with the industrial world to ensure responsible planning and management of resources in relation to the resulting impacts. 

Specific Research areas: 

• Terrestrial soil ecosystem health and resilience (nutrient cycling, C dynamics and sequestration, soil-plant system, mitigation); 

• Biodiversity (Structural and functional diversity of soils, sediments and substrates, community ecology);

• Biochemistry and plant physiology;

• Sustainable management of ecosystems (forestry, agroforestry, agriculture, urban areas, socio-ecology, Nature-based Solutions, green infrastructure); 

• Pollution and contamination of ecosystems (monitoring, impacts, emerging contaminants, mitigation and restoration strategies for soil, sediments and water);

• Circular economy (green economy, bioactive molecules, waste valorization, green chemistry).