Does reduced mowing really work? The data answer
The Municipality of Milan studies the effects of reduced mowing practices on wild pollinator populations in Parco Monte Stella and Parco Indro Montanelli, with 4 Spectrum sensors and satellite analysis across 60 hectares of public green space.
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Park maintenance can destroy what it should protect
Cities are among the most critical environments for biodiversity. Soil sealing, heat islands, pollution and habitat fragmentation drastically reduce urban ecosystems' ability to support life. Public parks are key green infrastructure for mitigating these impacts, yet traditional management can limit their ecological potential. Frequent mowing, intensive pruning and removal of spontaneous vegetation reduce resources for pollinators, accelerating biodiversity loss where it should be protected.
Scientific evidence to guide public green space policies
Milan manages thousands of hectares of green space but lacked scientific data to assess how maintenance practices affected wild pollinators.
Comparable cross-park data and a site-control comparison were needed to measure parks' ecological value and guide city-wide green management policies.
Spectrum sensors and satellite analysis across 2 parks and 60 hectares
XNatura launched a pilot on two parks, combining satellite analysis and bioacoustic monitoring.
From satellite to the field
A pilot project combining satellite analysis and bioacoustic monitoring to produce scientific evidence supporting public green space management policies.
Remote analysis across 60 hectares
The project started with satellite analysis of the two parks via Remote Sensing. The analysis mapped vegetation cover, land use, nectariferous potential, nesting sites and MSA Land Use, comparing each park with the surrounding urban area. Results showed a significant ecological differential between the parks and the urban context, confirming the role of both sites as biodiversity refuges.
4 Spectrum sensors in the parks
2 Spectrum sensors were installed per park for bioacoustic monitoring of wild pollinators, with a focus on Apoidea and Syrphidae. The sensors detect and classify species through sound analysis, producing continuous data on abundance, diversity and buzz frequency to assess the pollinator response to reduced mowing practices.
XNatura Platform for integrated data
All data flows into the XNatura Environmental Platform, which integrates satellite analysis and bioacoustic surveys for both sites. The Municipality has a dashboard with indicators on biodiversity, microclimate, climate risks and site-control comparison, usable to evaluate the effectiveness of reduced mowing and guide green space management policies at city scale.
Expanding monitoring to other parks
Based on pilot project results, the Municipality of Milan will be able to expand monitoring to other parks and green areas across the city, building an environmental data network to support urban planning decisions. The goal is to integrate biodiversity management into public green space maintenance policies at metropolitan scale.
The monitoring data
P.co Montanelli vs Control
P.co Monte Stella vs Control
Parco Monte Stella
within 5 km of P.co Monte Stella
The results highlight the ecological contribution of Milan's public parks compared to the surrounding urban fabric. At Parco Indro Montanelli, the MSA Land Use index reaches 68.1 compared to 23.1 for the control area, with a Δ of +45 confirming the park's ability to support significantly higher biodiversity than the urban context.
At Parco Monte Stella, the MSA Land Use stands at 71 compared to 39.5 for the control (Δ +31), while the Spectrum sensors detected over 8,400 pollinators. The presence of 5 protected areas within 5 km of the site confirms the park's role as a node in the urban ecological network. These data constitute the scientific basis for evaluating the effectiveness of reduced mowing practices and guiding the city's future public green space management policies.
Monitoring in action
Key sections of the XNatura Environmental Platform dedicated to the Municipality of Milan's parks.
Biodiversity status
Park biodiversity indices: Mean Species Abundance, nesting sites, floral availability and site-control comparison with the surrounding urban area.
Microclimate
Microclimatic variations in the parks: surface temperature, heat islands, humidity and environmental parameters compared to the Milan urban context.
Drought risk
Drought risk and water stress analysis: aridity index, precipitation trends and impact on park ecosystems and the surrounding urban area.
Hydrogeological risk
Hydrogeological risk analysis of the areas: floods, urban drainage, erosion and site vulnerability in the Po Valley context.
Access the XNatura Environmental Platform
The platform with which the Municipality of Milan monitors biodiversity and the effects of reduced mowing in public parks.
Do you want to monitor the biodiversity of your green spaces?
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