Partner 2 - IPOGEA, Italy

Activities of IPOGEA

  • Research: Water and Resource Management, Restoration Techniques, Underground Heritage, Sustainable Development;
  • Cultural Activities: Exhibitions, Forums, Seminars and Workshops; Laboratory: Courses and Internships.

IPOGEA was founded in Matera in 1993 at the same time the initiatives for the inscription of the Sassi of Matera on the UNESCO World Heritage List were undertaken. IPOGEA carries out activities concerning the safeguard, the enhancement, the research and the training in historic centres, archaeological and environment restoration as well as ecosystem protection. IPOGEA is recognised by the European Union as the body par excellence for the safeguard and the enhancement of European Cultural Heritage. IPOGEA is associate member of ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property). IPOGEA– Ipogea organized for UNCCD and the Ministry of Environment, The International Forum on European Policies to Combat Desertification in the Mediterranean Basin – Policies and Measures to Combat Desertification in the Mediterranean Basin, Local and Traditional Knowledge for the Management and Preservation of Nature’s Resources that was held from 29th to 31st October 1998 in Matera in order to make scientific remarks and co-ordinate the operational actions among the Mediterranean countries (UNCCD Annex IV).

Within the framework of UNCCD national action programme (Nap) two meetings of the ad hoc panel on traditional knowledge have been organized in Matera, Italy, respectively in July 1999 and May 2000, with the scientific support and in close collaboration with IPOGEA

Relating to the theme of desertification Ipogea has carried out for Enea and Apat (Italian Governmental Research organisms) the following studies:

  • Analysis of factors linked to biodiversity in areas affected by desertification and worsening phenomena
  • Feasible study of a programme to mitigate desertification and worsening phenomena in MURGE of Lucania and Apulia
  • Study for realization of an interactive data base on traditional knowledge to combat desertification in Italy

Principal personnel involved in the project:

Pietro Laureano

Responsible for WP1, WP2 and WP10.

Director of Ipogea Architect specialized in urban and landscape planning, and water conservation technologies. He is lecturer professor on History and Territorial Development at the University of Bari, and has been in charge of a number of studies and researches on traditional knowledge in dry areas His experience includes eight years in the Sahara desert in the framework of oasis conservation projects He is included in the UNESCO’s roster of consultants as expert in arid zones, Islamic civilization and fragile ecosystem. As UNESCO's consultant he organized, inter alia, the following activities:

  • the international campaign for the conservation of the city of Shibam and of the Wady Hadramawt Valley (Yemen, 1990), based on traditional knowledge for management and protection of the territory;
  • the protection of the hydrological and environmental system of the Great Petra Park (Jordan, 1992);
  • the restoration of the Lalibela site (Ethiopia, 1997-1998) on the basis of traditional practices.
  • the restoration of historic monuments of Harar (Algeria)

He is the Italian representative to the Committee on Science and Technology of the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD-CST).
He organised and co-ordinated, for the UNCCD Secretariat, two meetings of the ad hoc Panel on traditional knowledge, held in Matera (Italy) respectively in July 1999 and May 2000.
He attended all UNCCD Conferences of the Parties (Roma, Dakar, Recife, Bonn) and two sessions of the Bureau of the Committee on Science and Technology (July 1999- October 2000)
As President of the ad hoc Panel on traditional knowledge he presented to COP4 in Bonn the conclusive report
He is currently participating in the UN University Initiative denominated “Millenium Ecosystem Assessment” as Lead Author in the section “Dryland systems”
He has recently held the lecture “A History of Traditional Water Management Technologies in the prestigious Alexandria Library in Egypt.

Daniela de Michele

Architect specialized in traditional knowledge and techniques to combat desertification .and in Environmental Impact Valuation. She is an experienced web master Her field of expertise also includes G.I.S. (Geographic Information Systems)

Tommaso Lella

Architect specialized in urban sustainable planning for the safeguard of landscape.