On Tuesday, November 11th, Annalisa Falace, scientific coordinator of the LIFE REEForest project, was invited to participate as a speaker at a meeting in the Italian Senate.
The press conference was dedicated to the children’s novel ‘La tribù del Piedi Scalzi e il mistero di Punta Leucosia’ (The Barefoot Tribe and the Mystery of Punta Leucosia) written by Daniela D’Andrea and illustrated by Yanez Fallacara.
The story is set in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park and is inspired by the author’s childhood, filled with plunges into the sea and marine adventures.
During the press conference, Daniela D’Andrea spoke about the creative process that led to the writing of the book. The author emphasised her curiosity about the rich diversity of plants and animals she saw as a child and how she witnessed first-hand the decline of the marine forests in the places she has always frequented.
Giuseppe Coccorullo, president of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, then took the floor and described the beautiful landscapes of both the land and sea in Cilento. He spoke about the rich biodiversity found in the park and the actions taken to protect it.
The floor was then given to Professor Falace, who was invited to talk about REEForest and the efforts we are making to restore some of the declining marine forests.
The professor emphasised the importance of including algae and marine ecosystems in literature for young people, showing them an underwater world that is difficult to communicate but very important to know about. Annalisa said that she decided to study to become an algologist thanks to a book about the sea she read as a child.
By engaging with stories related to the sea, which describe underwater environments, we can inspire and involve future generations in protecting nature more and more.
Find out more about Daniela and her project on the website dedicated to La Tribù dei Piedi Scalzi.
