A dataset of species occurrences from the salt marsh and the coast of Isola Sacra (Fiumicino, Italy)

The creation of this dataset was designed and implemented by the researchers of Scienza Radicata in cooperation with the experts of ANBA (Associazione Naturalistica per lo studio e la conservazione della Biodiversità dell'Agro romano), several independent scholars and with the logistic support of local association of Fiumicino "Bilancione - Collettivo No Porto". The aim of this project was to group and produce an overview of all the information on species occurrences in the area of Isola Sacra (Fiumicino, mouth of the Tiber river, Italia). The goal in particular was to unify under one dataset all the different sources, and to make a first analysis of the state of art of the information gathered. This project wants to promote transparency, accessibility, and show the potential of community-based citizen-science action for conservation and environmental justice purposes. The area, currently under the target of the development of a private cruise port project, contains also a Natura 2000 protected area (SAC IT6030024) and a coastline commonly used by citizens for various purposes. This complexity has given rise to various conflicts and actions and the creation of the local NIMBY committee "Comitato Tavoli del Porto". Bioblitzes and community based monitoring of the environment has been carried out in the area of the Tiber river mouth by bottom-up initiatives of which Scienza Radicata and ANBA have been part for years. Data were scattered in different databases and formatted in different ways, making it difficult to have an overview of the biodiversity and its trend in time. This work wants to offer a first attempt in overcoming this issue and becoming a starting point for future effort of research and conservation. The dataset collected 1325 occurrences in a timeframe that goes from 22nd Dec 2008 to 17th May 2026. Of these occurrences 700 are to be found inside the protected area SAC and 625 outside. The dataset identified a total of 291 different species. The species were matched with their current IUCN conservation status and the result is that we found: 1015 occurrences of LC (least concern), 136 occurrences of NE (not evaluated), 8 occurrences of NT (near threatened), 50 occurrences VU (vulnerable), and 116 occurrences without a certain species identification. The results show the great potential of citizen science but also its caveats. The methodologies used so far provide data that focus primarily on plants and birds. These groups are more easily identified by people without a naturalistic background and without the technical equipment. The presence of a large number of bird species, many of which are protected, migratory, and nesting within the area, suggests the urgent need to transform the SAC ( Special Area of Conservation) into a SPA (Special Protection Area) to achieve greater protection for the Isola Sacra salt marsh and the coastal dune system. The data show that the current boundaries of the SAC fail to cover the areas of greatest diversity, nor even all the habitats that fall under the European protected list. Not only do some areas outside the SAC experience higher species densities, but also higher densities of species with high conservation value. The logical thing to do would be expanding the protected area to the coast, especially towards the southwest, increasing the area's naturalistic value and efficiency. - We want to thank all the volunteers, activists and participants of the various phases of this research. Their effort led to this precious collection of data, promoting local ecological knowledge and environmental engagement among citizens. This collective work supports the need for advocacy for non-human communities and the need for transparency of research methodologies especially in the context of social conflicts that emerge from the commodification of the Commons. This research project was developed independently and is non-funded.