In the ‘Thinking globally, acting locally’ vein, my friends and I recently formed a cultural association, Amici dei Giardini di Roma, which we will also incorporate as a 501c3 in the U.S., as “Friends of Rome Gardens.”  It is a “numbers count” strategy, since we want to apply for grants for projects to benefit the historic gardens and green spaces here in ancient center of the civilized world.

Here’s one of the reports that got us ramped up: 

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_R_global29.3ddb5dd.html

In a nutshell, the melting of the polar caps is releasing methane gas (a hydrocarbon formed just like petroleum under terra firma) into the environment.  This gas will rapidly increase the temperature of the earth and, in so doing, will accelerate the process of global warming.  Pretty grim, right?

Like you, we drive as little as we can (record gas prices are a pretty compelling dis-incentive), turn off lights which aren’t necessary, and keep heat down.  We don’t use air conditioning at all.  We compost, use only organic solutions on our farms, and support political initiatives that support sustainable practices.  But, even with millions of people doing exactly what we are doing, the problems we face now need amplified effort, and no one wants to be singing the Joni Mitchel refrain “You don’t know what you got until it’s gone,” from our rockers.

In Rome, the most verdant capital in Europe, the gardens and plantings are listed in the first tier of strategies to meet the mandates of the Kyoto Protocol, which Italy adopted in 1997, and which requires that Italy reduce its aggregate amount of greenhouse gases emitted by 17% over current levels by 2012.

That Italians have the second longest life expectancy of any civilized country means that they have been doing many things right when it comes to public health issues.  Rome’s half million trees each absorbs 154 kilograms/year (339 pounds) of pollution from air.  Thus, almost 170,000,000 lbs of pollutants are removed each year from the air over a city that has been continuously inhabited over 2,500 years.

It’s not a question of being patriotic to help maintain these plants and the land that supports them ---- attention to the landscape has a direct benefit for all of us who need air!

On public lands in Rome, there are fewer than 40% of the professionals in environmental services that there were 30 years ago.  Technological and mechanical advancement have helped increased productivity, true, but since 1990 more green space has been annexed to the city, and landscape resources are stretched. Amici/Friends are grassroots resources which will be important to finding solutions.

We are heartened by the likeminded friends who joined Amici this week at an evening tour and cocktail at the Roseto Comunale, braving the uncharacteristic June rain (most precipitation in 200 years) and the traffic caused by President Bush’s motorcade on his farewell tour to Rome.  A bit of rain, yes, but then a rainbow.  Antonello Santelli, the director of Rome’s Rose Garden, told rose stories (each of the 1200 roses has its own!) and recounted the history of the garden. 

If you would like to learn more about Amici dei Giardini di Roma, go to www.RomeGardens.org