{"id":185476,"date":"2025-07-07T13:12:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-07T11:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unipi.it\/news\/lucca-prima-citta-smart-in-europa-amica-degli-animali\/"},"modified":"2025-07-15T10:18:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T08:18:09","slug":"lucca-becomes-the-first-smart-city-in-europe-to-embrace-animals-as-allies","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.unipi.it\/en\/news\/lucca-becomes-the-first-smart-city-in-europe-to-embrace-animals-as-allies\/","title":{"rendered":"Lucca Becomes the First Smart City in Europe to Embrace Animals as Allies"},"content":{"rendered":"

The European project IN-HABIT has come to a close, having transformed Lucca into a living lab of urban and social innovation by recognizing animals as a public resource for community well-being. Led by the Department of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Pisa, in collaboration with the Municipality of Lucca and LuccaCrea, IN-HABIT made the Tuscan city the first in Europe to adopt an integrated human-animal policy. Grounded in the \u201cOne Health\u201d principle \u2014 the idea of shared health between humans, animals, and the environment \u2014 the project generated social, cultural, and economic value.<\/p>\n

Over the course of five years, IN-HABIT regenerated both urban spaces and community life by creating 15 kilometers of \u201canimal-friendly\u201d smart routes connected to social interaction zones, designed to promote relationships between people and animals. This was done using a participatory approach inspired by the New European Bauhaus, an EU initiative promoting beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive urban design.<\/p>\n

The project also opened up to a broader social and cultural dimension by involving local residents. Hundreds of primary and secondary school students took part in educational activities centered on participatory urban planning. Among them was \u201cCityPets,\u201d a card game encouraging responsible pet ownership in urban contexts. IN-HABIT also focused on elderly individuals and vulnerable populations, introducing animal-assisted interventions in care homes and launching a pet care service tailored to those in need.<\/p>\n

Alongside the educational and social components, IN-HABIT also boosted the pet economy. A total of 35 new entrepreneurial ventures were launched \u2014 from pet-friendly tourism to innovative services for animals \u2014 offering new job opportunities, particularly for young people and women.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Cinque
University of Pisa IN-HABIT project team at the final meeting in C\u00f3rdoba<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n

\u201cIn Italy, there are more pets than people, and over half of all households have chosen to share their lives with animals. On top of that, wild animals \u2014 as a source of biodiversity and connection with nature \u2014 are extremely important for citizens,\u201d noted Professor Francesco Di Iacovo of the University of Pisa, IN-HABIT project coordinator. \u201cFrom this perspective, the project revealed great social and economic potential. Our goal is to replicate the Lucca model elsewhere, to launch innovation pathways that meet emerging urban needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project created a participatory platform that brought together citizens, public administrations, and associations,\u201d added Professor Chiara Mariti from the University of Pisa. \u201cThe results showed how animals can reduce anxiety and facilitate dialogue and connection, even in complex situations such as elderly care homes. At the same time, they open up economic opportunities \u2014 particularly for women and youth \u2014 to support inclusive health and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n

IN-HABIT officially concluded with an international event in C\u00f3rdoba, Spain, held on June 10\u201311. In Lucca, the project leaves behind a tangible, innovative, and replicable legacy. From a scientific perspective, the results have been shared at national and international conferences, as well as in outreach seminars aimed at encouraging dialogue with other cities in Italy and abroad that may be interested in adopting the \u2018hum-animal city\u2019 model.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IN-HABIT project led by the University of Pisa concludes: 15 km of \u201canimal-friendly\u201d paths, new services involving animals for vulnerable people, and a boost to the pet economy through new human-animal enterprises<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":185044,"menu_order":3,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"tag-notizie-persone":[1975,1974],"tags_news":[1980],"categorie":[159],"class_list":["post-185476","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-notizie-persone-chiara-mariti","tag-notizie-persone-francesco-di-iacovo","tags_news-department-of-veterinary-sciences","categorie-unipinews-en"],"yoast_head":"\nLucca Becomes the First Smart City in Europe to Embrace Animals as Allies ~ UNIPI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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