Provincial Administration of Catanzaro – Environmental Education Projects
Calabria’s biodiversity comes to life in virtual reality
We developed two immersive virtual reality experiences for the Provincial Administration and the Carabinieri Biodiversity Unit of Catanzaro, as part of the POR Calabria 2014-2020 – Action Plan 6.5.A.1 – Environmental Education.
The projects APTR 13 “La Presila: Treasure of Biodiversity” and APTR 14 “Between Land and Sea: Biodiversity and Landscape” were conceived as innovative educational tools for middle and high school students, as well as support for awareness-raising activities during fairs and public events.
The experiences, accessible via Oculus Quest 3 headsets, allow users to interactively explore the Sila National Park and the Presila Catanzarese territory, through:
- Immersive 360° videos, including footage from hard-to-reach areas
- Interactive panoramic reconstructions of local flora, fauna, and landscapes
- Informational content about biodiversity, wildlife, and environmental protection
- A VR mascot — a young eagle symbolizing the park — guides younger users during the exploration
In the presentation image, a young student, immersed in virtual reality, observes a Sila wolf in its natural habitat, perfectly capturing the spirit of the project: educating through the emotional power of immersive experience.
