“Re-wilding Sus Scrofa” is an ecological intervention that applies foresting techniques to provide the groundwork for Sus Scrofa to spread the growth of a food forest throughout Collserola Park. The objective is to increase biodiversity in order to encourage a healthy sustained ecosystem.

Site and hypothesis

The current state of Carretera de les Aigües can be analysed and observed through the behavioural change of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) from wild to “urban” as they continuously cross the ecotone and enter the urban fabric. We understand their habitat is under water scarcity, making it a dry environment depleted of food sources. By grafting and splicing fruit trees and terracing the topography, Sus Scrofa will actively intervene in the boost of biodiversity. Using WAMI imagery to trace their movement through their proposed re-forested habitat and observing new growth will demonstrate a positive change through the biotic functions of the Sus scrofa.

Methodology

We chose to reference the Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa) as a witness species as its behavioural adaptation during water and food scarcity has lead to crossing ecotones. Observing the Sus Scrofa movement location using WAMI imagery to trace migration and observing body movement using accelerometers placed on trees and soil to trace when it is turning soil. Then testing the quality of the turned soil using microbial analysis to detect the new life brought to surface. Consistently testing the land with soil samples and observing new growth using drone imagery, we will see an influx of biodiversity through out Carretera de les Aigües:
eg. Microbial Ecology – soil samples, Metagenomic analysis, Accelerometers – body movement, Drone Imagery – Vegetation Analysis, WAMI, Grafting / Splicing, Terracing

Applied Ecology Proposal

The movement information we receive from Sus scrofa within their re-forested habitat will be an indicator of positive change.
Increasing biodiversity, improving trophic cascade, soil improvement, forest fire prevention, increase food and water sources, re-wilding Sus scrofa, respecting the ecotone.

Re-wilding Sus scrofa is a project of IAAC, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, developed at the Master in Advanced Architecture in 2021 by students: Rachel Busche, Neha Jayanth Pattanshetti and Ariadna Gimenez; faculty: Jonathan Minchin.