Adnkronos Rome, March 13 (Adnkronos) – Reforest. To mitigate urban air and noise pollution, increase biodiversity, reduce energy consumption and improve the urban and peri-urban landscape together with the quality of life of the inhabitants. The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (Mase), supported by Axpo Italia and Pulsee Luce e Gas, launches the 'RiforestAzione' project, dedicated to the protection and enhancement of urban and extra-urban greenery in 13 metropolitan cities in Italy (Turin, Genoa, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Bari, Reggio Calabria, Palermo, Messina, Catania and Cagliari) in which more than 21 million people live and whose overall extension is equal to over 15% of the national territory.
The initiative, unveiled today at the Botanical Garden of Rome in the presence of institutions and partners, is part of the Mission 'Green revolution and ecological transition' (M2), Component 'Protection of the territory and water resources' (C4), of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The latter is part of the Next Generation Eu (NGEU) program.
In this specific case, the investment for the 'protection and enhancement of urban and extra-urban greenery', worth 210 million euros, aims to plant 4,5 million trees and shrubs, creating 4.500 hectares of new forests and transplanting at least 3,5 million trees to their final destination, through a broad program of interventions, capable of protecting the ecological processes related to the functioning of ecosystems. This is a highly relevant project and consistent with the 'Eu forest strategy for 2030' plan, dedicated to strengthening continental forests and which aims to add 3 billion trees by 2030.
The contribution of Axpo Italia and Pulsee Luce e Gas to the Mase 'RiforestAzione' project is expressed in the form of direct support for its promotion and communication activities. This commitment is developed through multiple actions, starting with the creation of a digital platform with information and in-depth content on the redevelopment of urban and extra-urban greenery, curated by the urban tech company SuperUrbanity.
In addition to the platform, the project includes the creation of a route across the country that will touch some of the cities involved in the initiative over the next two years to make it known to local communities, as well as an educational route, in collaboration with the Sylva Foundation, that will stop in schools to spread environmental culture and increase the ecological skills of the youngest.
In addition, a two-year Observatory will be set up to monitor the evolution of the relationship between Italians and urban greenery. In this regard, the centrality of green areas is highlighted by the data collected in the first research dedicated to the 'RiforestAzione' project of the Pulsee Luce e Gas Index, an observatory on the sustainable habits of Italians developed together with Nielsen IQ, which shows that, for 83% of those interviewed, increasing spaces with trees and shrubs is necessary, while, for 90%, green areas are essential for their psychophysical well-being, a sign of a growing desire to re-establish contact with nature in places where they live. It should also be noted that, for 87% of Italians, redevelopment interventions are a factor that can improve the evaluation of public administration and the perception of a city.
"The 'RiforestAzione' project represents an important piece of the national strategy for environmental protection and quality of life in our cities. Urban and extra-urban greenery is not just an aesthetic element, but a crucial resource for the health of citizens, the fight against climate change and the protection of biodiversity. With this initiative, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security confirms its concrete commitment to promoting an ecological policy that is also a cultural revolution, involving institutions, businesses and citizens in a shared path. We thank Axpo Italia and Pulsee Luce e Gas for supporting a project that looks to the future of our communities, with a tangible and lasting impact on the territory", underlines the Undersecretary of State for the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security Claudio Barbaro.
“Nature-based solutions represent a fundamental pillar in the fight against climate change and in the creation of more resilient and livable cities. Axpo Italia’s support for this ambitious urban and extra-urban reforestation project of Mase is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to sustainable development, in which greenery becomes a strategic ally to improve people’s well-being. Cooperating and protecting nature means investing concretely in the future of future generations, strengthening the ability of our communities to face environmental challenges with innovative and long-lasting solutions,” comments Salvatore Pinto, President of Axpo Italia.
“The expansion of green areas in metropolitan cities is an investment in our future, our health and our well-being. It is a way to reconnect with nature, to rediscover the value of trees, and to build more livable and sustainable cities. The goal for 2026 is to complete the transplanting operations of forest propagation material (seeds or plants) for at least 3.500.000 trees and shrubs for the reforestation of urban and extra-urban areas. The goal is to create a network of ecological corridors that connect existing green areas, encouraging the mobility of fauna and the dispersal of seeds. We want to transform our metropolitan cities into resilient ecosystems, capable of adapting to climate change and offering essential ecosystem services for the community", says Fabrizio Penna, Head of the Pnrr Mase Department.