A new urban forest with 2,912 plants was inaugurated this morning, in Podere Sant’Anna, an area – previously uncultivated – of the industrial area of Cesena which is thus colored green. The urban regeneration intervention through an afforestation project was carried out by the Municipality, the Cassa di Risparmio di Cesena Foundation and Arbolia, the Snam benefit company created to develop new green areas in Italy, which has to date created 31 urban forests in 24 cities distributed throughout the national territory, for a total of over 70 thousand trees planted.
The initiative was also made possible thanks to the financial support of Genertel, an insurance company active in the non-life sector, part of the Generali Group, and by Italbonifiche, an environmental services and consultancy company.
The reforested area is located on the outskirts of the town of Cesena, between the industrial and commercial area “Concessionaires” and the Savio river, in a place accessible to the population via cycle paths. This plot of land was hit by the flood of 16 May 2023, which caused the prolonged submergence of the field and the subsequent surface deposit of earthy material transported by the flood waters. This context makes it more understandable how the proposed intervention represents a real environmental redevelopment, a true rebirth for the area in question which thus becomes available to citizens again.
Today is also part of three days of events focused on the date of April 22nd, the anniversary in which World Earth Day is celebrated, created in 1970 to underline the need for the conservation of the Earth’s natural resources.
The intervention celebrated today will be followed – following the identification of new supporters – by a second phase which will bring the total number of plants to around 6 thousand trees and shrubs of different species, including: Black alder, White poplar, White willow. But also fruit trees such as: Peach, Apple, Cherry, Apricot and Plum trees coming from Italian nurseries and equipped with a phytosanitary passport. In this way, the possibility of genetic contamination with plants coming from other countries is reduced to a minimum, preserving and increasing the biodiversity of the Italian forest heritage.
Once fully operational, the new urban forest will allow the absorption of up to 219.14 tonnes of CO2 in 20 years and up to 200 kg of PM10 per year, returning up to 159.97 tonnes of oxygen to the environment in 20 years and contributing to improvement of the ecosystem, the quality of the environment and daily life for the local community. In the first two years after planting, Arbolia will take care of the maintenance of the wooded area. Then, on the basis of the agreement signed between the parties, the Cassa di Risparmio di Cesena Foundation will take over and take care of the new forest for the next three years, with an allocation of approximately 7 thousand euros per year. The project will immediately be an asset for the area and it is essential that everyone takes care of it. The drip irrigation system was also created in order to guarantee a constant and sufficient water supply for the correct rooting of the planted plants.
The forest was inaugurated today in the presence of the mayor of Cesena Enzo Lattuca, of the councilor for environmental sustainability and European projects Francesca Lucchi, of Luca Castagnoli, general secretary of the Cassa di Risparmio di Cesena Foundation, of Silvia Gorzanelli, sole director of Italbonifiche and Enrico Cerelli, Operations Manager of Arbolia.
Tags: Cesena urban forest thousand trees
