540 new plants have been planted since this morning, Tuesday 24 April, in the Campo dei Fiori Park along the path that leads to the Campo dei Fiori. After a first batch launched last month, the social enterprise Rete Clima involved three other private companies who decided to support the tree repopulation of the park which was seriously damaged in 2017 by the fire and in 2020 by storm Alex.
In addition to the projects linked to funding from the Ministry of the Environment, Civil Protection, the Municipality of Varese and Asfo Valle delle Sorgenti, the Campo dei Fiori Park has found an ally in Rete Clima, a technical body that accompanies companies on sustainability and decarbonisation paths.
This morning, the volunteers of the three partner companies, by DHD, SAIMP SRL and Mezzanzanica Spa contributed to the planting of beeches, maples and lime trees which will occupy a part of the mountain. The commitment of the private sector has allowed thepurchase of tree species but will also continue maintenance for the next three years.
The President of the Campo dei Fiori Park Authority welcomed the volunteers Giuseppe Barra, Giancarlo Bernasconi Park Director, Luca Lolaico ALFA SRL Territorial Operations Director in charge of the contract together with the Varese Chamber of Commerce for the search for partners. In total, over 3000 new trees will be planted.
The choice of tree species was made with climate change in mind : « Even before the catastrophic events hit the mountain – Barra recalled, we knew that we would have to replace the spruce forests. Events preceded us. We reflected on the redevelopment intervention, thinking about choices suited to the territory and the existing climate. If this mountain had been isolated, we would have entrusted the slow work of reforestation to Nature. The densely populated area downstream, however, led us to a support intervention to fortify the summit and the underlying aquifers. This, in fact, is karst rock and there is an obligation to guarantee the purity of the water but also an adequate flow.”
The planting of new species, therefore, has been studied down to the smallest detail: «The name Campo dei Fiori derives from the fact that once here were all fields of flowers – recalls director Bernasconi – in redesigning the repopulation, we also took into account its historical function. The project therefore envisages parts of woods with species more suited to the terrain and climate of the area such as lime trees, ash trees, hawthorn hazel trees, but also meadows. There will be areas dedicated to wildlife rich in shoots which they feed on. Whoever comes to walk will also find shrubs abandoned on the ground or dead plants growing in the air: they are fundamental parts of biodiversity. They too are essential to the ecosystem.”
BUT WHAT DOES THE REPLANTING WORK CONSIST OF? DIEGO SCAGLIA FROM RETE CLIMA EXPLAINS IT
In the replanting work the preparatory works include extensive cleaning of the forest and undergrowth, an action that also inspired the reactivation of some paths on the ridge: « With Eco Clima we are thinking about a second batch of interventions for the enhancement of the path that goes up to Punta degli Alianti and, perhaps, also of summit path, a little more daring, which leads to the Orino Fort».
With the recovered wood, benches, fences, flower stands and bike racks are being created which will beautify the Park.
The sun and a more favorable temperature allowed the Campo dei Fiori to show all its beauty and the breathtaking view of the Po Valley, a panorama that cheered the commitment of the farmer volunteers
