Natural calamities, which are becoming increasingly frequent in recent years, are associated with destruction, catastrophes and disasters. But after the initial shock, they can and must lead to rebirth, reconstruction and renewal.
This is the case of the Marcesina plain which, four years after storm Vaia that destroyed 41,000 hectares of forest, with 8.7 million cubic metres of wood smashed to the ground by rain and wind, celebrated its rebirth on Friday 4 November.
On Friday morning, the ‘Marcesina, the rebirth of a plain’ event took place in the municipality of Enego (VI), to celebrate the realisation of the intervention for the first planting and recreation of 6 and a half hectares of forest, with the planting of 9,000 trees and the recovery of the pastures of the same plain.
The project, organised by Legambiente, FITT, Coldiretti Vicenza and the Municipality of Enego, with the support of the Veneto Region and Veneto Agricoltura, was made possible thanks to the fund-raising promoted by Legambiente with Intesa Sanpaolo as part of the ‘After storm VAIA – Together for the rebirth of the forests’ project, a financial contribution from FITT and a donation that will be made by Coldiretti Vicenza.
The planting of last Friday is part of the broader framework of a Masterplan, commissioned by FITT and presented during the event, containing strategic guidelines for the reforestation and proper management of the entire area in the north-east of Altopiano dei Sette Comuni (Plain of the Seven Municipalities), and which calls for the restoration of around 800 hectares of forest.
“I am particularly satisfied ,” says Alessandro Mezzalira, CEO of FITT, “because this first intervention is part of a master plan about which we feel very strongly, aimed at ensuring forward planning and coordination of the various interventions that the area needs. We want to recreate a unique environment where man can return to meet nature in an authentic and regenerating way.”
On the one hand, the project entails the restoration of pasture systems, which have a very important function both from a landscape point of view, as they give a very unique identity to the area, and from a nature point of view, by favouring the development of natural habitats for numerous species. On the other hand, it also calls for planting using precise planting methods and a careful choice of species: an innovative approach that fully respects the dynamics of nature, with the aim of driving the future evolution of the topsoil towards an increase in biodiversity and a more resistant and resilient repopulation, better capable of dealing with natural interferences and climate change. A group-based reforestation with irregular geometric distribution, using the species that are most ecologically consistent with the site (Larch, Spruce and Silver Fir), as well as pioneer species such as Mountain Sorb and Salix.
Starting from the devastation caused by storm Vaia, one of the most violent atmospheric events in recent years, to initiate a collaboration between different public and private entities, is the manifesto of the principle of interdependence, a key concept of FITT’s sustainability strategy.
“It’s a project with contributions from many fronts, in which public and private join forces to write a future that is good for everyone. And I thank all those who helped us shape it.” Continues Alessandro Mezzalira.