Lazio will plant 6 million trees, one for each of its residents. It starts with schools and hospitals. The project is called Ossigeno and the goal is to absorb 240,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Six million trees will be planted by the Lazio region. One for each of its residents, capable of absorbing and offsetting 240,000 tonnes of CO2 per year in an attempt to counter the climate crisis. The project is called Ossigeno, and provides for the allocation of 12 million euros between 2020 and 2022 to purchase certified native trees and shrubs, and also to raise awareness among municipalities, large companies, stakeholders, environmental associations and non-profit organisations about direct planting, in which case assistance is provided in choosing the most suitable plants and locations.
The first phase of the project begins on 21 November, on the occasion of the National Tree Day, with the planting of some of the 30,000 trees and shrubs already prepared and made available by the nursery of the Monti Aurunci Regional Park. The planting will involve sites and facilities under regional jurisdiction, such as public schools and hospitals, and will continue in the following weeks to include universities, elderly care centres, cultural venues, parks, nature reserves and natural monuments, depending on the uptake from the facilities that will receive the first trees donated by the Lazio region.
From 2020, the Region will then allocate 4 million euros a year for three years, which will be used to purchase additional native plants and for the overall management of the project. The trees chosen will be species typical of Lazio and will be planted in locations suited to their development, respecting the specific characteristics of each individual area. In coastal areas, evergreen trees will be planted, such as cork oak, holm oak and strawberry tree. In the hills, trees typical of the Lazio countryside landscape, such as downy oak and field maple. In the mountains, cold-resistant species such as beech and rowan.
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Their planting will be carried out by staff from the Lazio protected natural areas and civil protection associations, while regional technicians, agronomists and forestry experts will coordinate the work. According to Lazio president Nicola Zingaretti, "what is getting under way is the largest tree-planting plan in all of Italy, perhaps in Europe, to send a signal that goes against the trend. The project is called Ossigeno because that is the most natural word linked to life. Oxygen is the most important element for continuing to live on this planet."
On 21 October, the Green call for proposals also launched, worth 3 million euros, to promote environmental awareness among young people. The initiative fits within educational programmes and is aimed at giving young people the knowledge tools needed to make them active participants in territorial development processes in light of the challenges posed by climate change and environmental sustainability in general.