Vicenza, 18 February 2022 - Arbolia, the benefit company created by Snam and Fondazione Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to develop new green areas in Italy, has created a new urban forest of 2,852 plants in the Municipality of Vicenza. The initiative was mainly supported by Snam and Global Power Plus Srl, a Veneto-based company in the energy sector. One of the supporters of the project is the law firm GF Legal.

A total of 2. 852 plants of different tree species (field elm, English oak, turkey oak, hackberry, European ash, linden, field maple, sycamore maple, hornbeam, cherry, wild pear, hazelnut, willow tree) and shrubs (hawthorn, dogwood, black elderberry, viburnum lantana, privet, spindle tree, blackthorn, dog rose, dogwood, buckthorn, pyracantha coccinea) have been planted in the area identified, located south-west of the city near a cycle path.

When fully operational, the new green belt will absorb up to 263 tonnes of CO₂ over 20 years and up to 612 kg of PM₁₀ per year. The initiative also includes maintenance of the new urban forest for the first two years by Arbolia and subsequently by the municipality. The project will immediately become an asset for the local community and it is essential that everyone takes care of it.

The new green area is being inaugurated this morning in the presence of the Councillor for Public Green Mattia Lerardi and the Councillor for the Environment Simona Siotto. Also present were the sole administrator of Global Power Plus Srl Eng. Luca De Rosa, head of Northern Italy Management and development of PA relations of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Mauro Sambugaro and the head of Operations, Marketing & Commercial of Arbolia Dario Manigrasso.

This is the first step in a much larger urban reforestation project that we are carrying out with Arbolia for an increasingly green and sustainable city," explained the councilor for green areas Mattia Ierardi. “In recent weeks, more than 2,800 plants have been planted here in Sant'Agostino district: an important response to the needs of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood and the industrial area. The next step will be the complete cleaning of the area where the wood stands, followed by the creation of two other green areas in Maddalene and near the Gogna dog pound. These are precious green lungs which, added to the interventions currently under way in the urban fabric, will make a significant contribution to the absorption of CO₂ and PM₁₀ in the city".

"Whoever deals with energy and gas today has a duty to think also about the protection of the planet and, consequently, must be aware of the quality of the product they supply to their customers. – said Luca De Rosa, Sole Director of the energy company, as well as President and CEO of Global Power SpA, a reference brand for the Italian public administration, resellers and large companies, present in the energy sector for twenty years  – “After the experience in Rovigo we are happy to consolidate our partnership with Arbolia, proving that our words are not just words but concrete actions to be an active part of the change. Now, more than ever, it is essential to contribute to the protection of the environment and its effective improvement. We hope that an increasing number of municipalities will be involved in this project".

"With this project we confirm our roots in the Veneto region, thanks to our synergic collaboration with the Municipality of Vicenza. Through the creation of new green belts, Arbolia is promoting concrete actions to combat climate change and improve air quality, to the benefit of local communities. Environmental sustainability and the protection of biodiversity are also priority issues for Snam, which has always been active in reforestation and restoration projects throughout Italy", commented Dario Manigrasso, Head of Operations, Marketing & Commercial of Arbolia.

This project brings to seventeen the number of green belts created by Arbolia in Italy. In the next few months, the benefit company will develop initiatives in a further twenty Italian municipalities from the North to the South of the country.