Project description

Arbolia's sixth project was carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Parma in an area located close to the Eurasia shopping centre and bordering the Tangenziale Sud (ring road) and Strada Traversetolo. This is the second urban forestry project promoted by Arbolia and the City of Parma to improve air quality in the city.

The afforestation operation was made possible thanks to the contribution of Impresa Tre Colli S.p.A.

Social and environmental benefits

This intervention, being located between a shopping centre and a highly trafficked road, will not only contribute to improving air quality but also provide important visual and acoustic protection.  The new urban wood will be able to absorb up to 160 tonnes of CO₂ and 568 kg of PM₁₀ per year.

Most used species

The choice of tree and shrub species was made taking into consideration both the urban context in which the intervention area is located and the "Regulations for the protection of urban green areas" of the Municipality of Parma.

The following were planted:

TREES

• European hornbeam, 399 plants
• European nettle tree, 200 plants
• European ash, 181 plants
• Pry, 210 plants
• Wild cherry, 277 plants
• Field Maple, 181 plants

SHRUBS

• Guelder-rose, 180 plants
• Wayfarer, 181 plants

(*) calculated considering the growth of plants over 20 years based on the following bibliographical studies:

Study conduct by the Tuscany Region “guidelines to the plating of specific tree species for the absorption of nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter and ozone” in partnership with the National Research Council as part of the program 'MOnitoring ozone injury for seTTing new critical LEvelS' ('Mottles')

Research conducted by the National Research Council carried out at the Institute of Biometeorology of Bologna, which considers 31 tree and shrub species. Research conducted as part of the Qualiviva project, which saw the Pistoia Nursery Association as the leader and AIAPP (Italian Association of Landscape Architecture), CNR-IPSP (National Research Council - Institute for the Sustainable Protection of Plants) as a partner, CREA-VIV (Council for Research in Agriculture and Analysis of Agricultural Economics - Research Unit for Nursery and Management of Environmental and Ornamental Green), DiSPAA - University of Florence (Department of Sciences of Agrifood Production and Environmental Science), the Minoprio Foundation, the Agricultural School of Monza Park as well as Plants and Flowers of Italy and the Consorzio Florovivaisti Lombardi, which considers 103 species to be used in urban areas, also with regards to the absorption of CO₂.