Forests created or improved Bosco di Mestre

In 2026, the Zaher Forest area will undergo responsible forest management interventions, with the aim of maintaining and expanding this ecosystem around the city. The project aims to enlarge the forest by adding approximately 3,000 square meters of new trees. The selected species also enhance lesser-known functions of the forest, such as fruit production, the concentration of honey-producing species for beekeeping, and the creation of habitats for birds and wetland fauna, such as amphibians.

In some areas, trees that grow too quickly or do not belong to the species typical of the area are being removed through thinning, along with dead, diseased, or decaying plants. These interventions are considered essential by forestry experts because they provide more light, space, and resources to the plants that make up the natural balance of the forest. This protects valuable species such as English oak, ash, and hornbeam, promoting more sustainable and harmonious growth of the entire ecosystem. The main benefits include protecting the mainland from the risk of flooding, renaturalization and increased biodiversity, the creation of new spaces for recreation, well-being, and leisure, and endless environmental education activities.

A well-maintained and responsibly managed forest is healthier, more stable, and better able to cope with climate change. For this reason, together with Etifor, a spin-off of the University of Padua specializing in environmental consulting, areas for intervention have been identified and the necessary actions defined to improve the forest management of the Bosco di Mestre.