Sustainability credits on the Apennines are growing: a new model of green economy to protect the woods and reduce emissions
An innovative project for the mountain
In less than two years, the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park He transformed a bet into a virtuous example of sustainable economy.
The project of Sustainability creditsborn in December 2022, has already involved thirty -five entrepreneurial, cooperatives and third sector, demonstrating how the enhancement of Ecosystem services of the woods can become a concrete tool of environmental protection and social responsibility.
During the conference “Forests and future – citizens and businesses for the Apennines forests”hosted in Sassuolo in the spaces of the Marazzi ceramic group, twenty -three participating organizations received a certificate for their commitment to reducing emissions and in the conservation of the mountain territory.
Those who adhere to sustainability credits
Among the subjects who have purchased the credits include large manufacturing companies such as Mother (agricultural machines), Vimi Fasteners, Tobut also cooperatives such as Coopservice, Coopma, Legacoop Emilia, Confcooperative Terre d’Emilia.
To these are added realities of the cosmetic sector (such as Parmigiana Davines), collective catering (Serenissima), of construction, as well as sports associations, consultancy companies, agencies for events and third sector organizations.
A large and varied network, which testifies to the transversal interest in new ways to compensate CO₂ emissions and support the Active and manager of forests.
How does the credit mechanism work?
But how does the credit mechanism work? The heart of the project lies in a simple but revolutionary idea: economically recognizing the value of ecosystem services offered by the woods, i.e. the benefits that they provide to the environment and the community.
From material goods such as timber, fruits, mushrooms and oxygen, up to intangible functions such as the absorption of carbon dioxide, climatic regulation, protection from hydrogeological instability.
To certify these services, the park has made its forests validate from two international third entities. In parallel, it has entered into agreements with numerous owners of forest areas for a sustainable and virtuous management of the green heritage, going beyond the constraints of traditional forest regulations, stopped in part of the 1923 law.
The numbers of the project: what are they?
To date the project involves 41 forestsfor a total of 28,869 hectares distributed between thirty -four owners. These territories have already generated about 35 thousand creditseach corresponding to A ton of absorbed CO₂ Thanks to additional forest management practices compared to the starting situation.
The prospects are growing: by October, eight other wooded areas will join the initiative, bringing the total surface involved to 33 thousand hectares.
Sustainability credits: a signal for the future
“What three years ago was a bet is today an operational reality, which has already produced results from an environmental and social point of view”, said the president of the National Park, Fausto Giovannelli.
Despite being a project still in evolution and continuous research, sustainability credits “They have already left a mark” in the culture of the territory: the woods will no longer be seen only as a passive resource but as a central actors in the fight against climate change and engine of a new social comparison.
Also Luciana Serripresident of theCentral Emilia Parks Authorityexpressed a positive judgment, underlining the importance of the regional forest network, which with its 40 thousand hectares between Modena and Reggio Emilia represents a strategic potential for sustainable development.
A recognition for those who invest in nature
To enhance even more the role of the buyers of the credits, a dedicated certification is being developed, which will allow companies and organizations involved to communicate its environmental commitment with greater transparency and impact.
A further step towards the spread of this good practice, which aims to make the care of the territory economically sustainable and to involve more and more actors in the construction of a truly green economy.