The KilometroverdeParma forestry consortium has launched LawyAn educational project that involved over 11 thousand students in practical immersion experiences in nature. The initiative addresses the phenomenon of“Extinction of experience”A growing disconnection between the new generations and the environment
Wetree: a project to combat “Alienation from nature”
In the era of diffused digitalization and cementing, more and more young people grow without a direct link with the natural environment. The loss of this connection has profound consequences on psychophysical well -being, with effects ranging from the increase in anxiety and stress to the reduction of concentration and learning capacity.
The naturalist Robert M. Pyle defined this trend “Extinction of Experience”an expression that summarizes the progressive removal of the new generations from nature and the weakening of ecological sensitivity.
Il KilometroverdeParma forestry consortium He responded to this problem with the Wetree project, an initiative that does not limit himself to teaching abstract concepts on ecology but proposes an active involvement of students through concrete experiences, in which contact with the environment becomes an opportunity for growth, awareness and responsibility.
An inclusive environmental education model
From 2020 to 2024 the project saw the participation of over 11 thousand students divided into 440 classes. The activities provided for more than 800 hours of training, which alternated between moments of in -depth analysis in the classroom and outdoor paths, enriched by 140 practical experiences on the field.
In this sense, Wetree is not only an environmental awareness project but also a model of social inclusion. But there is more. The organizers have guaranteed that even students with disabilities could actively participate in activities, showing that environmental education must not be a privilege of a few, but a universal right. But why is this connection with mother nature important?
The power of nature on well -being and learning
Numerous scientific studies have shown that contact with nature positively affects cognitive and emotional development. The hypothesis of biophilia, theorized by Edward O. Wilsonsuggests that the human being has an innate affinity for natural environments, and that their absence generates psychological imbalances.
Research conducted by scholars Stephen Kaplan and Rachel Kaplan, have highlighted how the attendance of green spaces better the capacity for concentration and reduces stress levels.
These principles are confirmed in the Wetree project, which does not limit itself to providing notions on sustainability, but allows young people to regain possession of an ancestral bond with the earth. Through the plant Of trees, the observation of biodiversity and the management of green spaces, students rediscover the value of the slow time of nature, opposite to the frenzy of daily life and the overestimation of the digital world.
From theory to practice: students’ experience
The participants in the project showed an evident change in their approach to the environment. Many of them, initially not very interested in ecological issues, have developed a new sensitivity towards the landscape that surrounds them.
Some students said they had discovered the feeling of sinking their hands in the earth for the first time, that they understood how much work requires the growth of a tree and having learned to listen to the sounds of nature, often suffocated by the noise of the city.
During a teaching excursion, a boy confessed: “I had never noticed how many types of trees were in my city. Now when I walk on the street I recognize them and I know how important they are ». This type of awareness is the final goal of Wetree: to return to young people a careful look at the natural world, so that they can become custodians and not only distracted spectators.
Urban forests: an ally against the climatic crisis
The project is not limited to educating the new generations: it is part of a wider view of adaptation to climate change. Loredana Casoria, secretary general of the KilometroverdeParma forestry consortium, underlined the crucial role of urban forests in the mitigation of the effects of the climatic crisis.
«Trees are not simple elements of urban furniture, but real protagonists of the resilience of our cities. In addition to reducing the’heat island effect, regulate the water cycle, improve the quality of’air and offer fundamental aggregation spaces for the well -being of people “.
This awareness transpires in every activity of the project, which teaches children to consider trees as precious allies, not only from an aesthetic point of view, but also for their ecological and social function.
An example of collaboration between public and private
Wetree is an initiative that also stands out for the ability to involve different local actors, creating a collaboration network between institutions, schools, research bodies and private companies. The support of reality such as Harpoe, WWF Parma, Parks of the Duchy, Expert e Ibo Italia It guarantees the scientific quality of the project, while the support of companies such as Gea Procomac, Montecchi SB and Laumas demonstrates the growing interest of the private sector towards environmental sustainability.
This synergy between public and private represents a virtuous model of how environmental education can be promoted on a large scale, overcoming fragmentary logics and creating a real impact on the community.
