Trentino holds a wealth of biodiversity in its 6,200 km² (you could fit Paris about 60 times into this surface area). This province of Italy is home to around 500,000 trees, 2,300 plant species and 70 biotopes [1]. To protect this biodiversity, and foster greater sustainability, the province has released a National Strategy for the Development of a Sustainable Trentino (SproSS report) [2]. This outlines its vision for a 2040 sustainable Trento, and its path to get there – an agenda outlining concrete proposals to be implemented by 2030. These sustainability strategies are divided into four pillars for protecting and supporting biodiversity in the province: strengthen ecosystems; improve governance; share knowledge; and cultivate awareness.

In 2018, when storm Vaia hit, Trentino lost 1.5 million cubic meters of wood [3]. Trentino will create defined recovery plans for destroyed areas from storms and other natural disasters that promote natural regeneration, maintain open landscapes and, where artificial reforestation is necessary, activate operational and financial mechanisms for recovery. It does this by setting up an efficient supply chain of reforestation seedlings and activating a permanent monitoring system to measure interventions’ effectiveness [2].

Trentino aims to limit infrastructure development in forest areas with high natural heritage and wildlife value by promoting management and use that minimizes disturbance factors and habitat fragmentation [2]. The province plans to increase close-to-nature forestry to ensure a stable and diverse forest and promote biodiversity. This forestry method promotes natural regeneration of trees, and with many tree species of different ages within a small area [4]. Additionally, the Trentino Old-Growth Forest Plan will identify and protect old-growth forest areas [2].

Alongside traditional mountain pasture systems and conservation agriculture, Trentino aims to maintain and increase its use of silvopastoral agroforestry systems [2]. Silvopastoral agriculture integrates trees, shrubs and livestock together [5]. Trees provide shade and shelter to livestock, help prevent soil loss and act as extreme weather buffers [5]. By supporting diverse habitats, biodiversity benefits. Finally, to promote the recovery of abandoned areas, Trentino wants to encourage associations and communities to take care of the land by extending subsidies and aid to incentivize their management and maintenance [2]

Figure 1: Livestock grazing in silvopasture paddock. Savannainstitute, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The European Strategic Environmental Assessment evaluates the effects on the environment of proposed plans, programs and policies before they are implemented [6]. Trentino plans to include analyses on the cumulative effects of the proposed transformations envisaged by the 2040 strategy on certain ecosystems or habitats. The province plans to update their strategic planning by considering long-term time horizons and scenarios for the ecological functionality and resilience of territories [2].

They want to improve their landscape planning by allocating certain areas with specific ecological functions. For example, by having buffer zones to filter diffuse polluting sources, hydro-ecological corridors, connectivity areas, and green infrastructure. They want to introduce a fund to allow for the continuous monitoring of ecosystem services.

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from healthy ecosystems. For example, thanks to busy bees and other insects (and birds and bats!) that pollinate plant species, humans benefit through food production. Trentino encourages native and pollinating species, taking inspiration from the wild plant and fungi conservation charity [7].

Actions to safeguard animal and plant biodiversity will be taken such as environmental monitoring, adopting new technologies and implementing environmental research. The province plans to use a multidisciplinary and integrated approach for data collection and sharing to create models on biodiversity functioning. The tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is expanding into Trentino, and its increasing distribution may affect the potential spread of infectious diseases transmitted. By predicting where this species may establish and spread, one can prevent and control its impact [7]. As part of the SproSS action plan, Trentino will strengthen research and development into innovative methods for warning and preventing biological and climatic risks.

Trentino also aims to strengthen its agricultural diversity by maintaining and breeding old and traditional varieties and using agroecology to create diverse agricultural systems. They want to breed disease-resistant crops to reduce pesticide use. There has been a recent legal proposal by the European Commission to exempt some genome-edited plants from the strict regulations of the European Union for classical genetically modified crops [8]. This could allow for significant reductions in pesticide usage in agriculture. A case study from Sweden suggests that 70 million € could be collectively saved by cereal producers with the use of disease-resistant crops [8].

As a fourth pillar on their pathway to a 2040 sustainable Trentino, the province plans to strengthen education and research programs. They plan to provide continuous training to citizens, administrators and professionals and promote adaptation to climate change. For example, by promoting supply chain resilience when extreme weather events hit.

The reintroduction of the wolf is a fiercely debated topic around Europe. Trentino plans to cultivate awareness of large carnivores and mammals to support their coexistence and management. More generally, human-nature relationships shall be strengthened. By spreading knowledge on ecosystem services and ensuring that the positive and negative impacts on biodiversity are accounted for, Trentino wants to boost corporate responsibility on the environment.

Trentino has a wealth of natural capital with ecological and socio-economic benefits. By boosting residents’ and tourists’ knowledge and sense of responsibility, a greater incentive to maintain this common good is cultivated. They plan to do this by promoting ongoing projects between local authorities, museums, associations and libraries, and supporting environmental educators, science communicators and mountain guides [2].

Finally, the province plans to increase the role of parks, reserves and protected areas as “good practice labs” to test management plans, do research and climate change monitoring, and provide environmental education. Testing new tools for conserving natural resources, such as how to promote biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, is also part of their action plan.

Trentino is committed to protecting and enhancing its biodiversity through a comprehensive National Strategy for Sustainability. The goal is to ensure that its biodiversity and natural resources stay intact for future generations. Its pathway reflects an understanding of the interconnectedness between people, nature and the economy and research and monitoring play key roles in the implementation of the plan. Should Trentino successfully be able to execute the strategies outlined in the four pillars, the province will be a model for other regions to follow as they head for more biodiverse futures.

This article is part of the project “Quiz Ambientali per un Trentino Più Verde!” carried out by Econtrovertia APS and sponsored by Fondazione Cassa Rurale di Trento (Notice of Approval of December 20, 2024).

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