Uggiano La Chiesa Project - Fondazione Sylva

UGGIANO LA CHIESA

Hectares reforested

Trees planted

1000

liters of oxygen generated per day
(estimated in 10 years)

1500

kg of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere
(estimated in 10 years)

20000

PROPERTY OF THE LAND

Le Costantine Foundation

PLANTING SITE

Uggiano La Chiesa – CASAMASSELLA and GIURDIGNANO

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Transformation of areas previously planted with olive trees affected by Xylella as a natural extension of the existing forested area of oak woodland in a landscape area of high value, owned by a third-sector entity focused on promoting women's textile craftsmanship and training.

TYPE OF INTERVENTION

Forestation project on arable land and terraced areas.

PLANTING DATE

17/03/2023

STATUS OF THE WORK

2nd year: care and maintenance

DRAG

SELECTED SPECIES

Arbutus

The arbutus tree (scientific name: Arbutus unedo L.) is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the Ericaceae family, native to Mediterranean regions. It reaches a height of 5-8 meters and has a dense canopy, with oval, glossy leaves of dark green color. The small bell-shaped flowers, white or pink, bloom in autumn, forming pendulous clusters, followed by the fruits, called "corbezzoli," which ripen in winter. These fruits are red, fleshy, and sweet-tasting. The arbutus tree is drought-resistant and adapts well to poor, rocky soils. It is appreciated both for its ornamental appearance and for the production of honey and liqueurs, in addition to being used for soil stabilization.

Holm oak

The holm oak (scientific name: Quercus ilex L.) is an evergreen tree of the Fagaceae family, typical of Mediterranean regions. It can reach a height of 15-20 meters and has a dense, rounded canopy. The leaves are dark green, leathery, oblong, and with smooth edges. The holm oak produces small acorns that ripen in autumn and are highly valued by wildlife. Resistant to drought and poor soils, the holm oak is particularly suited to warm, slightly cool climates. It is used for the production of high-quality timber, charcoal, and as an ornamental plant in gardens and green areas. Its bark also has traditional medicinal uses.

Mastic tree

The mastic tree (scientific name: Pistacia lentiscus L.) is an evergreen shrub of the Anacardiaceae family, typical of hot Mediterranean regions. It can reach a height of 3-4 meters and has a globular, rounded canopy. The leaves are bright green, leathery, compound, and pinnate, with a strong aromatic scent due to the presence of essential oils. The fruits are small, spherical, and red, ripening in summer. The bark, when incised, produces a resin, well known as mastic from Chios, a secretion that coagulates into round or tear-shaped, transparent, yellow beads with a balsamic scent and a sour, bitter taste. The resin gets its name from the region where it is primarily cultivated, the island of Chios in Greece. Mastic has medicinal properties. Resistant to drought and poor soils, the mastic tree is particularly suited to hot, arid climates.

Virgilian oak

The Virgilian oak (Quercus virgiliana (Ten.) Ten.) is a deciduous tree of the Fagaceae family, typical of Mediterranean regions. It can reach a height of 15-20 meters and has a broad, rounded canopy. The leaves, oblong and lobed, are dark green and turn yellow in autumn. The flowers, which bloom in spring, are small and inconspicuous, followed by acorns that ripen in autumn. The bark is gray and smooth in young specimens, becoming more rugged with age. The Virgilian oak is resistant to drought and adapts to various types of soil, making it ideal for soil stabilization and as an ornamental plant. It is valued for its wood, used in carpentry, and for tannin production. In Italy, it is mainly found in the southern regions, such as Calabria, Sicily, and Puglia.

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