The Basilicata region is one of the greatest examples of deforestation in Europe, losing around 150.000 hectares of forests during the last century.
Intensive agricultural exploitation resulted in major issues such as the high rate of aridity (According to Italian SPI index, the southern and eastern parts of the region are classified as extremely arid in the summer season), desertification, and soil erosion resulting in the leaching of nutrients and landslides. Moreover, data from regional official studies highlights biodiversity loss and soil pauperization caused by a high and increasing rate of territorial fragmentation due to land conversion and agricultural expansion.
RocciaViva is focused on activities aimed to recover the regional ecosystems and reverse desertification by prioritizing water management, reforestation with endemic species, and soil improvement.
In this context, new regenerative agricultural models will be spread and shared locally with landowners and farmers, thus helping to strengthen the economic and social context of rural areas and empower local communities to improve their livelihoods and bring about bottom-up and long-lasting change and well-being.
Planted species include: Poplar, Ash tree, Downy Oak, Almond tree, Stone Pine, Larch and Hawthorne.
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Figure 1. RocciaViva