Forest project in Milan aims to plant one tree for every inhabitant

With 281,160 trees planted already, the project may be amongst the most ambitious urban greening projects in the world

Spotted: Forestami is a ten-year project to grow three million new trees in the Italian city of Milan by 2030. The project will plant 300,000 trees each year, with over a quarter of a million planted already. 

Research into urban greening has revealed a plethora of benefits, from lower crime rates to better population health, increased mental wellbeing and greater productivity, in addition to a growing awareness of how deeply deforestation is exacerbating climate change. We cannot underestimate the importance of green areas in metropolitan spaces.  

The trees will be planted around the city of Milan and in surrounding towns and villages. With a population of 3.2 million people in an area of 1,575 square kilometres, there will be roughly one tree for every inhabitant. 

According to Stefano Boeri, who first suggested the project in 2005, the goal is not only about planting, but also about creating social environments. Boeri has also installed a forest of potted trees at the entrance of Fiera Milano’s fairground. The two hundred trees which formed part of the fairground’s design will be replanted for Forestami.  

“It’s one of the most democratic, inclusive and less expensive ways to tackle global warming and it also cleans up the air,” Boeri explained. “Because Milano has this problem. It’s pretty bad.” 

The project is being spearheaded by the Polytechnic University of Milan, which has provided the core of the scientific research backing Forestami and is managing the project by coordinating with the 133 Municipalities of the Metropolitan City in order to identify the potential planting areas, choose species of trees and organise planting and maintenance. 

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