Forest@ (Jan 2006)
The Giazza forest: a near-to-natural forest “created” by Italian foresters a century ago
Abstract
The history of the Giazza forest in the Illasi valley (province of Verona, Northern Italy) is worth remembering. By the end of the 19th century, because of habitual unregulated cuttings and intensive grazing, no forest cover remained on the steep mountain slopes. Streams rushed unchecked through the valley, causing severe erosion and related environmental problems. In the first decade of the 20th century, a new forest was literally "created" by far-sighted foresters who, under difficult environmental conditions, did essential engineering for soil protection and site preparation for reforestation. We forget that the quality and vision of their work is the reason, a century later, hundreds of people each weekend can walk through a thriving forest.
