Rome urban reforestation project faces low plant survival rates

A major urban reforestation project in Rome and its surrounding 19 municipalities, funded by over 40 million euros from the PNRR, is facing significant challenges regarding plant survival. While the initiative is one of the largest of its kind in Italy, the actual environmental impact is being questioned due to high mortality rates among the newly planted trees and shrubs.

In areas such as Acqua Rosse, the survival rate for plants following the 2025 planting has been reported at approximately 20%. Experts and local officials have attributed this failure to the age and fragility of the plants, as well as poor timing. Planting was conducted in May without sufficient guarantees for irrigation and maintenance during a period of low rainfall. Unlike previous regional projects, the PNRR funding includes a guarantee that requires failed plantings to be replaced.