Seveso Oak Forest: The gradual reconstruction of an area contaminated by TCDD

https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-2046(93)90070-TGet rights and content

Abstract

Located to the north of Milan, is the Castanetum area which is densely populated and is the site of numerous companies, industrial plants, farms and forests.

In 1976 a toxic cloud of dioxin (TCDD) seriously contaminated the area and after 5 years an international commission decided to decontaminate it, by removing about 40 cm of the top layer of the contaminated soil and placing it in two special dumps.

In 1984 the decontamination process was concluded, a project for the park was created and a private contracting firm began construction; the Regional Forest Agency also began its collaboration in this project with the supervision of the reforestation by Dr. Paolo Lassini.

After a series of technical and functional problems that were resolved through the intense, concerted efforts of technicians, various government organizations and universities, the park was completed in 1986. Nevertheless, this was just the beginning of a barely roughed-out forest ecosystem made up of grass lawns, about 5000 grown trees and 10 000 bushes. A building, an irrigation system, a road and fencing are the only constructions in the park.

In 1987 the management of the park was turned over to the Regional Forest Agency, under the technical direction of Dr. Paolo Lassini. Work began with a group of collaborators and specialized employees of the RFA, who were also trying to integrate the forest ecosystem with the surrounding landscape.

In the past 5 years RFA has accomplished the following things:

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    -increased the natural resources through reforestation — the planting of bushes, full-grown plants, large trees, plant specimens and the planting of undergrowth and a second generation of plants, bushes and trees;

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    -created wildlife areas and reintroduced various forms of wildlife;

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    -created marsh areas;

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    -created ornamental garden areas;

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    -created acoustical barriers;

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    -created park areas linked to the neighbouring districts;

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    -established contacts and initiatives with environmental and wildlife protection groups, fishermen and hunters associations;

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    -in collaboration with the University, created inventories to carry out studies on the flora and fauna.

The following are some of the initiatives under examination for the next few years:

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    -creation of a larger regional park including neighbouring areas;

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    -wildlife areas for teaching;

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    -creation of a compost centre.

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