Rice paddies, wetlands, and woodlands shape the landscape of Riserva San Massimo, located in the heart of the Ticino Park. The estate lies within a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) where agricultural activity coexists with the protection of biodiversity and natural ecosystems.
Within this setting, a poplar plantation has been established, as part of the Lombardy Region’s Rural Development Program. Native to the Po Valley and closely associated with the Ticino River’s floodplain environments, poplar is a defining feature of the local agricultural landscape. Its ability to thrive in water-rich soils and its rapid growth make it an important renewable source of timber while also providing habitat for a wide range of wildlife species.
The plantation consists of 15.12% traditional clones and 84.88% Environmentally Sustainable (MSA) clones. The predominance of MSA clones will reduce the need for plant protection treatments throughout the plantation’s ten-year growing cycle, supporting a more sustainable management approach.
The project was funded under the Regional Complement for Rural Development of the 2023–2027 CAP Strategic Plan of the Lombardy Region, Measure SRD05 – “Afforestation/Reforestation, Agroforestry Systems and Tree Plantations on Agricultural Land”, Action SRD05.2 – “Short- and Medium-/Long-Rotation Tree Plantations on Agricultural Land.”
The project received €50,670.24 in total public funding, including €20,622.79 co-financed by the European Union, €21,033.22 through national co-financing, and €9,014.24 through regional co-financing.
For more information on funding opportunities, please visit the Lombardy Region’s EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) website and the European Commission website.
This initial planting has been followed by an expansion of the area set aside for poplars, carried out directly by Riserva San Massimo, which oversees and covers the costs of managing and maintaining the entire plantation.
