Fondazione Gabaldo – experimental afforestation in the Colli Berici

2026–2029 · Fondazione Gabaldo · University of Milan

The project establishes a permanent experimental forest in the Commenda area of the Colli Berici, testing planting strategies designed to increase the resilience of new forests under future climatic conditions. The experiment addresses two main questions: which geographic provenance of forest reproductive material performs best under a changing climate, and which planting system provides the best balance among survival, growth, water demand, maintenance and costs. Northern, Central and Southern Italian provenances are compared under two complete planting systems: conventional and Miyawaki-inspired.

The available site covers 3,600 m². The experimental design uses sixteen 100-m² square groups arranged in eight randomized blocks. Each block contains one conventional and one Miyawaki-inspired group, allowing spatial variability to be controlled while maintaining independent replication of both treatments. The six main tree species are Acer campestre, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fraxinus ornus, Prunus avium, Quercus cerris and Quercus pubescens. Three geographic provenances are compared for each species. Secondary tree species and shrubs with different successional, functional and climatic roles are included to promote the long-term development of a mixed, multilayered and natural-looking permanent forest.

Related research lines: Forest restoration, rewilding and afforestation · Forest dynamics and climate change

Reports and outputs: Experimental mixed-group afforestation – Commenda area, preliminary project (July 2026)