Bologna Airport launches the world’s first FSC®-certified forest for responsible forest management

A new forest has been created just 10 km from Piazza Maggiore: forty hectares that, as of today, carry the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification for responsible forest management and will provide key ecosystem services such as CO₂ absorption, soil conservation, and biodiversity protection.

The project was developed by Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, which handles over 11 million passengers each year and has chosen to implement its sustainability strategy through the active protection of natural and landscape heritage. Marconi Airport is the first airport in the world to obtain FSC® certification (FSC-C214976) for the responsible management of a green area.

The new forest belt has been created in the municipalities of Calderara di Reno and Bologna for conservation and environmental purposes. It covers approximately 40 hectares - equivalent to 56 football fields - and acts as a green lung, absorbing carbon dioxide and preserving the landscape. About 36 hectares are forested, while an additional 4 hectares consist of grassland clearings sown with plant mixtures to support pollinating insects. A total of 28,670 trees have been planted, an intervention expected to increase carbon stock by around six times within five years.

More than 50 species have been planted, including 30 tree species and 21 shrub species such as oak, willow, elm, poplar, and ash. These species were selected both to minimize the impact of birdlife on airport operations and to preserve biodiversity. The project required a total investment of €6.6 million.

Completing the project is FSC® certification, the most rigorous international standard for responsible forest management, ensuring that forests are managed in a way that respects biodiversity, workers’ rights, and local communities. As part of the certification process, an in-depth assessment of the forest’s ecosystem services was conducted, including carbon sequestration and storage, biodiversity conservation, water regulation, soil protection—preventing future development—and recreational services.

The audit and FSC® certification were conducted by CSI S.p.A., part of the IMQ Group, an accredited certification body and one of Italy’s leading third-party organizations in the forestry sector.

“With the creation of the forest belt north of the runway,” explained Nazareno Ventola, CEO of Bologna Airport, “we have transformed a commitment into an opportunity. Compared to the agreements made with local authorities to implement mitigation measures for the impacts of airport development, we have gone much further and introduced something truly innovative. FSC® certification recognizes that the Airport has met the most rigorous standards for the active and responsible management of forest areas and guarantees that this commitment will be maintained over time. For Bologna Airport, it is both a great source of pride and a major responsibility to be the first airport in the world to embark on this journey and achieve certification for responsible forest management. We also thank the local authorities with whom we have built this project over time, from its initial conception, and with whom we now share the results.”

“Every forest is a concrete response to the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. Seeing infrastructure such as an airport invest in responsible forest management is an example of the kind of transition the country needs: not only absorbing CO₂, but actively protecting and enhancing natural capital. The private sector can play its part with seriousness and method,” commented Giuseppe Bonanno, Director of FSC® Italy.

“As a certification body, through our audit we can confirm the significant milestone achieved, fully aware of the effort and resources required to implement the FSC® Forest Management Standard. The certification process did not involve only the certificate holder—the Airport—but all stakeholders, representing significant added value in the interest of the community and future generations,” said Flavio Pomelli, Accreditation Program Manager at CSI S.p.A.