Ecosystem restoration in Montiferru

Positive impact generated

Context

The 2021 wildfires in Sardinia devastated the Montiferru landscapes, destroying ancient Sardinian trees and causing severe social and ecological damage. The project - Hope for Sennariolo - promoted by MedSea aims to restore balance and biodiversity.

In the summer of 2021, a large wildfire in Sardinia destroyed over 20,000 hectares of historic olive groves and Mediterranean scrub in Montiferru, forcing the evacuation of more than 1,000 people and resulting in the loss of 30 million pollinators. Hope for Sennariolo was created to regenerate 50 hectares of land with wild olive trees, holm oaks, and other typical Sardinian tree species, restoring resilience to the area. From 2025, the project will also focus on establishing 10 hectares of nectar-rich forests for bees and other pollinators, essential for biodiversity and food security, while mitigating the impacts of climate change and future wildfires.

Gallery

Riforestazione Italia Montiferru Sennariolo 1 3x

Riforestazione Italia Montiferru Sennariolo 2 3x

Riforestazione Italia Montiferru Sennariolo 3 3x

Riforestazione Italia Montiferru Sennariolo 4 3x

Riforestazione Italia Montiferru Sennariolo 5 3x

Stakeholders and local partners

Who are the key stakeholders?

The project is led by the MedSea Foundation, in collaboration with local communities, schools, and landowners. Green Future Project supports the initiative through fundraising activities to carry out the regeneration efforts. Communities actively participate in planting and caring for the trees, strengthening their connection to the land. The interventions are designed to contribute to sustainable development goals: rural revitalization and new opportunities for decent work, climate mitigation and post-wildfire resilience in Sardinia, and the protection of terrestrial biodiversity. Governance is based on regular monitoring by MedSea to ensure transparency and measurable results, both in terms of hectares restored and pollinators supported.

Project Developer:

Objectives and approach

The goal is to restore 50 hectares of degraded land in Sardinia and create 10 hectares of nectar-rich forests to protect pollinators and local communities.

The project aims to restore ecosystems lost due to the wildfires in Sardinia by regenerating olive groves and Mediterranean scrub and planting climate-resilient Sardinian trees. One of the objectives is to create 10 hectares of nectar-rich forests with around 30,000 flowering plants, capable of feeding up to 800,000 bees, supporting biodiversity and food security. Another goal is to reduce the risk of floods and landslides through hydraulic-forestry interventions. Hope for Sennariolo seeks to restore ecological and social value to a territory severely affected by environmental degradation and to serve as a replicable model for other vulnerable areas.

The project begun the ecosystem regeneration process using wild olive trees, holm oaks, and Mediterranean shrubs - typical trees of Sardinia. In 2025, a second phase was launched, focused on restoring nectar-rich forests by planting strawberry trees, buckthorn, broom, blackthorn, myrtle, lavender, and heather - native species capable of attracting pollinators. The interventions, carried out by MedSea in collaboration with the community, focus on Colle Santa Vittoria, a strategic area for biodiversity and hydrogeological protection. This approach combines scientific rigor with community participation with the goal of generating long-term ecological and social benefits.