Covering 230 hectares — an area twice the size of the island of Murano — Bosco di Mestre is a vital green lung comprising the hubs of Carpenedo, Osellino, Campalto, and the Querini areas. Among these, Bosco di Zaher stands out, dedicated to the memory of Zaher Rezai, a young Afghan migrant. To preserve this space for recreation and remembrance, it is essential to transition from spontaneous growth to active, responsible forest management capable of ensuring long-term health and resilience.

Starting from 2026, Bosco di Zaher will undergo series of maintenance and expansion works. The plan involves targeted management to encourage the development of typical lowland woodland through two lines of action:

• Forest improvement: thinning interventions to remove invasive species, as well as diseased or decaying trees. These operations are essential to protect the species inhabiting these habitats.
• Targeted reforestation: an adjacent uncultivated area will be reforested using a “naturaliform” (nature-near) approach, planting native species such as oak, poplar, maple, and lime, along with numerous shrubs like dogwood and elderberry.

These interventions aim to increase biodiversity, improve air quality, and boost $CO_2$ sequestration, while simultaneously providing new wellness spaces for the local community. The project includes maintenance for the first five years and monitoring of the positive impacts through to 2040.

The project is part of a virtuous synergy: Etifor operates under an agreement with Enel Produzione, which is funding the works as part of an accord with the Comune di Venezia, the area’s manager. This funding stems from the sustainability journey launched by Enel in 2023 with the technological upgrading of the Centrale “Andrea Palladio” in Fusina.

Our team has deployed its technical and scientific expertise to support the partners in defining the silvicultural interventions and the monitoring plan, working in close coordination with stakeholders and the appointed forestry company.