The kick-off meeting of the Interreg Italy–Switzerland project “MAPFOR – Mappatura delle strutture forestali periurbane: rischi e resilienza al cambiamento climatico (MAPFOR – Mapping Peri-Urban Forest Structures: Risks and Resilience to Climate Change)” was held on March 25, 2026, at the Polo territoriale di Lecco of Politecnico di Milano.
During the first part of the afternoon, under the coordination of the Italian lead partner Gruppo di Azione Locale PARCHI E VALLI DEL LECCHESE scarl and the Swiss lead partner SUPSI, all project partners convened to officially launch the project activities. The meeting was attended by the Italian Project Officer Elena Recchia, the Swiss Project Officer Sandro Canuti, and the representative of the Canton of Ticino, Fiorenza Ratti (remotely connected).
Over the next 30 months, the project will focus on strengthening mapping capacities, both from above, through satellite and drone data, and from the ground, using fixed stations in adjacent areas and mobile systems within forest environments, alongside monitoring, analysis, and management of peri-urban forests in the transboundary Alpine and pre-Alpine area. The initiative aims to enhance the protective role of these forests while mitigating potential risks, such as tree falls that may interfere with infrastructure and forest fires.
In the second part of the afternoon, opened by Giacomo Camozzini and followed by institutional greetings from the Vice President of the Province of Lecco, Mattia Micheli, the project was presented to a large delegation of stakeholders, including numerous associated organizations of MAPFOR, as well as representatives of the press. This moment underscored the partners’ commitment to developing tools and solutions to support stakeholders involved in policies aimed at benefiting citizens and professionals in the sector.
The project partners express their sincere appreciation to all participants for their valuable contributions, which have laid a solid foundation for the successful development of the activities ahead.
Italian partners: Gruppo di Azione Locale PARCHI E VALLI DEL LECCHESE scarl; DABC – Politecnico di Milano; Fondazione Politecnico di Milano; Province of Lecco.
Swiss partners: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI); Cantonal Phytosanitary Service – Republic and Canton of Ticino; Office for Forest Planning, Silviculture and Forest Protection; Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).
Associated organizations: Regione Lombardia – Directorate General for Territory and Green Systems, Soil Protection and Management of Commissioner Activities; Comunità Montana Lario Orientale Valle San Martino (zone no. 12); Comunità Montana Valsassina Valvarrone Val d’Esino Riviera; Parco Regionale Monte Barro; Parco Regionale Valle del Lambro; Parco Regionale Montevecchia e Valle del Curone; Parco Regionale Adda Nord.
Contributors and participants: Cristiana Achille, Francesco Fassi, Christian Ambrosi, Daniele Strigaro, Giacomo Camozzini, Maria Rosaria Conte, Gianni Boris Pezzatti, Patrick Krebs, Alessio Spataro, Fabio Valsecchi, Daniele Fabrizio Bignami, Barbara Bernardon.