An important environmental regeneration project has been completed in a 5,000 sqm area surrounding Casteddu Etzu, the Montiferru Castle, in the municipality of Cuglieri (OR). Supported by Fastweb+Vodafone and carried out in collaboration with the Montiferru Association, the project is part of Mosaico Verde, a national campaign for urban and non-urban reforestation, ecosystem restoration, and environmental regeneration. The campaign was developed and promoted by AzzeroCO2 in collaboration with Legambiente.
The area had been severely affected by the wildfires that, between 23 and 25 July 2021, devastated large portions of the Montiferru region, destroying 12,000 hectares of vegetation—including ancient olive trees, wild olives, holm oaks, and strawberry trees—causing extensive damage to the local natural and landscape heritage.
This intervention is part of a broader recovery effort led by the Montiferru Association, founded in September 2021 with the aim of restoring and regenerating this unique area of Sardinia from an environmental, agricultural, economic, social, and landscape perspective.
The project aims to make the area surrounding Casteddu Etzu, which was also damaged by the fire, more accessible to visitors, while strengthening its role as a historical, environmental, and cultural landmark. Despite only a few ruins remaining, the site remains a popular destination for hikers thanks to its panoramic location offering stunning views over the Montiferru valley.
Initial work focused on removing hazardous trees that posed a safety risk. This was followed by clearing the burned areas to reduce visible signs of the fire and prepare the soil for regeneration. Part of the recovered plant material was chipped and used to produce natural compost.
A key step in the project was the recovery of surviving plants, which stand as a powerful symbol of the territory’s resilience. These were complemented by the planting of 150 new native species, including cork oaks, mastic trees, myrtle, and holm oaks—typical of Mediterranean scrubland—as well as olive trees and native fruit trees to support pollinators. The intervention will help rebuild the natural habitat of the Montiferru region, restore the landscape, and encourage the return of biodiversity.
The access trail to the medieval site was also cleared, allowing visitors to once again reach this location of extraordinary historical and symbolic value for both the local community and the broader region.
The initiative in Cuglieri is part of Fastweb+Vodafone’s wider commitment to environmental protection. In 2021, the company joined the Mosaico Verde campaign, pledging to plant 15,000 trees in cities including Milan, Rome, Bari, Catania, Turin, Pomigliano d’Arco (NA), Pescara, Cagliari, and Mola di Bari (BA). For the 2024–2025 period, Fastweb+Vodafone has broadened its scope by supporting a different type of project—still under Mosaico Verde—focused on the protection and restoration of forests or areas of historical and landscape interest across Italy. These include, in addition to Cuglieri, the Beigua Regional Nature Park in the province of Genoa, the municipality of Tuglie in the province of Lecce, and the Medici Park of Pratolino in the Metropolitan City of Florence.
“Thanks to the valuable contribution from Fastweb+Vodafone, as part of the Mosaico Verde initiative (designed and coordinated by AzzeroCO2 in collaboration with Legambiente), an area of great historical and landscape value in Montiferru has been brought back to life and is undergoing regeneration,” said Pier Paolo Arca, President of the Montiferru Association. “The return of the rich Mediterranean biodiversity once safeguarded by our mountains and valleys before being lost to the fires is an act of hope. In light of the ongoing climate crisis, investing in the protection of the environment, agriculture, and landscape—and therefore in the history of our communities—means fostering a strong civic commitment that ensures the preservation of our shared heritage and supports the social fabric of the future. Since autumn 2021, thanks to many donations and the efforts of our volunteers, this commitment has helped restore hope—even through the recovery of the traditional local olive-growing sector—in one of Sardinia’s most remarkable areas.”
“For Fastweb+Vodafone, environmental protection is a real responsibility and a long-term commitment. Working in an area as badly damaged as Cuglieri means not only contributing to the recovery of a precious ecosystem and its biodiversity, but also reinforcing our connection with local communities and supporting their resilience,” said Anna Lo Iacono, Head of Sustainability at Fastweb. “We chose to focus on a site of great environmental and symbolic value because we believe that regenerating our territory must be a shared goal—one we pursue with responsibility and continuity.”
“In places marked by fire, environmental regeneration must also foster a broader cultural awareness of the fragility of these territories and the impact of human activities,” said Marta Battaglia, President of Legambiente Sardegna. “By choosing a location that is dear to the community and popular among tourists and hikers, this project serves as a tangible response to that educational mission and supports the ongoing awareness-raising efforts carried out by Legambiente Sardegna, local associations, and institutions.”
“The project developed through the partnership with Fastweb+Vodafone and in collaboration with the Montiferru Association goes beyond environmental regeneration: it is a tangible act of care for a unique natural, historical, and landscape heritage that deserves to be preserved and enhanced,” said Alessandro Martella, General Director of AzzeroCO2. “In particular, by recovering surviving plants and introducing new native species, we aimed to support the
resilience of this territory and promote the restoration of biodiversity. The initiative is part of the European project LIFE Terra, in which Legambiente is the sole Italian partner and AzzeroCO2 is a supporter. It is a concrete example of how collaborative efforts among different stakeholders can help restore value to our landscapes and offer citizens spaces to reconnect with nature.”