Italy forest area surpasses farmland for first time since Middle Ages, boosting carbon storage

A new report shows that forests now cover more than 100,000 square kilometers in Italy, exceeding agricultural land for the first time since the Middle Ages. Woodland now spans over one third of the country, driven largely by natural regeneration on abandoned farmland. Researchers highlight that the expanding forests are storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and creating new opportunities for sustainable forestry and rural tourism. The report notes that some mountain municipalities are seeing population growth as people return to rural areas. The environmental benefits include cleaner air and water, carbon storage, erosion prevention, and new economic opportunities for local communities. This shift from agriculture to forest cover represents a significant land use change with implications for carbon accounting and rural development policy.