What is this project about?

The Po Valley in Northern Italy has one of the worst air qualities in Europe, with many of its cities regularly surpassing the threshold levels for PM concentrations considered safe for human health. Luckily, trees can play a role in tackling this problem: studies all over the world are demonstrating the ability of trees in capturing PM, but evidence is needed at the local level.

The project aims to measure air pollution with innovative sensors within and outside urban forests in order to assess their efficacy as a mitigation measure for air pollution, facilitate their funding and educate and engage with citizens. Citizens are involved throughout the project, participating in data collection and in co-developing solutions and policies proposals. Project activities include education and dissemination activities as well. The team from Etifor, a consultancy spin-off of the University of Padova specialising in ecosystems services, gather data using Wiseair’s air quality sensors in forests run by citizens’ groups and organizations and financed through the WOWnature, a web-based platform for forest finance.