Castagneto di Granaglione: National Center for Biodiversity

The Chestnut Forest of Granaglione it has 14 kinds of chestnut fruit and 4 kinds of wood. Including a wood library, a collection of wood species worldwide. Also included are 30 native tree species. The Castagneto di Granaglione is located in the province of Bologna and has been awarded as National Center for the study and preservation of biodiversity Forest.

Of these centers, only eight are in Italy. In addition to Granaglione, there are the area of ​​Pieve Santo Stefano in the province of Arezzo, the Bosco Fontana in Mantua and the Peri in Verona. Then also the Institute for the Sustainable Protection of Plants of Cnr-Isps in Turin and the Research Center for Forests and Wood of Crea in Arezzo. The Seed Laboratory of the University of Florence and finally the Regional Center for Castanicoltura del Piemonte in Chiusa di Pesio, in the province of Turin.

The purpose of these centers is to conserve the species and protect the biodiversity of forest ecosystems Gift. The centers also ensure the preservation of the germplasm forestry (genetic composition of a particular species that is important at the scientific and national level). There is the traditional Castagneto from the twentieth century and the monumental one with large plants far apart. Then there are the experimental forest chestnut orchard and the experimental fruit orchard with twelve chestnut varieties and two chestnut varieties.

Also present thebeekeeping to produce chestnut honey and collect products from the undergrowth. The “Talking Chestnuts” or “Treetalker” project is also active. It is about sensors on chestnut trees that collect and transmit data and environmental parameters. For example, how much CO2 the plant absorbs or the color of the leaves.