Sylva and Luiss Foundation for the reforestation of Salento

A new tree for each first-year student. This is the goal of the project, which brings together the Sylva Foundation and Luiss Guido Carli University in Salento. Together, they are working to reforest and redevelop an olive grove affected by the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium.

The agreement is called Luiss4Trees: a green pact between university and nature, culture and environment, youth and the local community.

The land, which will be reforested by the Sylva Foundation this coming fall, is located in the Salento countryside in Sementello and is owned by the Municipality of Arnesano. A 7-hectare property of great natural and scenic value. For the reforestation, more than twenty tree and shrub species will be used, selected from the native varieties of the Mediterranean maquis. Among the tree species, the main focus will be on planting native oaks (holm oak, Aleppo oak, Quercus dalechampii, Quercus virgiliana, and Quercus vallonea), conifers (cypress, stone pine, and Aleppo pine), as well as elms, carob trees, mulberry trees, and hackberry trees.

The overall project involves planting 7,000 trees, with 2,360 of them dedicated to Luiss—one tree for each first-year student.

This is a chance for Salento to be reborn after the Xylella infestation that decimated its centuries-old tree heritage.

The project’s unique value lies in the fact that, beyond reforestation, it also involves the redevelopment of an abandoned area. As the forest grows, the area will become a habitat and refuge for wildlife.

“We are delighted to partner with the Sylva Foundation to contribute to this important reforestation project in the Salento region. At Luiss, we firmly believe that educating students also involves initiatives like this one, which can direct their attention toward the planet's future through tangible actions and gestures. In fact, part of our commitment is to foster the emergence of a new generation of leaders who are responsible when it comes to sustainability,” says Luigi Gubitosi, President of Luiss.

“In our country, the law requires that a tree be planted for every child born or adopted. Through this collaboration, we aimed to broaden the perspective to include academic communities, starting with Luiss University, to whom we extend our gratitude. The life journey of the trees we are going to plant runs parallel to the educational journey of our young first-year students, in a pact between culture and nature that is constantly renewing itself,” says Luigi de Vecchi, President of the Sylva Foundation.