The Aeronautica Militare and the State Forestry Corps signed an agreement for the protection and management of the arboreal heritage of Pratica di Mare. At the event, which took place at the General Inspectorate of the State Forestry Corps, also participated Brigadier General Roberto Quattrociocchi, Commander of the Pratica di Mare airport, and Colonel Luigi Ricciardi, advisor to the Aeronautica Militare at the State Forestry Corps.
The signing of the document, which stems from the application of an Interministerial Decree of July 20, 2006, represented a significant moment for the collaboration between two important institutions of the State.
“The agreement signed today”“, stated Engineer Patrone, “It seals a fruitful and long-lasting collaboration between C.F.S. and A.M., which extends to the safeguarding of an area of great forest value. The agreement will have a significant impact on biodiversity conservation for the entire territorial context, through the employment of forest personnel with specific expertise, while nevertheless achieving significant economic savings due to the use of internal structures and professional expertise, avoiding the need to resort to costly external professional inputs from outside the Public Administration.”.
“The Italian Air Force”“, said General Tosi, “The Forestry Department pays great attention to protecting the environment in which it operates. The training and educational activities we have provided over time for the personnel of the Forestry Department have enabled us to make the professionalism of our teams known and appreciated, facilitating mutual knowledge with the State Forestry Corps. The collaboration between the C.F.S. and the A.M., sanctioned by the signing of the agreement, represents a significant and concrete step forward towards the environmental protection of the territory entrusted to the Armed Forces.”.
The agreement specifically provides for a forestry adjustment plan aimed at preserving and enhancing the green areas of the “Mario De Bernardi” military airport in Pratica di Mare (Pomezia) and forms part of the ongoing collaboration between A.M. and C.F.S. for the conduct of training and educational activities for personnel from the Forestry Department and the provision of numerous other technical and professional services provided over time by the Air Force. The multi-year plan will be organized by C.F.S. and the Biodiversity Department staff with the assistance of staff members and the resources at their disposal, in close coordination with the airport’s Operational Logistics Group.
The area on which the Base is located features a dense forest and shrubland vegetation of particular scenic and environmental importance, whose conservation management, through targeted interventions in natural forestry, requires specific professional skills and specialized knowledge that do not fall within the professional capabilities of the personnel of the Italian Air Force. At the same time, it is necessary for the Air Force to limit to the maximum the impact of the constant growth of uncontrolled nature and the increase in the forest phenomenon on the operational and logistical activities carried out in Pratica di Mare.
The Air Force Command (C.S.A.) is the High Command entrusted with the task of maintaining and training personnel and aircraft in order to guarantee the defense of the Italian airspace and the civilian population. To this end, all military airports are part of the C.S.A., which, among its duties, also includes maintaining and safeguarding the natural heritage present in the various bases.
