Soil consumption, Munafò (Ispra): "Milan, it's not all gold"

In the alarming picture on the land consumption highlighted by the latest report of the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra), Milan it seems to be a happy island, showing very limited data: less than one hectare of land was consumed in 2019, compared to 11 the previous year.

We asked Michele Munafò, head of the Ispra report, to explain and analyze this surprising Milanese fact.

How can we read this data, which is so contained for a city like Milan? Has it become a virtuous city?

«The phenomenon of soil consumption should be evaluated over a longer period of time than a single year. For example, it must be considered that in the seven years of the Ispra survey, Milan increased land consumption by 125 hectares and the downward trend will have to be confirmed in the next few years. Furthermore, the current situation of the land must be considered, which sees 58% of the municipal area, equal to 10.500 hectares, now artificialised: a territory in an evidently critical situation. Rome - to make a comparison - has consumed 23% of its area, even if the built areas cover a much larger surface, equal to 30.000 hectares».

What other contingent factors may have played an important role in the data on Milan?

«The single annual data can be influenced by various contingent factors. The cadence of the opening of construction sites, for example. It is necessary to see if the construction sites had not been registered the previous year, or if they had not been opened on land already considered consumed. There may also be technical issues, linked for example to the quality of the satellite images used, which could underestimate, in some cases, the land consumption figure".

How do you evaluate the situation in Milan from the point of view of land consumption?

«In Milan, as in other Italian cities, the land is almost saturated. Precisely for this reason the few remaining natural areas are extremely precious and must be protected. Even limited soil consumption in a situation of this kind has a very important impact and consequences, which cannot be ignored. Having already consumed more than half of the available land creates serious risks for the functioning of the territory".

Have you seen a change in land consumption patterns in recent years?

«In recent years, consumption in Italy has been concentrated in urban areas, in the residual areas that are still open. This is mainly driven by economic factors, given that the profitability of those areas is decidedly high. Lands away from urban areas are considered less attractive. But it is precisely those few lands that still exist in urban areas that are even more precious».

Perhaps not everyone knows the consequences of soil loss. What are the main ones in particular for a city?

«Losing soil permeability has significant repercussions, for example on the flow of water, leading to flooding and an increase in instability phenomena. It leads to further increases in temperatures in urban areas, in an already critical situation. Without soil, a very important carbon sink is lost. More generally, the soil is essential in combating climate change and is an indispensable reserve of biodiversity. In short, our well-being depends on the soil».

THE PROJECTS THAT THREAT MILAN

Although the situation is less critical than in other Italian cities, several real estate projects are pending in Milan which – if implemented – would significantly increase land consumption. The municipal administration, while solicited by citizens' committees and associations, turned a deaf ear. Some examples:

1. One case is in the neighborhood San Siro, where a project presented by Chinese and American investors (owners of the city's two soccer teams) would like to build a new stadium and together three skyscrapers, a shopping center, a hotel and more exactly above a green areafund of over 5 hectares with over 100 tall trees. “Any portion of soil, however small, that is consumed, represents irreversible damage, and can bring about important consequences or magnify the already existing ones, such as the loss of biodiversity, the lack of storage of CO2, the greater risk of flooding and a more accentuated urban heat island,” he said Luca Mercalli, well-known meteorologist and member of the Scientific Council of Ispra – And this also concerns the 5 hectares of deep green next to San Siro: covering them with more concrete will cause further damage to the ecosystem of the area and to the quality of life of citizens”.

2. In the park The drop (Bovisa district), on a total of 40 hectares, the master plan allows you to build on half. Of the remaining 20 hectares, 4 have already been built. The other 16 are at risk.
   
3. It is these days the opening of lamination tanks who would like to solve the problem of flooding of the river Seveso. In addition to the fact that these tanks - according to many studies - it is not true that they would solve the problem, but rather create new ones, they would be built on a deep green with mature trees and woods for another 4 hectares.