After the first restrictive measures on circulation due to the level of fine particles - from Tuesday in Milan and Turin - here is a concrete commitment to fight smog and beautify Italian cities where there are just 31,1 square meters of urban green per inhabitant. The 2018 Maneuver provides for the "green bonus", with which it will be possible to deduct 36% of expenses up to 5 thousand euros for the care of terraces and gardens, including condominiums.
The measure launched by the Council of Ministers is, according to Coldiretti, an important tool for the diffusion of parks and gardens in urban areas, capable of capturing fine particles and thus reducing the level of pollution. An adult plant is in fact capable of capturing from 100 to 250 grams of fine dust from the air. This means that one hectare of plants eliminates 20 kg of dust and smog over the course of a year.
However, this is the first step in a longer and more complicated process. Based on the latest Istat survey, urban green areas in Italy represent only 2,7% of the territory of the provincial capitals. Coldiretti underlines that the inclusion of the green bonus in the Maneuver represents an important support to the Italian horticultural sector, which is one of the leading sectors of the agricultural economy: the value of production is approximately 2,5 billion euros.
The provision will also contribute, according to Confagricoltura, to enhancing the professionalism of green design, construction and maintenance services, with benefits on the environmental and employment front as well as on that of tax revenue. The goal is to achieve the level of quality in public and private green areas present in other European countries.
The situation is more difficult in the metropolises that have an availability of green spaces ranging from just 15,9 square meters of urban green per inhabitant in Rome to 17,2 in Milan up to 21 in Turin.
At the race start #greenbonus: 36% deductions for the care of gardens and terraces. Measure against pollution and opportunities for our nursery gardening pic.twitter.com/6HIO9BJ6gP
— Maurizio Martina (@maumartina) 16 October 2017
The Green Bonus, explained the Minister of the Environment Maurizio Martina, also includes the possibility of deducting works for the recovery of gardens of historical interest.
“A result achieved thanks to good teamwork – said the president of the Federation of horticultural products of Confagricoltura Francesco But to you – which involved the entire supply chain made up of associations of nurserymen, flower growers, green designers, technicians, installers, gardeners and anyone working in the plants and gardens sector. With this, the "Home Package" is complete. We hope that, once the legal passages have been completed, those who have to renovate the garden or build it will also be able to benefit from reliefs and incentives as well as for other parts related to private homes ".
