Bosco San Lio

“A forest for air, water, soil. A forest to reconnect a community to its land, which was abandoned for too long. A project that starts from a small district and looks far beyond, to search for beauty in our countryside.” San Lio forest is all this and much more. Located in the northernmost part of the Syracuse province, in a hillside area within the small district of San Lio, in Carlentini, this forest will be expanded over lands having a long agricultural history: populated since Greek times, they have been used over the past centuries, and up until four decades ago, for the production of almonds, wine grapes and oil. But since agricultural use has declined and eventually stopped, there has been no natural renewal of the forest, as the area – not far from the town of Lentini – is subject to ever-present seasonal fires and intense pastoral activity.

San Lio reforestation project has many goals: fire prevention through annual mowing and firebreaks, fencing nets for grazing animals, creation of tracks, trails for sportspeople, outdoor lovers, families and kids, but also public toilets, agricamping, and activities for childern such as kindergarden and after-school in the woods. With this project we aim to strengthen the bond between land and community, so that citizens, residents and anyone visiting San Lio forest can feel a responsibility for this forest.