The communications are “urgent”, with immediate effect. The provisions are peremptory and executive: the “dark evil” of the Sardinian forests has not stopped, quite the opposite. The advance of the forest “drying out” is, day after day, a drama without respite, from north to south of the Island. In the end, the first measures have arrived, unequivocal, although still partial: phytosanitary curfew in all forest nurseries of the Island and the immediate blocking of the extraction of cork throughout the regional territory.

Immediate bans

A real ban that affects one of the most delicate economic chains of the forestry sector, the cork sector. A decision, that of the Region, indispensable and unpostponable, in some ways even belated, which serves to put tens of thousands of hectares of oaks in "protection" mode. This decision, in itself very significant, which involves the entire regional territory, is accompanied by an even more eloquent one on what is happening on the Island of the Woods: all forest nurseries are under a peremptory order under a strict "lockdowm" regime, a sort of "forest curfew" that is imposed in all those forest habitats destined to repopulate the arboreal system of Sardinia.

Forestry Lockdown

The measures have multiple signatures, from the management level to the institutional one, from the general directorates of Forestas to the Regional Councillor for the Environment. Initially the measure concerned the territorial services of Cagliari and Ogliastra, only later, the block on the "cutting" of cork was extended from October 10th to the entire regional territory. The motivations leave no room for doubt: " conducted the reconnaissance on the ground and by means of multispectral satellite remote sensing, of the conditions that determine deficit stress in the water balance in the jurisdictions of competence ".

Stress & Dessication

Again: « the cork oaks have undergone the recent and documented serious stress consisting of a severely deficient water balance in the last two years, also associated with locally very intense leaf drying phenomena ». An ongoing leaf drying that is massive and very serious, with significant repercussions also on the imminent hydrogeological risk for many areas of the Island. The prohibition measures are explicit on the rationale of the decision: « the protection of the vitality of the plants is a public interest that takes priority over the secondary interest of the economic benefit deriving from the extraction of cork ». The measure, although massive in its determination and sectoral and territorial breadth, addresses the case only on the economic-productive side, that of cork, but does not resolve the "phytosanitary" disaster that has been affecting the forests and Mediterranean scrub of the Island for some time, from holm oaks to mastic trees, on an area that has far exceeded one hundred thousand hectares.

Phytosanitary alert

The second measure, which goes to the heart of the “phytosanitary” problem of Sardinian forests, sheds light on the seriousness of the situation. It is the leaders of Forestas who have issued the “curfew” order in the heart of the forest nursery system, which should be the “cradle” of the island’s forest and environmental rebirth. The subject of the communication reserved for the heads of the territorial services, signed by the General Director of the forestry technical service, leaves no room for manoeuvre: “First urgent provisions regarding the management of nursery activities aimed at controlling plant diseases”.

Urgency

Urgency that is recalled in the peremptory provisions: «it is necessary from now on to provide these Territorial Services with non-deferrable provisions. These activities must be undertaken without delay, also by using the resources already transferred to the Services and those still available». The orders are real prohibitions and mandatory requirements: «All areas intended for the above-mentioned activities, including appurtenances, must be closed to the public and to personnel who do not work in the nursery, even if employed by the Agency. The transit and parking of private vehicles and those not used for nursery activities are also prohibited. The Services must take any necessary measures to ensure compliance with the above-mentioned requirements, also through the construction of fences, and in any case with the posting of signs prohibiting access to unauthorized personnel».

Risk of diffusion

Entering forest nurseries from now on will be like entering a surgical room: « The personnel in charge will have to adopt all the necessary hygienic-sanitary measures to reduce the risks of spreading plant diseases, for example the use of disposable overalls and shoe covers, water points for washing and disinfecting with appropriate solutions work shoes and hand tools and equipment and machines ». The curfew is spelled out in peremptory terms in the directives issued to all forestry stations in Sardinia: «The vehicles, operating machines and equipment used for nursery activities must be washed at the beginning and end of the daily activity and before any movements between areas». For the «dark evil» of the Sardinian forests it is time for the “curfew”.

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