FINIS TERRAE - Soil exploitation in North Italy. 

Every year in Europe an area as large as Berlin is transformed into urban area. In recent years, a total of 24 billion hectares of fertile soil have been lost worldwide (about 3.4 tonnes per capita for the entire world population) and about 13 million hectares of forests are being cut down. According to a report published by Ispra, by 2023 in Italy soil consumption has advanced at a rate of 2.4 square metres per second. In nature it takes about 2000 years for the earth to regenerate 10 cm of fertile soil.

In Italy, logistics and G.D.O. are the biggest soil eaters, with a peak growth of more than 506 hectares concentrated in the North-East. Large infrastructures account for 8.4 % of the total consumption, 950 hectares (13.4 %) for yards and car parks, while mining areas consume 380 hectares in a year. Finally, almost 500 hectares of land are required for the installation of photovoltaic systems. Among the major consequences of this trend are an increased hydrogeological risk due to soil sealing and rising temperatures in cities. Finally, the many unfinished works and S.I.N. (landfill sites), which without adequate reclamation render portions of soil unfit for reuse, complete the circle.