Bee chalet will help protect the biodiversity of Italy’s forests

On 20 May 2025, FSC Italy and Scavolini, one of Italy’s leading furniture companies, officially launched an innovative ecosystem services project to protect pollinators. An inclusive and accessible wooden ‘bee chalet’ will be built inside Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park, an FSC-certified protected natural area in central-northern Italy, protecting pollinator populations and offering environmental education activities to schools and eco-tourists.

Pollinating insects in Europe, such as wild bees, bumblebees and butterflies, are going through a major decline due to factors such as habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change. According to data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity (IPBES), about 37% of bee and butterfly populations in Europe are declining, causing incalculable damage to the environment and food crops.

About the project

The apiary is a beautiful living metaphor for the project, where all partners will work together for the common good by building an educational tool to convey cooperation, interaction, ecosystem services, biodiversity, solidarity, and respect for nature. The 6x5-meter chalet made entirely of wood will be managed by a local professional with proven experience in beekeeping and educational activities for schools.

The facility, which will be ready by the start of the 2025/2026 school year, will allow a safe multisensory experience of bee work for small groups of visitors and school groups. It will also be accessible by those with reduced mobility.

The backdrop for this initiative is an FSC-certified forest area, where the direct and indirect benefits provided by the presence of the forest such as biodiversity, soil conservation, CO2 storage, water, and recreational services have been mapped, recognized, and protected.

Partnership for biodiversity preservation

"We are proud to actively contribute to this project that combines education, environmental protection and land enhancement. For us, the link between production and sustainability is not just a formal commitment, but a concrete choice that guides our daily actions. Today more than ever, supporting biodiversity means taking care of the future," commented Fabiana Scavolini, Scavolini CEO.

"This project was born from an alliance that brings together those who choose to invest in nature and those who work every day to preserve and protect it. Our role, as FSC, is precisely this: to act as a bridge between companies that want to return value to the environment and territories that, thanks to responsible management, can offer concrete benefits to all," said Giuseppe Bonanno, Director of FSC Italy.

"There are currently nearly 30,000 hectares of forests in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park that are certified," concluded Giuseppe Vignali, Park Director. “We are proud to have been chosen by Scavolini and we will strive, not only to achieve all the goals identified by this project, but also to meet all the expectations placed on us.”

This initiative represents a concrete example of collaboration among businesses, certification and local forest communities, and aligns with the EU Biodiversity Strategy.