The municipal administration of Catanzaro is proud to announce that Sunday 6 July the pine forest will host the XC Pineta Siano, the final stage of the XCalabra Cup 2025 Trophy of Mountain Bike. The initiative, promoted by the ASD Swattati Team Catanzaro and included in the official circuit of the Italian Cycling Federation, represents an important sporting and symbolic moment for the city.
The choice of the pine forest of SIA as a natural scenario of this event is not accidental, but the result of a recovery and enhancement path that the Fiorita administration has put in place since the beginning of its mandate. Despite the serious damage caused by the fire of 2021, the pine forest retains rare and precious biodiversity in the Mediterranean panorama, which the administration wanted to protect and regenerate with concrete and structural interventions.
Already in the first weeks of government, in 2022, an important renaturalization intervention of approximately 4 hectares of the wooded area affected by the stake was completed, edited by Calabria Verde, which included consolidation operations of the slopes and works of hydraulic-financial accommodation also through the use of trunks only partially ascertained and suitable for interventions. Especially sowed specimens of native species have been selected directly from the plants in the park, to strengthen the endemic character of the ecosystem.
Subsequently, the junta followed a articulated redevelopment plan, which provided for: the removal of trees in dangerous conditions and the consequent partial reopening of the pine forest by means of a trade union ordinance (n. To be inserted); the restoration of the fountain in the park for children at the entrance of the park, inactive since the time of the fire; The planting of about 20 new trees to enrich and shade the play area. With a circular recovery perspective of natural materials, some pine pine trunks have been transferred to the park and will be reused for the creation of flowery flower beds. At the same time, Calabria Verde started the works – already in progress – for the removal of the combust material on an additional 15 hectares of Pineta.
In this context of environmental rebirth and new planning, the construction of the first cycle path of mountain bikes of the Municipality of Catanzaro is inserted, officially recognized by the Italian Cycling Federation and CONI. Thanks to the collaboration between the Administration, Calabria Verde, the winning company of the intervention and the Swattati Association, the pine forest is preparing to become a regional point of reference for outdoor sport.
From the beginning, the councilors Antonio Battaglia (Sports and heritage), Irene Colosimo (Environment and ecological transition), Vincenzo Costantino (Tourism and youth policies) e Giuliana Furrr (Production activities) have given full relevance to the proposal for collaboration advanced by the ASD Swattati, a reality of which they immediately recognized the seriousness, technical competence and commitment in the area. Convinced that the “Li Comune” Park can return to represent a reference for the entire community, the councilors have enthusiastically accepted the opportunity to relaunch it through initiatives that combine sports, nature and active citizenship. The shared goal is to return to citizens a place to live fully, even more participated than in the past.
A precious contribution was offered by the city councilor and agronomist Alberto Carpinowhich has joined the administration in environmental choices with technical competence and sustainable vision, and by the city councilor Raffaele Seròprofound connoisseur of the park and the neighborhood, always close to the enhancement paths of the pine forest. We also thank The director of Calabria Verde, Dr. Oliva, and Dr. Giuseppe Mancuso, For the great availability and technical support guaranteed in collaboration with the Swattati Association.
The event of 6 July therefore represents not only a prominent sports competition, but also the first step of a strategic vision that sees in the pine forest of Sia a multifunctional place, where nature, sport and aggregation can coexist harmoniously.
The future of the pine forest also passes from the current regional legislative process, which aims to recognize this extraordinary ecosystem as a natural reserve of regional relevance, thanks to the bill promoted by the regional councilor Domenico Bevacqua. This is a fundamental step to ensure greater protection, investments and programming integrated over the long term. The Municipal Administration looks favorably and with confidence in this perspective, in the belief that only a broad institutional alliance can fully return to the park the strategic role that deserves for the environment, the health and quality of life of citizens.