For some years now, hazelnut plantations in the area around Lake Bolsena have been increasing. They have been promoted by the agreement signed in May 2015 by the Lazio Region, the multinational corporation Ferrero and Ismea (Institute of Services for the Agricultural Food Market), and they have been supported by funds from the Rural Development Plan. At the same time, many citizens have become increasingly concerned about possible environmental damage from hazelnut farming.

We have talked about this many times, working to obtain and pass on information, and to alert citizens and local officials. The spread of hazelnut trees presents three main risks for the lake:

• pollution of its waters by nutrients and pesticides;
• non-sustainable consumption of its irrigation water;
• damage to the lake’s ecosystem and a reduction of biodiversity in the area.

These concerns are well-founded: we can see with our own eyes examples that speak for themselves. One is Lake Vico – degraded, eutrophic, its waters polluted, the health of the population compromised by the extensive monoculture of hazelnuts. Another is Lake Bracciano, where the drastic drop in the water level is partly attributable to the fact that its waters are being used for the irrigation of hazelnut trees.

Citizens, environmentalist associations and the newly formed interregional network for environmental protection (RIPA) have been active, in various ways: contributing articles to newspapers, researching the risks and alternatives, writing letters to specialized agricultural organisations (Confagricoltura, Coldiretti, CIA), communicating with the European Commission, asking questions in the European Parliament and, recently, attending the “Nut of the Problem” conference in Orvieto which ended with touching words from local farmers.

We have made official requests to the Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany Regions for mandatory environmental impact assessments (VINCA) regarding hazelnut trees. We are promoting a census of hazelnut plants by voluntary citizens. We have prepared a draft ordinance on the use of pesticides that we will present to the local municipalities and we are planning various public meetings in our area.

We oppose the transformation of our territory into an area of extensive industrial agriculture in the service of Ferrero and others, and we propose a clear vision for the future of our lake: health and economic well-being starting from environmental protection and from the sustainable development of our immense environmental and cultural resources.