The Department of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the metropolitan area of Rome, the province of Viterbo and southern Etruria has recently circulated a letter to the region, the province and numerous municipalities of Tuscia concerning ‘authorisation measures regarding the replacement of traditional crops with hazelnut plantations’.

In compliance with the code for cultural heritage and landscape and of the PTPR Lazio (Regional Territorial Landscape Plan) the Department warns that the acquisition of landscape consent will become necessary, if:

• the nuts are planted in “areas of Tuscia well recognised as landscape of archaeological interest”, given that “the works are substantial, real and proper excavations that reach a depth often much greater than one metre”, risking “serious damage to pre-existing structures hidden in the subsoil and objects of protection” (see the code for cultural and landscape heritage, article 146, and article 160 and following for sanctions);

• the hazelnut plants, “not indigenous and clearly not historical”, replace traditional crops such as olive trees (with indigenous species being of especially high worth) within areas classified as agricultural land of significant value. In the opinion of the Department, “these crops, as well as bringing risks to excellent local products, bring inevitable alterations to the characteristics of the land and the agricultural landscape”.

We welcome this explanation, signed by Archaeologist Officer Maria Letizia Arancio and Superintendent Archaeologist Margherita Eichberg, as an important contribution to the safeguarding of our cultural and landscape heritage. And we hope that it is sufficient to prevent further irreversible damage, such as that already caused to the archaeological heritage of Bisenzio in the Municipality of Capodimonte.

In these recent months we have witnessed several courageous interventions by the Department for the protection of the Italian territory, a treasure trove of scenic beauty; we remember, for example, the action to stem the exponential increase in the occupation of agricultural land with photovoltaic systems and the expression of negative opinions towards the construction of geothermal plants.