Florence, October 7, 2026. The chestnut tree is a forest resource capable of generating products, biodiversity, ecosystem services and new opportunities for local communities. It is from this vision that PEFC Italy’s participation in Castanea Expo 2026 takes shape, the international event dedicated to the chestnut-growing supply chains and the world of chestnut trees, organized by Firenze Fiera and scheduled to take place from December 11 to 13 at Fortezza da Basso.

As a member of the event’s Scientific Steering Committee, PEFC Italy will bring to Florence a reflection on the multifunctionality of chestnut trees, through a series of meetings dedicated to forest management, research, wood supply chains, the use and enjoyment of local areas, and people’s well-being.

The program will kick off on the morning of Friday, December 11. At 9:30 a.m., the focus will be on the use of chestnut wood in nature-based engineering, with a technical course delivered by AIPIN on the applications of this resource in the design and management of nature-based engineering projects. The event is aimed particularly at professionals in the sector, with professional training credits recognized by CONAF.

In the afternoon, at 2:30 p.m., the round table “Solid Wood: Between Tradition and Innovation. Uses, Enhancement and Experiences in Architecture and Cultural Heritage” will take place, organized in collaboration with the Wood Supply Chain Federation. It will be an opportunity to explore ways of enhancing the value of chestnut wood, comparing tradition and innovation and looking at its applications in architecture and cultural heritage.

Finally, at 4:30 p.m., the focus will turn to silviculture and research, with the workshop “From Research to the Chestnut Management Plan”, organized in collaboration with CREA-Foreste e Legno and the University of Padua.

The meeting, which builds on the experience already launched during the previous edition of the event, will focus on presenting the results of research activities on the silvicultural management of chestnut groves and on prospects for careful and sustainable planning of these forest ecosystems.

The program will continue on Saturday, December 12, at 10:00 a.m. with the conference “Chestnut Tannin,” dedicated to one of the resources contributing to the enhancement of the chestnut-growing supply chain. Maurizio Varroud, an executive with the Silvateam/Ledoga Group, will take part in the meeting, bringing the contribution and experience of a leading company in the sector.

In the afternoon, at 2:30 p.m., the conference “Chestnut Groves, Ecosystem Services, Tourism and Well-being” will take place. From forest management to the services that chestnut groves can offer people and local communities, the meeting will explore the role of chestnut groves in providing ecosystem services, going beyond their productive function to explore the value these environments can offer in terms of sustainable tourism, public enjoyment and people’s well-being.

Particular attention will be devoted to experiences aimed at people with disabilities and vulnerable groups, as part of the SocialCast Project, highlighting the opportunities offered by chestnut-growing areas as spaces for hospitality, social interaction and inclusion.

“PEFC’s participation in Castanea Expo is a source of great pride for us, given the importance of the event as an opportunity for discussion and for promoting the world of chestnut trees,” says Antonio Brunori, Secretary General of PEFC Italy. “In our view, chestnut cultivation is not just about fruit or tannin, but expresses the multifunctionality of the chestnut world. Good silviculture makes it possible to obtain not only products, but also careful forest management, ecosystem services linked to climate, biodiversity and tourism, as well as everything that surrounds them.”

The event is held under the patronage of MASAF – Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, the Tuscany Region, the Municipality of Florence, the Florence Chamber of Commerce, ANCI Toscana, CIA Toscana, Slow Food Italia, PEFC Italy, Re.Na.I.A. – National Network of Hotel Management Institutes, the Chestnut Study and Documentation Centre, and the National Association of Chestnut Towns.