Forestami Academy, an urban greening initiative created by Forestami in partnership with the Prada Group, has launched “In the Canopies”, an educational initiative targeting 100 primary school classes across the Metropolitan City of Milan for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Developed alongside La Fabbrica SB, an educational organisation accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit, the programme is designed for fourth and fifth-grade students to examine the environmental role of urban trees and canopy cover.
Participating classrooms will receive dedicated teaching guides and monthly student diaries featuring educational games, quizzes, and writing prompts to integrate urban forestry into everyday curricula. Science communicators will also host practical workshops to translate theoretical concepts into experiential learning.
Key programme details and launch event highlights include:
- Curriculum Focus: The project examines the relationship between urban tree canopy cover, local ecosystem restoration, microclimate regulation, and public health.
- Community Launch: The initiative was officially introduced during an open-air event on 12 September at Parco Nord Milano, featuring environmental workshops and guided cycling activities for local families.
- Target Reach: The inaugural cohort engages 100 primary school classes throughout the Milan metropolitan region across the full academic term.
Maria Chiara Pastore, Scientific Director of Forestami, stated: “European policies on ecosystem restoration highlight the need to increase tree canopy cover in cities and to recognize the increasingly central role that urban greenery plays in people’s health and well-being. Together with Prada Group, through the ‘In the Canopies’ initiative, we aim to help foster greater awareness, starting from younger generations, of the role trees play within the urban environment and of the relationship between nature, urban space and quality of life.”
Lorenzo Bertelli, Head of Sustainability at Prada Group, added: “Education is a fundamental tool for helping younger generations understand the transformations taking place in their local environments. While in previous years we worked with Forestami to engage and raise awareness among adult audiences, this year, through the ‘In the Canopies’ project, we want to accompany children on a journey that will help them discover the role of nature in everyday life and develop a deeper awareness of the environment around them.”
