A male bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus), a bird with tawny plumage and a pearl-grey head, scurries among the reeds of the Torbiere del Sebino (Sebino Peat Bogs) Nature Reserve. This environment is an ideal refuge for many animal species, providing safe places to breed and feed. The Torbiere are the most important wetland in the province of Brescia, both in terms of ecological significance and size.
To safeguard these precious ecosystems, Acque Bresciane – the sole operator of the province’s integrated water service – launched a “nature-positive” pathway in 2021, with the support of Etifor | Valuing Nature, a certified B Corp and spin-off of the University of Padua. The aim is to place nature at the heart of corporate decision-making, with a particular focus on protecting wetlands and the rich biodiversity they sustain.
The regeneration of the Torbiere del Sebino
Though they cover only a small proportion – about 6% – of Earth’s surface globally, wetlands play a crucial ecological role: they host roughly 40% of biodiversity, capture and store CO₂, regulate water cycles and contribute to the replenishment of aquifers. For this reason, the Torbiere del Sebino is a priority area for the restoration efforts promoted by Acque Bresciane.
The project, co-funded at 50% by the benefit corporation, focuses on the reforestation and regeneration of the Sebino Peat Bogs, an internationally important wetland under the Ramsar Convention. It was implemented as part of Regione Lombardia’s BioClima call for tenders, launched five years ago, and developed with the support of Etifor, an environmental consultancy that, through its WOWnature initiative, is committed to growing new forest ecosystems and improving existing ones. The goal is to restore the ecological function of the area, strengthening its ability to support native species and provide essential ecosystem services.
In this context, over the past few years, Acque Bresciane has supported the growth of over 1,500 native trees and shrubs, including oak, ash and common dogwood. The initiative has made it possible to recover rare forest habitats, such as riparian and floodplain forests, replacing invasive species and creating more than one hectare of new habitat for amphibians, waterfowl and other wildlife. The system has also led to the creation of green barriers capable of filtering atmospheric pollutants and reducing noise from nearby high-traffic roads. In addition to landscape interventions, environmental education activities have been promoted to help residents understand the ecological value of the Peat Bogs and the importance of protecting biodiversity.
“For us, sustainability is not a regulatory requirement but a strategic choice. We report transparently and invest to improve our impact on the environment, society and people. Projects like this prove that the protection of water resources is inseparable from the conservation of ecosystems,” Acque Bresciane’s Sustainability Manager Veronica Vismara tells Renewable Matter.
The measures implemented, for which Acque Bresciane was given an award by Regione Lombardia in November, not only benefit biodiversity but are vital for mitigating the climate crisis thanks to the ecosystem’s capacity for storing CO₂ and improving the quality and management of water resources. Thanks to the restoration efforts, around 220 additional cubic metres of water are absorbed into the ground each year, while the regenerated ecosystem allows the storage of a further 7.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
“This award confirms we are on the right path: we are not just reducing impacts, but we want to generate positive effects on ecosystems. The Torbiere project is a concrete example of how public and private stakeholders can collaborate to protect biodiversity and combat climate change,” says Pierluigi Toscani, president of Acque Bresciane.
In the future, a first-flush basin with a screening system will also be built below ground level, to capture sediment and pollutants, protecting the region’s water and biodiversity in accordance with Acque Bresciane’s nature-positive approach.
New trees on the banks of the Oglio
Acque Bresciane’s commitment to nature conservation does not end at the Torbiere del Sebino. A little further south, along the banks of the Oglio River, is the Oglio North Park. This park, through which the eponymous river runs, is threatened by the presence of invasive species, bank degradation and the increasingly intense impacts of extreme weather events.
Here, among the willow groves and wetlands, there are eight “Natura 2000” sites, precious refuges for species like cormorant, grey heron and mallard. To restore the area, again within the BioClima tender framework, Acque Bresciane has decided to fund the planting and maintenance of 100 new trees, with the work to be completed by the end of 2025 with the support of WOWnature.
With this project, Acque Bresciane reaffirms its commitment to care for the ecosystem, restore habitats and biodiversity, going beyond merely reducing the company’s impacts and instead generating concrete benefits for nature.
This content is produced thanks to the support of sponsors
Cover: Envato image