From the Forest to the Sustainable House
The objective of the network is to enhance the woodland heritage of the Biella area, particularly the local chestnut groves, through participatory governance. New methods of sustainable forest management are being developed with a dual goal: 1. to enhance the identified wood species, which are subsequently felled and processed; 2. to improve the CO2 fixation process through the search for increasingly innovative technical-design and commercial solutions, with the main focus on the use of wood in building renovation activities to create structures, finishes, and/or insulation, for example.
- The network and its members will have the opportunity to engage in active and proactive collaboration, keeping in mind the fundamental idea of the forest as a common good.
- Enhancement of the Biella forest heritage and innovative use of locally harvested wood (primarily chestnut) for the creation of sustainable and quality local building products, in contrast to imported wood of unknown species, inferior quality, and greater environmental impact.
- Studies and growth paths, made known and published, that demonstrate an increasingly sustainable and local use of wood, with significantly positive impacts on the environmental footprint in terms of pollutants released into the Earth's atmosphere: by using local wood, greenhouse gas storage, such as carbon dioxide, is increased, and the energy and environmental costs due to the transportation of timber from other areas are reduced, contributing to CO2 sequestration.
- Bringing the Forest and its regulations into the Home: techniques and technologies in service of an increasingly widespread and conscious silvicultural culture; raising awareness about the fundamental importance of properly managing the Biella forests.
- Greater attraction from local stakeholders towards Biella chestnut wood for its peculiarities, characteristics, and history, with positive economic and heritage impacts for the future.
- This awareness of sustainable forest management allows for the creation of a permanent and sustainable market over time, where the services and products of the SPDB Network can be recognized.
The project included a technical and economic feasibility study for the use of local timber from the "Si parte dal bosco" Network for use in bio-building and renovations using local wood, in order to enhance the multifunctionality of assortments obtained from logging operations.
Considering a forest plot located on the Serra morenica in Sala Biellese, which is highly representative of the Biella territorial reality, the aim was to verify the availability of woody material (chestnut/black locust) suitable for the construction sector, in order to diversify the wood assortments of forestry companies, enhancing the logged wood for structural uses in construction, otherwise destined solely for the thermal energy production chain.
The forestry company carried out the felling, logging, and preparation of the timber in compliance with the current Forestry Regulations. It then proceeded with the initial selection and transport to the yard. At the storage yard, operations were carried out for assorting, cutting, dimensional division, sawing, and residue treatment. The timber was selected based on its suitability for different uses and sent for further processing.
The woody material was used in the renovation of a house, within a portion of a former rural building, already partially converted and intended to host private spaces on the first floor and common areas on the ground floor to be shared by the inhabitants. Chestnut wood from the local "Si parte dal bosco" supply chain was used for the roof, mezzanine, stairs, and flooring.
The project was publicized through the Network’s website www.sipartedalbosco.it, the newsletter, the Facebook page, the local press, and the National Rural Network Innovarurale portal.
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