Lombardy besieged by concrete: 1,175 soccer fields consumed in one year.
Milan, 26 October 2025 – Almost 835 hectares of land consumed in one year , equal to approximately 1,175 football fields .
In 2024, Lombardy was the second region , after Emilia-Romagna, for land loss, a figure consistent with the growth recorded throughout Italy and which aligns with a worsening trend that does not bring us closer to the “zero land consumption” objective required by Europe .
This is certified by the 2025 report Land consumption , territorial dynamics and ecosystem services, by Snpa – National system for environmental protection, which provides an updated picture of the land transformation processes that cause the loss of a fundamental resource (soil) with its functions and related ecosystem services.
Lombardy holds the record , in absolute terms, with over 291 thousand hectares of artificially covered land , and is also the first region in Italy for the greatest artificial coverage of the total territory, 12.22% .
In 2024, 834 hectares were consumed, of which 591 were reversible and 243 were permanent (sealing). Considering that 66 hectares were restored, net consumption is 768 hectares. Multiple factors led to the creation of new artificial covers . However, the majority of areas designated for new construction projects are 530 hectares in Lombardy. These are generally areas in transition, which will largely be converted, in subsequent years, into areas with permanent artificial covers (such as buildings and infrastructure) and, to a lesser extent, restored.
Among other categories, building construction growth in 2024 was 121 hectares. Logistics growth is also significant , with an increase of 69 hectares in Lombardy in 2024 compared to 2023. Driving this expansion are related manufacturing and industrial sectors, large-scale retail trade, the commercial sector, and e-commerce, which accounts for 23%. Ground-mounted photovoltaic panel installation is also increasing, with an increase of 31 hectares in Lombardy. Not even hydrogeological risk is slowing land consumption . The report cites the expansion of a metalworking company by approximately 1 hectare in an area with medium landslide risk in Pian Camuno (Brescia). Construction in protected areas also consumes land: the largest increase was in Lombardy, with an increase of 146.11 hectares.
Il Giorno
