FPT Marks World Oceans Day with Continued Support for Underwater Forest Restoration
FPT and One Ocean Foundation continue their collaboration through the Blue Forest initiative, contributing to efforts aimed at protecting and restoring marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean.
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This year, FPT directly sponsors the creation of a new 25 sqm Posidonia oceanica meadow in Cala di Volpe, near Porto Cervo (Sardinia, Italy). This new reforested area will host about 250 Posidonia cuttings (10 cuttings per sqm) with the objective to restore a dense, mature meadow of a medium density of 350 to 400 leaf bundles per sqm upon engraftment completion. Such a meadow can produce up to 500 liters of oxygen per day.
Since 2023, One Ocean Foundation has been conducting a reforestation campaign aimed at rebuilding the underwater meadows of Posidonia oceanica, an endemic species that plays a crucial role in the protection of the marine ecosystem and starting last year this huge effort can count on the powerful support of FPT.
Not an alga, but a real plant that has adapted to living underwater, Posidonia oceanica protects the waters of the Mediterranean just like the sea god Poseidon from whom it takes its name. Posidonia oceanica meadows dissipate wave energy, preventing the erosion of sandy coastlines. They stabilize the seafloor, provide habitats and breeding grounds for a huge variety of organisms - over 350 species - and, above all, play a significant role in mitigating climate change through their carbon sequestration capacity. One square meter of Posidonia oceanica releases 20 liters of oxygen per day, on the other hand a hectare of this plant meadow can sequester 270 tons of carbon dioxide yearly, an amount equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 10 hectares of tropical forest.
Sadly, since the 1950s, the Posidonia oceanica meadows, rightly called the “lungs of the Mediterranean Sea”, are in constant regression with over 30% of the areas once covered lost forever. Heavy pollution of the waters, indiscriminate anchoring and illegal coastal bottom trawling are the main “killers” of the unique precious plant. Protection and conservation campaigns were no longer enough, a direct action was required. And here FPT comes into play. As already amply demonstrated by initiatives such as Fishing for Plastic (2019),the collaboration with Slow Food to support traditional fishing methods (2020), the support to Andrea Bada, the Mediterranean relic hunter (2021), and the partnership with the Tethys Research Institute for the conservation of Mediterranean cetaceans and the marine environment (2025), just to name some, the brand’s sensitivity to the protection of the marine environment has always been translated into concrete actions that make a difference.
This aligns with Iveco Group sustainability approach, since reducing CO2 emissions and preserving biodiversity are key areas of action. Within this domain, the Group prioritizes projects that are both visible and impactful, aimed at delivering tangible results in the short and long term in the areas where we operate.
Egle Panzella, Brand Equity and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for FPT, commented: “In 2026, we proudly reaffirm our dedication to the One Ocean Foundation, an organization whose values perfectly align with our own. Contributing to ecosystem preservation is a key pillar of FPT and Iveco Group’s broader sustainability strategy. We firmly believe that by joining forces, we can significantly contribute to create solutions that generate long-term value for communities and the marine ecosystem.”
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