Some industrial barren areas are extreme habitats created by the deposition of airborne pollutants from non-ferrous smelters. One of such barrens exists in the vicinities of the Cu/Ni smelter, located at the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region, Russia. This study aimed at evaluating in laboratory conditions the efficiency of various vermiculite-lizardite wastes (industrial wastes of local origin) as soil amendments for plant growth promotion. Peat topsoil (0-20 cm) was collected in the vicinity of the Cu/Ni smelter. Total soil concentrations were 1612, 1481, and 63 mg kg −1 for Ni, Cu, and Co, respectively, and soil pH was 4.3. Soils were amended with lime waste and different types of vermiculite-lizardite wastes (coarse, fine, and thermo-activated at 700°C), leaving one soil untreated. Weekly wetting-drying cycles, performed during 1 month, allowed amendments to react in the soil. All soils were cultivated with Lolium perenne L. for 21 days under controlled conditions. The plant growth was not influenced by high soil Cu concentration, while Ni and Co caused phytotoxicity. A mix of 10% (w/w) of different vermiculite-lizardite wastes with 10% (w/w) of lime improved the plant growth. Thermo-activated waste showed the best results for promoting plant growth and reducing foliar Ni concentrations from 1022 to 88-117 mg kg −1. However, the plants presented Ni phytotoxicity even in the amended soils and this requires further studies to find a way to reduce it.

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<p>The sustainable policies and practices such as agricultural, forestry and land management are crucial for ensuring the long-term provision of ecosystem services. According to the European Green Deal strategy, at least 3 billion more trees should be planted in the European Union by 2030. In support of this target, the Italian National Forest Strategy proposes actions aimed at reforestation, afforestation and agroforestry. Enhancing forest density and cover enhances the capacity to remove CO<sub>2</sub> and store it as organic carbon in the global terrestrial biosphere. Spatial decision support tools can support policy makers in addressing these challenges and relevant assessment of land-based mitigation options to reduce emissions in the land sector. Despite the specific goal set in the European Green Deal strategy, there is still no clear understanding of which territory in Italy will be involved in the planned actions. Therefore, there is a need to build suitability maps to determine the future change of the land cover in connection with the European strategies and planned actions up to 2030. This study suggests not only possible future land cover maps for the Lazio region, compiled in accordance with the land use policy, but also an assessment of the planned carbon sequestration based on the proposed maps.</p>