Alpcity

Local endogenous development
and urban regeneration of small alpine towns

Summary:



WP7 Friuli Venezia Giulia

Guidelines for obtaining the environmental certification.


Case-project abstract

Starting from the project idea designed to enhance the endogenous resources of alpine territories and settlements with the aim of supporting the social/economic development and also keeping in mind the difficulty for such small administrations (in terms of size, financial capacity and professional skills) of facing a complex inter-sectorial plan for territorial and urban enhancement, the Regional Administration intends financing the preparation of guidelines in order to obtain environmental certification, identifying as model area the territory of the Municipality of Forni di Sopra and its neighbouring areas.

Development of the project:

  • preliminary analysis of the endogenous resources and of the existing potentialities connected to the enhancement of the natural landscape within the area of the Tagliamento Valley territory, with particular reference to the area of the Municipality of Forni di Sopra
  • definition of guidelines in order to obtain environmental certification;
  • preparation and dissemination to Local Authorities of a special manual.
Reasons for the choice of this case-project

Besides the general motivations stated at the previous point, the conservation and enhancement of the natural and urban environment are a decisive aspect for the promotion of tourism within a territory. The environmental certification is thus an important tool for the promotion of quality in tourism and in the environment.


Adopted methodology

The methodology that we intend to use has already been described in abstract of the case project.


Expected benefits (local and regional levels)

The preliminary analysis and the carrying out of the guidelines will make it possible for local authorities to have an operating tool that can be immediately used to obtain the environmental certification of its territory.

The model, suitably adapted, must also be transferable to other areas of the region that have to deal with similar issues stimulating adoption of administrative and environmental behaviour in coherence with it.


Are follow-up activities foreseen ?

The identified model will be spread among the local authorities of the mountain territory that have to deal with similar realities


Expected value added (other than financial) from the participation to an INTERREG project

The possibility to develop knowledge and capacity of intervening in similar problems thanks to the comparison between different administrative, cultural and territorial realities.


Expected transnational exchange benefit gained from the case

As mentioned in the previous point, the participation in the AlpCity project should make it possible to compare similar experiences with the aim of adopting the best solutions that come out of the different approaches towards similar issues.


Output indicators
  • Carrying out a preliminary analysis of the endogenous resources and existing potentials correlated to the enhancement of the natural environment within the territory of the Tagliamento Valley with particular reference to the area of the Municipality of Forni di Sopra;
  • collection and comparison and assessment of the suggestions and ideas that have come up at a local level (6 involved municipalities) with the best practices identified at a trans-national level, referred to similar issues;
  • definition of guidelines for obtaining environmental certification;
  • carrying out at least one model project of environmental certification of a territory (Municipality of Forni Di Sopra);
  • preparation of a special manual.

Impact indicators
  • enhancement of the environmental potential of the identified area;
  • improving the quality of the urban and rural landscape;
  • contrast of the progressive social/economic and physical decay of the involved areas through the tourist/environmental promotion of the territory

Name of the town/s concerned (please list all individual towns and other administrative levels concerned by each case-project)

Municipalities of Enemonzo (approx. 1,300 inhab.), Socchieve (approx. 1,000 inhab.) Ampezzo (approx. 1,200 inhab.), Raveo (approx. 500 inhab.), Forni di Sotto (approx. 750 inhab.), Forni di Sopra (approx. 1,150 inhab.);

At present we are not able, for beaurocratic reasons, to enclose the file with the map of the territory, we will send it to you in the near future, if possible, before the meeting in Sierre.


Demographic, social and economic situation of the town/s concerned and specifically identified problems

The area of the Tagliamento Valley which the project refers to, is, on the whole, a classical example of the population and economic decline that characterises the entire mountain territory of the region: very few productive realities, especially those concentrated in the villages that are closer to the beginning of the valley (Enemonzo, Socchieve, Ampezzo), impoverishment of the services and growing marginality characterise a territory that is, moreover, a still untouched territory from a naturalistic point of view. The production of glasses, imported with great expectations from the nearby Cadore (in the Veneto Region) is suffering heavily from the negative economic situation and seems to have exhausted its hoped-for prospectives for development.

In this setting, the reality of the Municipality of Forni di Sopra, situated in a spectacular amphitheatre in the Dolomite mountains, is a partial exception thanks to a consolidated tourist tradition that has recently shown a capacity for developing towards a tourism for families, sports and of a thematic type also thanks to the environmental resources of its territory included, together with that of Forni di Sotto, in the Natural Park of the Dolomites.


Role of the mountain resource within the local development chances of the town/s concerned (positive or negative)

The natural/environmental characteristics of the area involved, particularly for whatever concerns the area of the Municipalities of Forni di Sopra and of Forni di Sotto, are an important resource for sustainable and modern tourist development that envisages a large number of offers (sports, excursions, thematic, nature, wine and food) for which the fact of obtaining environmental certification - also in the urban area of Forni di Sopra, that has a prestigious historical centre which is, at present, object of architectural recovery by the Authority for Arts - can be considered a decisive element of support.


Expected contribution of the foreseen actions towards the development of the town/s concerned

The process aimed at obtaining environmental certification can make it possible to develop, in a more harmonious way, the urban landscape, improving the use of it and its functionality, and the consequent opportunities for economic development.


Who is the responsible for the concrete development of the project?

In order to carry out the planning activities, specially selected experts will be used as consultants.

The 'Service for the Mountain Territory' of the 'Central Direction for Forestry, Natural and Agricultural Resources' of the Region FVG is responsible for carrying out the project.


How are activities sub-contracted?(if it is the case)

Through private negotiation lead by means of public tender, in accordance with regional laws.


Beside the partner, which administrative authorities are involved in the project? How?

Local authorities of the above-mentioned Municipalities that will be involved in the entire phase of analysis and study preceding the carrying out of the guidelines through interviews and meetings.


Who are the main local/regional project actors?

The Region FVG, the Municipalities mentioned, in particular, that of Forni di Sopra.


The case is isolated or integrated within a broader frame/ programme of activities? How? How are these activities being financed?

The project wants, in some way, to develop awareness of the economic value of the environmental quality and of its importance as an opportunity for development. From this point of view, it comes under the general objectives of the Regional Development Plan. In prospective, it will have to integrate also with the Town Planning of the Municipalities.

No particular financial support is foreseen.


Timetable for the project development (July 2004 - May 2006)

Project start by July 2004 with entrustment of the job to the winner of the public tender;

delivery of the preliminary analysis by January 2005;

definition of the guidelines, of the manual and carrying out of the model project by March 2006;

presentation of project results and of the manual, at a regional and local level, by May 2006.

This timetable will, obviously, be correlated to the general one of the AlpCity project.


Total cost for the case (Euros)

Euros 50.000


Are experts (non SSC) involved into the case and research activities undertaken for the case? What is their role?

The experts chosen for carrying out the activities foreseen by the project.






e-mail: alpcity@regione.piemonte.it