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photogallery 3rd workshop

3rd Workshop of Italian Geoparks
"Regulatory Tools for the protection and
enhancement of the geological heritage
"


Enna-Petralia Sottana (Italy), 16th-20th May 2011


 

 


"Regulatory Tools for the protection and enhancement of the geological heritage in Italy: a national and regional survey.
From 16 to 20 May 2011, the 3rd Workshop of Geoparks in Italy took place in Sicily. The annual initiative of the Italian National Forum of Geoparks was in fact organized and hosted by the two Sicilian Geoparks of the European Geoparks Network, the Rocca di Cerere Geopark and the Madonie Geopark.
After welcoming the participants in the territory of the Rocca di Cerere Geopark and in particular at the Train Museum of civilization and mining in the Villarosa railway station, in two days of intense conference on 17 and May 18, at the former Convent of the Reformers in Petralia Sottana, the general topic of the Workshop “Regulatory tools for the protection and enhancement of the geological heritage in Italy: a national and regional survey” was discussed.
This subject was discussed, among others, by the Coordinator of Italian National Forum of Geoparks, Maurizio Burlando, by the Presidents of the National Council of Geologists, Gian Vito Graziano, and the Regional Order of Geologists of Sicily, Emanuel Doria, by Luciano Bonci from ISPRA (Institute for Protection and Environmental Research, Department of Protection of Geological Heritage), directors and officers of Land and Environment Department of the Sicily Region. The representatives of all the Italian Geoparks (in addition to those Sicilians: Beigua Geopark, Adamello-Brenta Natural Park, Park of Cilento and Valle di Diano, Tuscan Mining Park, Geological and Mining Park of Sardinia) were of course present.
The agenda also covered other issues regarding the protection of the geological heritage in the national strategies in relation to the policies of national and local development; enhancement and management of geological sites; the LEADER approach (Liasion Entre Actions de Developement de l'Economie Rural) and actions to support the activities of Geoparks in the RDP (Rural Development Programme) of Sicily. In summary, the Workshop was the opportunity for discussion about the growing interest in the concept of EGN and GGN Geopark under the auspices of UNESCO and to the development model that it may represent for the european rural areas.

This resulted in interesting ideas and proposals to strengthen policies for the protection and enhancement of the geological heritage in our country.
The event saw the notable participation of the European Geoparks Network Coordinator, Nickolas Zouros, who in his speech announced that the Executive Board of UNESCO on May 16, shared and accepted the report on work done in these the last ten years by the European Network and each single Geopark on the themes of  geological heritage enhancement and sustainable geotourism. Essentially, it is desirable that in the short term all territories of the European Geoparks Network members will be admitted to a specific program and then recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Nature Park of Apuan Alps has been invited to the Workshop as the only one Italian territory applicant for the European Geoparks Network in 2011. For the Park was attended by the President Giuseppe Nardini and a member of the Board of Directors Giuseppe Ottria, speakers of a communication which introduced a video on the value of the geological heritage of the Apuan Alps from the movie "Apuans: mountains of water" by Valter Torri.
With the excursion along the urban geological path of Petralia Sottana(Madonie Geopark) and the visit to the Floristella Grottacalda Mining Park (Rocca di Cerere Geopark), ended the 3rd Workshop of Geoparks in Italy which also saw the participation of representatives of two territories in the Piedmont Region, Val Grande National Park and Alta Valsesia, who are planning their applications to the European Geoparks Network.
In relation to the excellent quality of contributions, the Land and Environment Department of the Sicily Region decided to support the necessary expenses for the publication of the proceeding volume of the Workshop.
 

 


photogallery 3rd workshop