Biosphere Reserve Nomination ‐ Integrations TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 THE CLARIFICATION OF THE STATUS AND LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE CORE ZONES NUMBER 5 AND 6 ............................................................................................ 6 2 THE ENDORSEMENT OF ALL MUNICIPALITIES OF THE NOMINATION FORM .......... 8 3 INFORMATION ON THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE MANAGING BODY OF THE PROPOSED BIOSPHERE RESERVE, INCLUDING AS REGARDS THE COORDINATION OF LARGE NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS AND PROTECTED AREAS ........ 10 4 THE STATUS OF THE CAR INDUSTRY IN THE REGION TODAY, INCLUDING EXISTENCE OF FACTORIES IN THE PROPOSED AREA AND DESCRIBE THE IMPACTS THAT THESE ACTIVITIES COULD HAVE ON THE PROPOSED BIOSPHERE RESERVE .................... 11 4.1 Spatial distribution of the factories .......................................................... 11 4.2 Environmental impacts on the territory .............................................. 13 4.3 Management and monitoring of environmental impacts on the territory .............................................................................................................. 15 5 MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE” AND OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE FUTURE “STEERING MECHANISMS TO INVOLVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPOSED BIOSPHERE RESERVE ............................................. 17 5.1 A process of involvement founded at the same time as the proposal for nomination ........................................................................................................ 17 5.2 The proposed governance model .............................................................. 18 5.3 Project “Management and maintenance network for the paths of the Turin Hill”: a model that gets results ............................................................... 20 5.4 The first meetings of the Administration Board of the future MAB Reserve 20 5.5 Post‐nomination activities and methods to involve the population ....... 21 6 CONTACT ........................................................................................................ 23 ATTACHMENT 1) FROM INDUSTRIAL CITY TO CREATIVE CITY ................................... 25 ATTACHMENT 2) PROTOCOL OF INTENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE “COLLINAPO MAN AND BIOSPHERE RESERVE” .............................................................................. 31 ATTACHMENT 3) DECREE TO CONSTITUTE THE ADMINISTRATION BOARD ................ 33 3 With the aim to finalise the Nomination process for the “CollinaPo Man and Biosphere Reserve”, promoted by the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese Management Authority, some institutional steps have been taken according to the official procedure defined by UNESCO. With regards to the proposal, the Advisory Committee recommended that it be approved pending the implementation of specific recommendations. Therefore, this document contains the answers to the clarifications required by UNESCO, namely: 1)
The clarification of the status and legal protection of the core zones number 5 and 6; 2)
The endorsement of all municipalities of the nomination form; 3)
To provide more detailed information on the organization and functioning of the managing body of the proposed biosphere reserve, including as regards the coordination of large number of stakeholders and protected areas; 4)
To further explain the status of the car industry in the region today, including existence of factories in the proposed area and describe the impacts that these activities could have on the proposed biosphere reserve; 5)
To explain how the local communities will be represented (i.e. membership) in the future “Steering Committee” (page 303 point 17.1.8)and describe which mechanisms will be created to involve the local communities in the management of the proposed biosphere reserve.
5 1
THE CLARIFICATION OF THE STATUS AND LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE CORE ZONES NUMBER 5 AND 6 The system used to identify and define the core zones is based on relevant criteria and restrictions as outlined in paragraph “7.4 ‐ brief rationale of this zonation in terms of the respective functions of the biosphere reserve”. The outlines of the core zone were initially defined on the basis of the Natural Reserves. The natural reserves are created with the aim of defending, managing and building natural but also semi‐natural environments which is one of the main aims of this MAB Reserve. Once the reserves were identified within the territory, the boundary of the core zones was further restricted in order to identify additional restrictions for the protection of the natural resources (restrictions identified by Po Area Plan and Interim Plan for the Hydrogeological Structure of the River Po). These elements impose important restrictions in terms of building and land use. Moreover, in order to take the most cautious approach possible, the decision was made to observe a distance of 50 meters from main roads. In the specific case of Core Zones 5 and 6, the closest to the city of Turin, the identification and definition of the boundaries have been complex, given the urbanized proximity with all its implications: roads and houses above all. Some of these elements are thus included in Core 6 (Vallere Natural Reserve), most of them are under the property of the Park itself, which ensures tight control of this area, especially as its headquarter is just outside the core boundary (Cascina Le Vallere). Another element that will ensure respect for the protection and conservation of the site is the presence of planning instruments that insist on MaB territories (Town planning scheme of the Municipality of Moncalieri in this case). About Core 6, the plan allows the following interventions only: o
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Priority restoration of some buildings near the Cascina Le Vallere to supplement the park authority's facilities (educational and museum activities); Establishment of riparian forest belt; Reset the affected range from bridges with ground paths under the arches; Implementation of a continuous pedestrian and cycle path along the bank of the river Po and integration of riparian vegetation. Regarding Core 5 – Molinello, the interventions allowed are the following: 6 o
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Re‐naturalization of the banks and the inner areas in riparian forest with large grassy glades; Pedestrian fruition paths, cycling, equestrian be connected by bridges to Vallere. In conclusion, core zones number 5 and 6 are completely protected. 7 2 THE ENDORSEMENT OF ALL MUNICIPALITIES OF THE NOMINATION FORM All Municipalities involved in the Nomination process, in the person of the mayor or similar, signed publicly the Nomination Form. The signature were collected in public meetings organized in order to share the Nomination Form and the results achieved. All the signatures are present in the chapter number 5 (“Endorsement”) of the Nomination Form. Moreover, all original signatures are sent to the UNESCO office of Paris (MAB Secretariat). In addition, all Municipalities signed a council resolution regarding the adoption of the Memorandum of Understanding for the management of the MAB reserve. All the resolutions are sent to the UNESCO office of Paris (MAB Secretariat), too. The council resolution is the way to regulatory at the administrative level the support to the project. FIGURE 1 – ENZO LAVOLTA, ASSESSOR OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF TURIN
WHILE SIGNING THE
NOMINATION FORM 8 FIGURES 2 AND 3–MAYORS WHILE SIGNING THE
NOMINATION FORM 9 3 INFORMATION ON THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE MANAGING BODY OF THE PROPOSED BIOSPHERE RESERVE, INCLUDING AS REGARDS THE COORDINATION OF LARGE NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS AND PROTECTED AREAS The nominated territory is very large and complex; it includes more than 80 Municipalities and one of those is the city of Turin. Right from its initial phases, the Nomination process of the Reserve was characterized by a number of activities and procedures designed to involve and consult the stakeholders, using different instruments depending on the specific characteristics of the people and organisations involved. Moreover, the management body of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese coordinates the protected areas involved in the nomination and works daily to realize a integrated development of the territory. Regarding the official involvement of public and private stakeholders, in the chapter number 5 of this document the procedures are explained. To this, an informal involvement must be added. Many meetings, debates and public moments oriented to share the opinions and to consult the stakeholder were organized during 2014 and 2015 and a busy calendar is already envisaged for the year 2016. The collaboration between the stakeholders involved is very good; an example of best practice are the recent projects elaborated in the CollinaPo Reserve in order to enhance the local tourism. All the Municipalities involved in the Nomination Process are working in order to answer to the Regional call “Legge Regionale 4/2000 “Interventi regionali per lo sviluppo, la rivitalizzazione e il miglioramento qualitativo di territori turistici” using the Protocol of Intent for The Management of the CollinaPo Man and Biosphere Reserve. Three Municipalities, Chieri, Rondissone and Moncalieri were chosen as leaders for three different projects. Every project is extended to the whole nominated territory. 10 4 THE STATUS OF THE CAR INDUSTRY IN THE REGION TODAY, INCLUDING EXISTENCE OF FACTORIES IN THE PROPOSED AREA AND DESCRIBE THE IMPACTS THAT THESE ACTIVITIES COULD HAVE ON THE PROPOSED BIOSPHERE RESERVE The area proposed is extremely vast and includes a variety of environments and situations, ranging from places of uncontaminated nature to important industrial realities. This situation certainly carries elements of potential risk, but at the same time it characterises the path of sustainable development that is being followed within the proposed reserve. In the first place, this regards the “car industry” and its induced economic activities, but the following analyses refer to the entire existing productive reality. Speaking of the car industry, it is important to point out that following the closure of the Turin Mirafiori the presence of the "heavy" (and therefore capable of producing the most negative environmental impacts) production sector in the candidate area has given way to activities still tied to the automotive sector but "lighter": research, development, design and so on. Besides, the assets that remain in the area, have very high environmental quality standards (around 100 companies in the Piedmont Region are EMAS registered) and, therefore, produce very low environmental impacts on the reserve. As you will learn later, these impacts are constantly kept under control through a network of effective environmental monitoring and widespread throughout the territory. 4.1 SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE FACTORIES The zoning proposed in the Nomination File (14 core zones, one limited buffer area and a wide transition area) was drawn up while carefully respecting the characteristics in terms of protection and conservation that each area must have; it emerges that, in the core zones and buffer areas, there is a minimal amount of industrial realities, while the transition area is the main hub of this kind of activities. In particular, returning to the analyses developed in the Nomination File on the features of ground use and cover (Land Cover Piedmont) it transpires that, of the total territory proposed for reserve use, only 2.4% is used for industrial purposes, extending over a total surface area of 4,090.28 hectares, almost entirely located within the transition area. 11 Below is a map highlighting these results; a situation emerges in which the negative impact of the industrial presence on the environment within the 14 core zones is to be considered irrelevant. FIGURE 4 ‐ PRESENCE OF INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY IN THE CORE, BUFFER AND TRANSITION AREAS (MAP BY SITI) Referring to the data regarding the 9th General Census of Industry and Services and No‐Profit Institutions (Source ISTAT 2011), it is possible to construct an overview of the economic structure of the proposed area. The territory nominated as MAB Reserve is home to 134,352 businesses, employing a total of 620,525 workers. The department that shows the highest number of employees involved is the so‐called “manufacturing activities” sector which includes the most important industrial realities of the proposed area: textiles, rubber and plastics and the automotive. 12 In particular, the motor industry employs 23,284 people, representing 4% of the economy of the proposed area and 19% of the manufacturing sector, proving the established presence of automobile industries that characterise the metropolitan area of Turin. The chart below shows the proportions of the main production sectors in terms of employees. FIGURE 5 ‐ MAIN PRODUCTION SECTORS IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEES (GRAPH BY SITI FROM ISTAT DATA) The following data shows how the area has always dedicated itself to the automotive sector, generating a wealth of knowhow which has also been applied to other economic sectors. 4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON THE TERRITORY Considering the nature of the proposed Reserve, the following components are of particular interest: •
Surface water (the quality of which is evaluated through a number of indexes including the Environmental Quality Standard for specific pollutants, the chemical state and the ecological state); •
Air (the quality of which is evaluated through the survey of the presence of a number of pollutants and the calculation of which of the regulation’s limits are exceeded); •
Soil (for which the reference is to the presence of infrastructure and urbanisation, organic pollutants and the fragmentation of the territory); 13 •
Urban environment (characterised by the trends of energy consumption, water use, the presence of green areas and urban waste management). Regarding the quality of the surface water, paying particular attention to the Po River, we can draw comfort from the recently surveyed data: in fact, the Environmental Quality Standard (updated in 2014) is classed as “good”, the ecological state for 2012‐2014 oscillates between “good” and “sufficient” and the chemical state updated in 2014 is classed as “good” (Source: Report on the State of the Environment by the Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment, ARPA). Air quality – especially in large urban centres – is not great, with the main periods when limits imposed by law have been exceeded occurring in the winter months, when industrial emissions and traffic pollution are joined by central heating in homes and public buildings. Local administrations are aware of the problem and have been working for years to put into action procedures aimed at limiting these critical points, from investing in renewable energy sources to incentives for sustainable transport, and environmental compensation required by law. Unfortunately, the sometimes poor air quality in the proposed area strongly depends on the particular geographical conformation characterising the whole territory of the Po Valley and the unfavorable climate and weather conditions. In particular, the conditions of high atmospheric stability which characterize the winter season do not allow the dispersion of pollutants. Private firms connected with car industry are also working on strategies to adequately manage the phenomenon; these include initiatives set up by local companies that have been very successful. We refer, for example, to the famous motor company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) (which will be discussed further on) which over the years has obtained important results in reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption both in producing the vehicles as well as when driving them. Furthermore, the group recently adhered to the goals set in the fight against climate change established during the COP 21 in Paris – the United Nations conference on climate change which was held in December 2015 where the world’s political leaders met to discuss a global agreement aimed at reducing carbon emissions and hinder the rising temperature of our planet. Regarding the urban environment, the councils involved in the proposal process – first among them for density of population and built‐up areas is the city of Turin – are increasingly focussing on environmental problems. In recent years, specifically, the city of Turin has shown noteworthy interest in strategic planning in the ambit of sustainability, as shown by recent initiatives including the Green Belt project and the approval of the Third Strategic Plan, whose aim, among others, is to rehabilitate brownfields. 14 4.3 MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ON THE TERRITORY The Piedmont Region has always paid particular attention to the evaluation and management of impacts on the territory, as testified by the numerous organisations dedicated to monitoring the state of the environment and the exhaustive official reports published every year. In particular, the Piedmont Region holds, within its Shared Environmental Information System (SITAD, http://www.sistemapiemonte.it/serviziositad) a huge amount of data regarding the water, atmosphere, ground use, settlements and infrastructures present in the territory, territorial and urban planning http://www.sistemapiemonte.it/serviziositad/which make up the database for monitoring programmes over time. This regional archive is joined by the Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment (ARPA Piedmont, http://www.arpa.piemonte.it), an organisation that supplies information on the general state of the quality of the environment on a regional level, which continually gathers and elaborates data regarding environmental components, and share the results with the audience by publishing reports, statistics and in‐depth studies. Moreover, research and monitoring activities in the proposed territory are abundant and of scientific importance; they concentrate mainly on the core and buffer zones as these coincide with those territories that are home to the most interesting areas in terms of biodiversity (the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese, Regional Reserves and Nature Network Sites 2000). The fact that the proposed area is also home to the Polytechnic University, the University of Turin and numerous research institutions means that the territory has undergone many interdisciplinary studies touching on themes such as biodiversity, biological conservation, the landscape, construction environment, history and architecture. In particular, there are many activities aimed at monitoring the wealth of local flora and fauna with the aim of building up a complete knowledge of the biodiversity that represents the proposed area; for example, here we mention activities monitoring amphibians by checking the presence of reproductive sites of species in the Habitat Directive undertaken by the Technical Office and Park Vigilance Office, or those to control ichtyofauna in order to monitor the fish population present in rivers and streams. The picture described, both in terms of the amount of industrial realities in the proposed territory – with particular attention to the 14 core zones and the buffer zone – and strategic planning and design policies, as well as focus on the environment shown in general by companies, and in the automotive sector in particular, highlights a situation with no cause for concern in terms of negative impacts on the future Reserve; on the contrary, it shows how this 15 sector could become a vitally important motor of socio‐economic development. 16 5 MEMBERSHIP OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE FUTURE “STEERING COMMITTEE” AND MECHANISMS TO INVOLVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPOSED BIOSPHERE RESERVE 5.1 A PROCESS OF INVOLVEMENT FOUNDED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PROPOSAL FOR NOMINATION As has already been explained in the Nomination File, the proposed territory is vast and complex and characterised by a number of subjects and players, each of which with its own specific needs and skills which must be integrated harmoniously. From here, we find the need to develop an effective and solid governance model that is able to valorise individual features according to common objectives of protection and valorisation, with the conviction that each player is responsible for a small “management share” that must be coordinated in strategic planning terms and concretised through action taken on the territory. Refer to the Action Plan (attachment 3 of the Nomination File) for further information on the proposed model. The institutions involved in the nomination process and in managing the possible Reserve have been involved from the very first phases through meetings and worktables where the principles on which the proposed governance model is based were explained and where the Action Plan (attached to the Nomination File) was presented and signed by the councils involved during a resolution. The Action Plan includes the proposal for the future institution of an Association – made up of an Administration Board in which the main entities involved (Park Board/Councils, etc.) would play the role of decision‐makers – and an Assembly of all the interested public and private entities who would have a consultation role, joined by a permanent technical office for the more scientific‐operational tasks. In the months prior to the nomination, and within the ambit of constructing an extended and operative partnership, the territory administrations and Park Management Board collaborated in signing an agreement aimed at adopting measures for the management of the future MAB Reserve. The agreement, entitled “Resolution of the Town Council regarding the adoption of the Memorandum of Understanding for the management of the 17 CollinaPo Man and Biosphere Reserve” was signed by the Councils involved in the nomination process; these councils will be grouped together in territorial ambits with a head Council of reference which will have an operative role in the future Administration Board for the management of the MAB Reserve. All that proposed and agreed in the first instance will be formalised after the Man and Biosphere Reserve has been officially recognised. In addition to this “institutional” type of involvement process, a number of activities to share and participate were organised in order to actively involve the population during the nomination process. All the meetings organised before the documents were delivered (September 2015) are listed in the Nomination File. The activities of involvement and sharing continued after this date: one of main goals set for the months following the delivery of the Nomination File. 5.2 THE PROPOSED GOVERNANCE MODEL In this period of great economic crisis, protected areas are required to elaborate new forms of management that can adapt to a lack of funds and direct parks towards new methods of design and planning that are increasingly centred on building up networks. In this way, MAB can represent the opportunity to experiment an innovative management method that can answer these new demands. In order to accompany the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese – and the chosen territory in its entirety – in the Nomination for MAB Reserve and to permit the suitable management thereof in the long term, we have worked towards creating a management model that is divided into two phases: 18 o
an initial phase of “Nomination Accompaniment” which involved – as mentioned – the adherence of the Councils in the area through the signing of a Protocol of Intent between the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese and the individual councils in order to establish an initial “alliance” looking towards the future management of the Reserve. Additionally, companies and associations have pledged their support through a number of letters in favour of the nomination project (attached in the Nomination File); o
a follow‐up phase of “management of the MAB Reserve” on which work is currently undergoing in order to define the methods for instituting the Association which will be characterised by a streamlined structure and which will have the task of defining guidelines and operative actions for managing the territory included in the MAB Reserve. This Association will have a public/private connotation following an innovative model for managing protected areas which will have the Park Board as its reference point. The constitutional organisations will be expended to Associations in the area, individual councils, private entities, etc. This will be accompanied by a permanent technical office made up of Park staff with external collaborators and a scientific committee. The management model proposed for the Reserve aims to valorise the management methods already present in the area, the so‐called “ordinary” management undertaken by public and private entities in the area, supplying a new way of looking at the process according to the basic principles of the MAB Programme. The idea is, therefore, to start with the tools already in activity in the area, established innovative methods of involvement and sharing that can bring life to the process. The following a graph describes the above. FIGURE 6 ‐ GOVERNANCE SYSTEM PROPOSED FOR MANAGING THE RESERVE 19 5.3 PROJECT “MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE NETWORK FOR THE PATHS OF THE TURIN HILL”: A MODEL THAT GETS RESULTS For a while now, the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese have been working in valorising the networks of pathways that characterise the Turin hills, putting into action projects for redevelopment, sharing and networking of the entities involved. To this end, the councils involved have proposed and signed a “Memorandum of cooperation for the management and promotion of the network of pathways in the Turin Hills of the CollinaPo brand between Organisations Managing the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese and the councils of the hill territory”. The agreement aims to adopt a territorial strategy for the management and maintenance of hiking paths, but also for the drafting of vast projects to promote the network of pathways that have the features and fulfil the criteria to be included in regional and European aid programmes, also in collaboration with the relevant regional sector. The proposed model is now in action and is showing good results; the intention is, therefore, to start from those relationships that already exist in the area to expand to the themes of the MAB Programme and those councils not involved in the pathways but which fall within the borders of the Reserve. 5.4 THE FIRST MEETINGS OF THE ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF THE FUTURE MAB RESERVE As indicated in the proposed governance model, following delivery of the Nomination File in September 2015 work continued on involving local players, administrations and citizens. In particular, on 15th December 2015, the Administration Board of the MAB UNESCO Nomination met in Moncalieri at Cascina Le Vallere and discussed the “Access to funds for feasibility studies in accordance with Regional Law nr 4 and subsequent articles of 24.01.2000 – Regional interventions for the development, revitalisation and qualitative improvement of tourism areas”. To prepare for putting into action regional law 4/2000, awaiting the publication of the same, the Organisation of Management of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese proposes the network of councils that signed the MAB UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Nomination File as an already‐
recognised territorial platform and nominates itself to coordinate the feasibility studies. 20 This is just one step in the collaboration that will follow according to the guidelines explained in the Action Plan; the next step consists in formalising the Administration Board through a constitutional act that was signed in the February 2016; this document is attached (attachment 2). Below is a photo from the meeting. FIGURE 7 ‐ ADMINISTRATION BOARD MEETING 5.5 POST‐NOMINATION ACTIVITIES AND METHODS TO INVOLVE THE POPULATION Below is a list of the involvement and sharing activities organised following the delivery of the Nomination File showing how dynamic and continuative the process is over time. o
16th October 2015, presentation of the MAB Reserve Nomination project during the International Academy on Sustainable Development, Palazzo Cisterna, Turin. Participating is the Director of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese, Mr Ippolito Ostellino. o
16th October 2015, public meeting entitled “Man and River: memory, history and geography”. presentation of the MAB Reserve Nomination project, Murazzi, Turin. Participating is the Director of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese, Mr Ippolito Ostellino. o
8th November 2015, event open to the public: “Seeing the Invisible” during Contemporary Art Turin Piedmont. Discussion and Q&A regarding the MAB Reserve Nomination, Superga, Turin. 21 22 o
5th December 2015, event open to the public: “Seeing the Invisible” during Contemporary Art Turin Piedmont. Discussion and Q&A regarding the MAB Reserve Nomination, Galleria San Federico, Turin. o
Publication of the following scientific paper. E. Cimnaghi, MAB UNESCO and Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese Programme: a sustainability laboratory and the opportunity to experiment new methods for managing the territory, in Environmental and Mineral Geoengineering, Publication of the Georesources and Environment Association, ISSN 1121‐9041 Patron Editore, Turin, year LII, nr.2, May‐August 2015, pp. 5‐12. 6 CONTACT Promoter of the Nomination process: Aree protette del Po e della Collina Torinese, Director Ippolito Ostellino Email: [email protected] Drafting of the document: SiTI – Istituto Superiore sui Sistemi Territoriali per l’Innovazione Project Manager Marco Valle Email: [email protected] 23 ATTACHMENT 1) FROM INDUSTRIAL CITY TO CREATIVE CITY Over the past decades, the proposed area has lived a period of marked evolution which saw the transformation not only of the territory and the industrial realities therein but also, and above all, of the approach to environmental and cultural themes, with a radical change in outlook. Looking back at the history of the proposed territory, it is clear how it passed from industrial hub of production – one example is the FIAT automobile company which was founded and expanded in the area – to a place focussing on the environment and sustainability. In this sense, the stakeholders of the proposed territory have proved themselves able to transform the economic crisis (which resulted in a slowing in industrial production) into the opportunity to experiment with new procedures for sustainability and to deeply discuss themes such as green economy, systemic design, the participation and involvement of citizens, while obtaining some considerable results both in environmental performance of economic activities and in the development of a culture of sustainability. It is proof of the cultural change that the proposed territory has seen a huge increase in tourism activities, especially regarding themes such as culture and nature – bringing a new wave of tourists to re‐discover the Piedmont Region over recent years. In 2015, Turin and the Piedmont Region in general were a hub of huge tourist flows also thanks to events such as the Ostension of the Holy Shroud, the Pope’s visit, Turin Capital of Sport and the recent inscription of the Vineyard Landscapes of Langhe‐ Roero and Monferrato in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Within this panorama, the proposed territory is especially interesting for nature and cultural tourism which is obviously joined by varying tourism linked to the City of Turin (cultural and congressional tourism linked to specific events, etc.). Another clear sign of change compared to the past occurred in 2014, with the recognition of Turin as a Creative City in the Design category: the only city to be awarded this UNESCO recognition in the entire Europe and North America region, with the following motivations: “Since the late nineteenth century, Turin has been one of Italy’s primary industrial centres with the rise of the steel, mechanic, chemical, textile and automobile industries which have dominated the city’s development for almost a century. Over the past few decades, the city has successfully transformed itself from an industrial centre to a creative hub. Turin’s knowledge about design and 25 production processes, acquired through its industrial past, has laid the foundation for the future. Indeed, the promotion of creativity and sustainability as well as the regeneration of urban spaces are at the core of the city’s development. The city boasts renowned artists and cutting‐edge institutions, training institutes and universities. Collaboration between cultural institutions and the academic world is a key factor in strengthening and promoting an integrated and multi‐disciplinary approach to culture. Turin also provides incentives to support the mobility of artists and creative professionals, offers scholarships and high‐profile awards and promotes international exchange programmes. Turin’s Creative Network Steering Committee is made up of agents coming from the public, private and academic sectors. Together, they create an annual programme of activities and events supporting Turin’s development as a City of Design. Finally, in order to ensure the sustainability of the city’s design‐related initiatives, Turin pays special attention to fostering the creative potential of the city’s youth”. FIGURE 8 ‐ LINGOTTO: DESIGN AND AUTOMOTIVE (COURTESY OF ARCHIVIO TURISMO TORINO) 26 The automotive as opportunity for the territory The proposed territory is inextricably linked to the automotive industry. Turin is the birth‐place of FIAT, today a brand of FCA Italy, which in turn is part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles industrial group. The brand’s history is old: it was founded on 11th July 1899 in Turin as a car manufacturer then expanded its activities in a number of other sectors, establishing what would become Italy’s largest private financial and industrial group of the 20th century. FIGURE 9 ‐ AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM OF TURIN (MAUTO; COURTESY OF ARCHIVIO TURISMO TORINO) The area is also home to the National Automobile Museum of Turin (MAUTO) ‐ previously dedicated to Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia and now Giovanni Agnelli ‐ considered one of the most important and oldest automobile museums in the world. In the halls of the Polytechnic of Turin, in the very centre of the city, is the “General Motors Powertrain Turin”, the American company’s nerve centre for research and experimentation on diesel motors. In 2005, General Motors decided to lay roots in this area thanks to its reputation for attention to sustainability, expertise in terms of research and innovation and the intellectually‐stimulating environment. Today almost 700 engineers are employed in this centre, making it a global reference point in research in diesel motors. There are also many other important producers in the area, such as for example Pirelli which has been located in Settimo Torinese for over 60 years. All these companies are dedicated to the theme of sustainability making it one of their main objectives. For example, every year FCA publishes a detailed Sustainability Report and boasts a website dedicated to the communication of data on environmental sustainability (http://www.fcagroup.com/en‐
US/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx) which reports the company’s effort in reducing energy consumption, emissions, water and waste products. 27 SOME EXAMPLES OF POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AUTOMOTIVE AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE MAB PROPOSED AREA The proposed territory is increasingly setting itself up as a living laboratory of sustainability, where good practices and innovative solutions are experimented with the aim of better managing the resources available. Many results have been reached that prove this and testify to this virtuous process. Below is a brief list of some recent initiatives that we consider to be particularly interesting. On the level of strategic territorial planning, the work undertaken in the ambit of sustainability has been of huge importance over the past decades, as already explained in the Nomination File. Recently published, the Third Strategic Plan for the Turin Metropolis 2025 aims to identify Turin as a “City of Opportunity”, or rather a place that encourages innovation and development, an efficient and welcoming, inclusive and sustainable metropolis where everyone may find conditions favourable to starting up their own personal projects for life and business. The planning is therefore aimed at creating a “can do” metropolitan city that is dynamic, flexible, resilient and able to reinvent itself, attractive and competitive, facilitating the stay, growth and settlement of businesses and establishing a high quality of life for residents and new inhabitants. Another interesting result is the putting into action of the TAPE (Turin Action Plan for Energy) which has recently published some very comforting results (http://www.comune.Turin.it/ambiente/news/piano‐dazione‐per‐lenergia‐
sostenibile.shtml). In fact, today CO2 emissions have been reduced by 22% compared to 1991, showing how the City has already fulfilled its commitment to the Mayors’ Pact; the next aim is to reduce carbon dioxide by 30% by the year 2020. Research and development – in terms of training, education and technological innovation – have played a vital role in the proposed territory over recent years, as proved by the University and the Polytechnic of Turin, two institutions that are gaining importance and recognition on a European level, particularly focussing on themes such as design, sustainability, and research applied to the environment on both national and international scales. Regarding the specific automotive theme, it should be stressed how the Mirafiori area (Corso Settembrini, Turin) – historically and indissolubly linked to FIAT – is now part of the premises used by the Polytechnic of Turin and home to teaching activities in the Industrial Design and Visual Communication and the Automotive Engineering degree courses. The structure holds around 1,500 students and has halls, laboratories, study rooms and canteens. The new building was designed by Prof Aimaro Isola and is made up of three blocks covering a total of 7,500 square metres; the area used by the Polytechnic of Turin is found within the Province of Turin’s project to 28 redevelop the Mirafiori area. In fact, the structure was designed to unite modernity and functionality within the building context of the surrounding area and is a concrete example of the desire of the College and local entities to continue investing in the future of the automotive, research, innovation and design. In short, a territory that is increasingly focussed on planning, development of innovative ideas and technological research. Within the ambit of the MAB Reserve nomination process, it is interesting to mention the recent project on which the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese are currently working, “Seeing the invisible – Meeting call for designers and businesses on sustainable projects for the MAB UNESCO CollinaPo”. It aims to give production and creative realities in the area of the Reserve the chance to nominate projects that contribute to environmental quality and sustainability, paying particular attention to three sectors: automotive, industrial and urban design, and renewable energy. The project is an interesting chance to share the principles of sustainability and to build a network throughout the territory. FIGURE 10 ‐ PRESENTATION FOR THE MEETING CALL FOR DESIGNERS AND BUSINESSES ON SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS FOR THE MAB UNESCO COLLINAPO 29 ATTACHMENT 2) PROTOCOL OF INTENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE “COLLINAPO MAN AND BIOSPHERE RESERVE” Having seen and considered the introduction above, in building an extended and operational partnership, the administration of the territory and the management organisation promote the signing of an agreement to adopt measures for the management of the “CollinaPo Man and Biosphere Reserve”. This agreement is signed between the Councils involved in the nomination process and the Organisation of Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese. In particular, the councils involved these councils will be grouped together in territorial ambits with a head Council of reference (see the following attachment) which will have an operative role in the future Administration Board for the management of the MAB Reserve. The signing councils undertake to: •
guarantee harmonious and shared management of the MAB Reserve; •
work towards integrating the programmes and initiatives regarding the various councils involved, focussing in particular on their own territorial ambit; •
make available their knowledge and resources to organise shared initiatives; •
promote collaboration and cooperation between the associations of the territory and private entities involved; •
transmit and share knowledge regarding the MAB UNESCO Programme, while promoting educational initiatives together with the school authorities; •
organise exhibitions, research, reports, conferences and all other events regarding the MAB theme; •
as required by the Statutory Framework of the World Network of the MAB UNESCO Programme, the sharing of the Nomination process requires consensus of all the Territorial Entities involved given through their signature of the Nomination File which is to be delivered. Moreover, the Council undertakes to formalise its endorsement as required in section 5 of the document with the signature of the Mayor himself or his proxy; •
sign the Action Plan proposed as a document attached to the Nomination File which illustrates the strategic lines of development for the proposed 31 Reserve and which acknowledges the local projects that the territory has highlighted as interesting for the MAB theme. Furthermore, said Action Plan lays the foundation for the governance model which is the main premise for the future management of the Reserve. This agreement is preparatory for the constitution of a management body that will operate – according to methods yet to be defined – once the MAB Reserve has been formalised. Adherence to the agreement is valid until the formal annulment by the administrations involved. Read, approved and signed Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese Chairman architect Fabrizio Oddone Council of reference 32 ATTACHMENT 3) DECREE TO CONSTITUTE THE ADMINISTRATION BOARD Abstract of the Decree (the original is in Italian) Having seen and considered the nomination for UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve (MAB) delivered on 30th September 2015 for the evaluation proceedings, promoted by the Management Body of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese, Iren Energia SpA Group and SMAT SpA, with technical support by the SiTI institute; Having seen and considered the goals of nature preservation and sustainable development of the territory valorised by the nomination for UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve as an occasion for integrating the protection of natural resources with socio‐economic development in a territory that extends along an urban river, through planning, design and management; Considering that the nomination process is based on valorising the CollinaPo geo‐brand registered as a collective brand in 2012 by the management body of the Po Park and Turin Hill and that these actions render a vast territory of 85 councils compared to which the actions to manage and valorise local sustainable development, included in the Action Plan of the nomination, must be carried out with a coordinated action sustained and led by a system to involve the local players and by a governance management in two phases: 1)
2)
The constitution of an Administration Board of the committee promoting the CollinaPo brand and the UNESCO MAB nomination and The institution of this Administration Board in the Association with autonomy and special legal representative. Having seen and considered the text of the agreement attached hereby through which the administration have shown their adherence. Having seen and considered the outline of the governance and organigram of the Administration Board described and listed in attachment 2 of this regulation. HAVING ACKNOWLEDGED THAT in accordance with article 6 of the Charter of Intention of the Valorisation Programme for the Hiking Itinerary of the Po Hills and article 1 of the Memorandum of Cooperation for the Management and Promotion of the Network of Pathways of the Turin Hills of the CollinaPo brand, a coordination and planning body – called the Paths Administration Board – has been set up, coordinated by the Administration Body of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese and consists of sub‐area head and reference council 33 administrations and representatives of the private sector of associations which is extended in its activities and representation to the Administration Board of the brand proposed for MAB UNESCO CollinaPo . Having seen and considered Piedmont Regional Law nr 19 of 29th June 2009, Consolidated Act on the protection of natural areas and biodiversity, which institutes the Administration Body of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese as director of the parks and natural reserves of the Po and the Turin Hills; Having seen and considered the strategic and territorial coordination and planning activities listed below: Having seen and considered the Memorandum of Agreement for the creation of the Strategic Green Belt Project to reorganise and redevelop the green belt around the Turin area Having seen and considered the coordination of the themed worktable on Green Infrastructure during the Strategic Turin Project and its vision of transforming green areas from “background” to a strategic asset in developing the metropolitan area Having seen and considered the European Landscape Convention in Florence, Italy and having seen and considered Legislative Decree nr. 42 of 22nd January 2004, Cultural Property and Landscape Code Having seen and considered the institution in 2006 of the Landscape Observatory of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese as a territorial tool for collaboration between organisations and local communities in order to develop further tools for the knowledge, evaluation, management and protection of transformations of the territory Having seen and considered the Po Lakes MasterPlan drawn up in 2011 for territorial and landscape reconnection for an inter‐territory integrated political project for the protection of biodiversity, the promotion of the landscape and the development of use Having seen and considered the CollinaPo Territorial Evaluation Plan adopted by the Administration Body of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese with resolution nr. 52/2012 Having seen and considered Charter of Intentions of the Valorisation Programme for the Hiking Itinerary Walking in the Po Hills as a form of alliance between territorial ambits, Collina Torinese, Alto Astigiano, Monferrato Casalese, coordinated by the Administration Board of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese, signed in 2014 by 30 council administrations, the Administration Body of the Sacred Mountains and 10 local hiking association bodies in a project of regional importance for territorial valorisation through hiking 34 Having seen and considered the Memorandum of Cooperation for the Management and Promotion of the Network of Pathways in the Turin Hills of the CollinaPo brand, promoted by the Administration Board of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese and signed in 2014 by 47 council administrations with the view of building a territorial partnership of planning and management of the hiking district of the Turin Hills Having seen and considered the integrated development projects for bicycle itineraries along the Po River and the Cavour Canal (Po Cycle‐path and the Cavour Canal Cycle‐path) included in the Cycling Network Project of Regional Interest, approved with Regional Council Decree nr.22 – 1903 of 27th July 2015 Having decided, moreover, to proceed, through the action herewith, with the institution of the “CollinaPo / MAB Administration Board”, as an integration and division of the existing “Paths Administration Board”, coordinated by the Administration Board of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese and made up of sub‐area head and reference council administrations, ambits in which the entire territory of the proposed UNESCO MAB Reserve has been divided, and representative of the private sector. The new body is made up of one fixed territorial component and one that is variable in both territory and authority, as an innovative systemic form of governance, design and planning of the territory supporting the policies of nature. HEREBY DECIDES to proceed, through the action herewith, with the institution of the “CollinaPo / MAB Administration Board”, as an integration and division of the existing “Paths Administration Board”, coordinated by the Administration Board of the Aree Protette del Po e della Collina Torinese and made up of sub‐area head and reference council administrations, ambits in which the entire territory of the proposed UNESCO MAB Reserve has been divided, and representative of the private sector according to the outline and methods indicated in attachment 2 of this provision. 35 FIGURE 11 ‐ THE TERRITORIAL AMBITS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION BOARD 36 37 38 39 40 41