On March 26, 2024, the Regional Council unanimously approved the law establishing the “Coast Regional Day”which marks a very important step for the development of integrated management of the regional coastal system.
Thanks to the impulse of the regional council, Puglia becomes like this the first Region in Italy to dedicate a specific day to the protection and enhancement of its approximately 1040 kilometers of coastlinewhich represent a landscape, social, cultural and economic resource of extraordinary value.
Since 2006, in application of article 117 of the Constitution and legislative decree no. 112/1998, the Puglia Region has regulated the management of maritime state property with various regulatory interventions. In particular, regional laws n. 17/2006 and n. 17/2015 provided general indications for the implementation of integrated coastal management, issued the first directives for the preparation of coastal planning and regulated the exercise of administrative functions connected to the management of maritime state property and territorial sea areas.
As a result of these processes, the law establishing the “Regional Day of the Coast” has a dual objective: on the one hand, it aims to preserve and enhance the biodiversity And L’coastal heritage identity; on the other hand, it raises public awareness and, in particular, the new generations towards the responsible use and of coastal conservation.
The “Regional Coast Day”, promoted with the support of the Maritime Directorate of the Coast Guard of Puglia and Basilicata Jonica, will be celebrated on April 12 of each year, the day after the “National Sea National Day”, established in Italy in 2017. This year, on an experimental basis, “Regional Coast Day” will be celebrated on April 10th.
“Puglia – declares the president Michele Emiliano – is the first Italian region to establish the ‘Regional Coast Day’. This is not just a symbolic goal. The law approved by the Regional Council, in fact, brings us closer to the decisive objective of integrated management of the coast. The protection of the coastal system is of vital importance for a territory like ours, which, to paraphrase Alessandro Leogrande, must increasingly return to imagining itself not only as a region on the sea, but also and above all as a region Of sea. A region, that is, which places the coastal and marine element at the center of its life and development projects, not only economic, but also social and cultural”.
“From the protection of natural habitats to the promotion of responsible lifestyles, tourism and business: there are many objectives before us and which – concludes Emiliano – I am sure we will achieve thanks to the support of the coastal communities, citizens’ associations, schools and universities, economic and cultural operators, municipalities, the Port Authority – Coast Guard, the Navy, the Financial Police and all those interested in the protection of the coastal system”.
“The commitment made by the Puglia Region towards the protection, care and enhancement of its coasts – comments the vice-president of the regional council and councilor for state property Raffaele Piedmontese – finally finds a moment of significant realization. The establishment of a ‘Regional Day’, in fact, allows us to launch a systemic action to care for, protect and enhance one of the main resources of our territory. The Apulian coast is not only scenic beauty, but also an economic and tourist asset, as well as an element of extraordinary historical, social, cultural and identity value. From today, with the support of many interested parties, we will launch a series of actions that will lead us towards the fundamental objective of integrated management of the coastal system. The ‘Regional Coast Day’ will not be an isolated event and will be part of a series of initiatives that will also take place throughout the rest of the year. We take this path, as always, balancing environmental protection with the scenarios and objectives made possible by the sustainable development paradigm of which our Region is undoubtedly a pioneer”.
Also the regional councilor for the environment Anna Grazia Maraschio underlines that “Puglia is the first region in Italy to adopt a law that celebrates the coasts. With this day – continues Maraschio – we not only want to celebrate it, but we emphasize the need to protect it as much as possible. In fact, this law was also created to create moments of education and awareness. As a Region, we have already allocated many investments for its protection and other funds will be allocated with the new programming. The Apulian coast is a heritage of the Apulians and a symbol that has made Puglia famous throughout the world. Low and sandy coasts, high and rocky coasts: all are unique treasures of beauty and biodiversity and have precise peculiarities that require attention and monitoring. The well-being of the coastal environment, which has long been compromised by human action which has accelerated the erosion process, and which today also sees the threat of climate change, is a priority aspect for us. As the Puglia Region we are fully aware of its fragility and for this reason, over the years, we have worked to preserve it through measures that today make us a virtuous example in the world”.
“Yesterday’s – finally declares the Maritime Director of the Coast Guard of Puglia and Basilicata Jonica, Rear Admiral Vincenzo Leone – it is a point of arrival, but it is also and above all a starting point. Puglia, in fact, is the first Italian region to dedicate a day to its coast, alongside that of the sea, already established at a national level. We are happy and also proud to serve a Region that has had this extraordinary sensitivity. The challenge we have before us is the start of a path which, together with the sixty-nine coastal municipalities, the administrations, the universities, the Navy, the Guardia di Finanza, the marine reserves, the tourist ports and all the institutional entities involved, we are certain it will quickly lead us to the best integrated management of this coast. On this issue, strongly highlighted by the European institutions, Puglia is ahead of all the other Italian regions”.
The “Regional Coast Day” was prepared by a participatory process that involved and will continue to involve numerous stakeholders. In recent months, in fact, six technical tables have been created dedicated to the various issues related to the integrated management of the coastal system, from the valorisation of the culture and traditions of the coast to the protection and restoration of the coastline, from regional ports to the management of coastal emergencies -sea civil protection and coastal waste management plans.
The law establishing the regional day provides for the creation of events, meetings, in-depth tables and other initiatives aimed at the integrated management of the coast, in collaboration with the Port Authority Corps – Coast Guard and in synergy with the coastal communities and with other various institutions operating in the area.
