For the first time the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Parks of the Puglia Region are allies in an agreement with the Alta Murgia Park which this year celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its establishment
From 21 to 23 June, a national exhibition dedicated to Italian protected areas, biodiversity, breathtaking landscapes and centuries-old traditions, typical products and cooking shows.
There is a Puglia with a green heart, which is the hub of the “Sport, Nature and Wellbeing” Tourist Product mainly connected to parks and varied natural attractions. This heritage is enhanced by the public cooperation agreement in which, for the first time, there are the two regional Departments for Tourism Enterprise and the Environment and Parks Department, together with the Alta Murgia National Park.
All this will be narrated from 21 to 23 June, in the Gravina in Puglia exhibition center during the “Biodiversa. The Italy of Parks tells its story” through which the Puglia Region wants to encourage sustainable and green tourism as an extraordinary means of valorisation, for an increasingly internationalised, deseasonalised and attentive to environmental sustainability tourist offer. The event was presented this morning in Bari in the presence of the regional councilor for the environment Serena Triggianithe regional councilor for Tourism, Gianfranco Lopane and the mayor of Gravina in Puglia, Faithful Lagreca.
Specifically, the cooperation agreement was signed by the Department of Tourism and Economy of Culture, by the Regional Tourism Agency Pugliapromozione and by the Department of Environment, Landscape and Urban Quality-Parks Service and Protection of Biodiversity of the Puglia Region, with the National Park of Alta Murgia which, among other things, celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its institution in 2024.
“Through ‘Biodiversa’ we open a new path of valorisation – he declared
the tourism councilor, Gianfranco Lopane – which puts the Parks at the center, to be protected and preserved, but at the same time to be made accessible to tourists and residents while respecting the cycles of nature. The tourist product linked to Sport, Nature and Wellbeing, in the name of slow and sustainable tourism, contributes to making Puglia even more attractive throughout the year. Together with our sea, art and culture, food and wine, MICE and weddings, it defines an offer full of opportunities, with experiences that we will continue to enhance in terms of services. From this perspective, the synergy with the Department of the Environment and with the Alta Murgia Park Authority is particularly significant, giving strength to an activity which, I am sure, will go beyond these three days of meetings and will be able represent a model of collaboration and winning organization”.
The regional territory of Puglia is characterized by the presence of 2 national parks, 3 marine protected areas, 16 state reserves, 13 regional natural parks, 7 regional natural reserves. By adding the sites of the Natura 2000 Network to these protected areas, the land-based part of the Region affected by nature protection institutes exceeds 24% of the entire regional territory.
Such an extension of nature protection institutes is motivated by the presence of an almost unique biodiversity heritage in a region which, extending into the Mediterranean, with its conformation constitutes a natural bridge between Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Biodiversa is not a simple review – commented the Environment Councilor, Serena Triggiani -, but it represents a very important moment to celebrate biodiversity and ecosystems in this particular historical moment in which the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems for future generations has assumed constitutional status. For our Region it is a further opportunity to support the Italian Government in the challenges of the near future represented by the need to provide the necessary contribution to achieving the community targets defined in the European strategy for biodiversity. That is, building a coherent network of terrestrial and marine Protected Areas with the achievement of the targets of 30% of protected areas to be established on land and sea, and 10% of strictly protected areas; restore terrestrial and marine ecosystems, with the achievement of the target of 30% restoration of the conservation status of habitats and species, in particular through the activity conducted at a regional scale relating to the objectives and conservation measures of the sites of the Natura 2000 network The protected areas of Puglia represent an extraordinary naturalistic, cultural and social wealth and an extraordinary environmental resource. They encompass not only nature but also well-being and health, economy and sport. The Region wanted to guarantee its participation through the strategic action of a Cooperation agreement between the Puglia Region, with the Departments of Environment and Culture, Puglia Promozione and Alta Murgia Park. This agreement was born from the strong joint desire to enhance the parks of Puglia, celebrating the close combination between nature and a type of sustainable and green tourism”.
“The relationship between the protection of biodiversity in protected areas and the impact of agricultural, forestry, fishing and aquaculture activities finds a possible combination in Puglia – the Councilor for Agriculture of the Puglia Region recalled in the margin, Donato Pentassuglia – which guarantees active protection of the territory and constant care of these areas, fundamental for our ecosystems and our economy. During Biodiversa, the products of Apulian food and wine will be the protagonists in a series of show cooking, a true kilometer zero, made of quality, certified and healthy foods, which also represent a food tradition to be introduced to the new generations”.
“With a rich and articulated program – declared the president of the Park, Francesco Tarantini – we want to raise public awareness of the importance of protecting the environment and biodiversity, enhancing the flavors and knowledge of the protected territories. The participation of experts, institutional representatives and sector operators aims to strengthen the collaboration network between Italian parks, providing valuable ideas for the future management of protected areas, with a view to sustainability. The invitation is not to miss the opportunity to participate, to immerse yourself in nature and share moments of culture, learning and fun in a unique context”.
“Biodiverse. The Italy of parks that tells its story” is a national event that celebrates the richness of Italian protected areas, the discovery of a priceless heritage made up of extraordinary biodiversity, breathtaking landscapes and centuries-old traditions. It is organized in collaboration with Federparchi and with the support of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, ISPRA, the Puglia Region, the Lazio Region and the Municipality of Gravina, and will host a program of meetings, activities and experiences dedicated to nature and its valorization. Furthermore, in the exhibition area, there will be the Forestry, Environmental and Agri-Food Unit Command of the Carabinieri and the General Command of the Port Authority Corps.
The path started by the two Departments of the Puglia Region with the Alta Murgia Park includes, among the most prominent objectives, the candidacy for the international network of UNESCO Geoparks and the implementation of the “Parks and green tourism fair” project, to be held in Gravina in Puglia Exhibition Park with the aim of promoting parks and protected natural areas, the various types of tourism available (cycling, trekking, birdwatching, equestrian tourism, etc.) and typical local agri-food products. Screening, “Biodiversa. The Italy of parks that is told” could become a fixed appointment for all protected areas, a meeting and discussion place to share experiences, strategies and good practices for environmental protection.
The program is available on the site https://biodiversafestival.it/
Video link Triggiani statement
http://rpu.gl/JWEGD
Lopane statement video link
http://rpu.gl/u7y6M
Tarantini statement video link
http://rpu.gl/YISSS
Link video images coverage
http://rpu.gl/fxZqY
Biodiversa presentation spot
http://rpu.gl/5cuyY
