The ever-growing international dimension of Taranto is not only enhanced by the appreciation of the numerous tourists who have chosen it as one of the most iconic destinations in the Mediterranean or by the numerous cultural and musical events that are hosted in the most beautiful city locations.
The prestigious National Geographic magazine also thought about increasing the notoriety of the Ionian capital which, recently, with its reportage in English, highlighted how Taranto is to be considered the symbol of a lush marine ecosystem and of a city that is transforming , tackling the challenges of industrial pollution with determination and innovation.
Through a report as exhaustive as it is in-depth, the well-known scientific magazine reported on the presence of dolphins that have repopulated the waters of the Ionian Sea thanks to the commitment of the municipal administration of Taranto, led by mayor Rinaldo Melucci. Administration which confirmed its utmost attention to environmental sustainability with the adoption of a provision which marked a significant step for the conservation of marine biodiversity and the sustainable use of resources: the establishment of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) . A decision which, as also highlighted by the National Geographic report, fits within the framework of the “Taranto Ecosystem” programme, outlining a future in which nature and development can coexist in harmony.
The MPA represents a concrete action towards the protection of marine life and aligns with the objectives of the United Nations Agenda 2030, in particular with goal 14 “Life below water”. In reiterating the highest level of involvement in environmental issues, Mayor Melucci is keen to point out that “creating a protected marine area is the clearest sign of how city policy is oriented towards all forms of environmental protection in order to enhance the natural resources, especially those guaranteed by the sea, as an engine of economic and social development of a city that looks to its future with confidence, with the aim of becoming, within the just transition process, a reference model in Mediterranean.”
