Liguria. The “Central Europe Biodiversity” project dedicated to the value of biodiversity starts tomorrow, Monday 17 June, with the first operational meeting. Financed by the transnational Interreg Central Europe tender with a total financial budget of 2.3 million euros, it aims to strengthen territorial development strategies starting from local communities, linking them in a large European network supported by various economic and scientific experts.
“The Liguria Region, with ‘Central-BIC’ confirms itself as a point of reference in its commitment to a strategy of safeguarding and valorising natural riches – says the interim president of the Liguria Region Alessandro Piana – with a team that involves knowledge and skills technical and administrative in the field of biodiversity, green transition and environmental economics. Furthermore, it will implement its action through tools for the valorization of ecosystems in agri-food production and in integrated models of sustainable development of the territory”.
“The Liguria Region will in fact involve 5 regional parks and an interdisciplinary pool of experts from ARPAL, ANCI, UNIGE DIEC- Environmental Economics, Filse and Agenzia In – Liguria who, with their skills and specializations, will play a fundamental role in the design, planning and implementation of interventions. The local communities that have and will have a key role in the implementation of the strategy will work together with the Liguria Region, as they are the true custodians of the territorial ecosystems and the opportunities for valorising the territories”.
With the kick-off meeting on Monday, at which the project partners, the Joint Secretariat of the program based in Austria and the implementing entities will be present, the Liguria Region is therefore adding a new chapter to the ecological transition and the development of the hinterland in which it has already been busy for some time.
“Central-BIC, Central Europe Biodiversity Innovative Communities, aims to trigger processes of active protection and development of the territory – concludes the interim president Alessandro Piana – overcoming the conflict between rural communities and nature conservation. A challenge in which the Liguria Region will be a point of connection throughout the project’s life cycle, from the initial phase to the capitalization processes, and will guide the management, methodology and implementation of the project’s actions, with a partnership of 12 entities which involve, in addition to Italy, also Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Austria and Slovakia”.
The University of Munich, Ifuplan (Institute for Environmental Planning and Spatial Development), will be the coordinator of the naturalistic analysis and strategy. The Department of Economics of the University of Genoa will support the Liguria Region in coordinating the socio-economic analysis and strategy. The Austrians from ECECE (European Center of Entrepreneurship Competence & Excellence) will coordinate the pilot actions for the valorization of ecosystem services and community processes.
