Federparchi EUROPARC Italy: The re-election of Giampiero Sammuri and the outcomes of the IX Congress

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The Council of Federparchi – Europarc Italia, gathered yesterday in Rome and unanimously re-elected Giampiero Sammuri as the President of the Italian Federation of Parks. Sammuri has held the presidency of Federparchi since 2010, and will be in the position until 2021. In addition, he is also the President of the Tuscan Archipelago Park. His election took place after the IX Federparchi Congress held on October 24 and 25.

We have a new Advisory Board of Park Directors full of skills. I am confident about the work that awaits us for the Italian Protected Areas, and I thank everyone for their trust.

About the IX Congress of Federparhi-EUROPARC Italy

Proposal to IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROTECTED AREAS

On the occasion of the IX National Congress of the Italian EUROPARC Section, Federparchi President Giampiero Sammuri illustrated proposals to promote functionality and rationality in the management of park entities, stressing how Parks can be a model of sustainable development for the whole country.

“We think that the critical issues of the parks can be solved in part by some simple measures, for instance, trying to make park statements more flexible – working on a balance for budgets and make them not so strict as they are now,” said Sammuri. In addition, he added

there is the need to hire young and capable technicians that the parks absolutely need, including qualified biologists, veterinarians, geologists, zoologists.

Referring to the “Park Managment Plans” Sammuri stressed that “they are born as an instrument of valorization of the territory and of the communities but their approval takes years! It would be enough to eliminate a series of useless and repetitive steps.”

Financial Resources

On the point of the resources to be allocated to the protected areas system, the president reiterates that there are many differences between national parks, regional parks and marine protected areas but the national parks do not need additional funds, those that have sufficient: the problem is how to use them, how to spend them. “The stiffness of the budgets is excessive”, he adds, “we need more flexibility”.

For the regional parks, however, the reality is different. “There are regions which have very few allocations and others that are more virtuous. So this brings a problem of resources to many regional parks. This is particularly important for the Marine Protected Areas that are our great excellence we have ten of the most important 31 Marine Protected Areas of the Mediterranean, but the appropriations are really modest, and there is a need of more resources.

During the first day, Minister Costa, speaking at the Congress, gave an initial response to the proposals of Federparchi. “The Ministry of Environment has identified resources of 1.8 million for hiring 55 new professionals in national parks. These will be specialised technicians, currently missing in the structures of the park authorities”.

Tourism: the need for a sustainable approach

With over 27 million tourists visiting the country on a yearly basis, “there is a supply chain that counts with 105 thousand jobs and a value of 5.5 billion €,” said Sammuri, adding that “Italians and foreigners go to our protected areas to enjoy their beauty and excellence. It is a positive and growing phenomenon that must be governed.

By giving the parks the possibility to directly manage visits to specific areas through appropriately trained “Park Guides”, it increases the safety of visitors, in addition to environmental protection.

Many Italian Protected Areas, implementing the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas methodology, are on the path towards becoming sustainable destinations. To support Parks having an active contribution to the socio-economic development of their communities, Federparchi, with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, is implementing the  Part II: Sustainable Business Partners of the methodology. 

The “Advisory Board of Parks and Protected Areas Directors” is born

During the IX Congress of Federparchi, the “Advisory Board of Parks and Protected Areas Directors” has been formed. The Advisory Board is made up of ten members chosen among Italian Park directors and has the purpose of supporting the activities and functions of the statutory organs of the Italian Federation and contributing to the achievement of the associative goals.
The Advisory Board carries out scientific, technical and operational support activities, also in defining the action lines of the association and the protected areas system.

The members of the Advisory Board are elected by the assembly of directors, which is usually held in conjunction with the association’s congress and remain in office as the other statutory bodies.
The first meeting took place on October 25 during which he was elected as president Patrizio Scarpellini, director of the Cinque Terre Park.
The members of the Advisory Board are:

  • Patrizio Scarpellini, president (Cinque Terre National Park)
  • Stefano Donati (Vesuvio National Park)
  • Maurizio Burlando (Tuscan Archipelago National Park)
  • Domenico Nicoletti (Alta Murgia National Park)
  • Augusto Navone (AMP Capo Carbonara – Villasimius)
  • Tonino Miccio (AMP Campanella tip)
  • Pierluigi Capone (Nazzano Tevere Farfa Regional Nature Reserve)
  • Massimiliano Scotti (Regional Park Gola della Rossa and Frasassi)
  • Maria Pia Pagliarusco (Po Delta Regional Park of Emilia Romagna)
  • Bernardino Farchi (Valle Lambro Regional Park)
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