Dear list members,
Please find below the press release of the Italian National Association of
staff members of protected areas (394), denouncing the Italian government
measures approved by the Italian Senate some days ago and now under examination
by the Italian House of Representatives which will cut down by 50% the budgets
of all Italian National Parks, de facto causing their total paralysis or even
shutdown for some of them.
Achaz von Hardenberg
Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy
NO to the shutdown of ITALIAN NATIONAL PARKS
On 23rd July 2010: SIT-IN IN ROME
People of parks are going down in the street in Rome on the 23rd of July to
protest against the government measures, approved by the Italian Senate some
days ago and now under examination by the Italian House of Representatives
which imply a 50% reduction of financial resources for the National Protected
Areas.
It is a heavy hit for the fragile system of Italian Parks that will cause
their total paralysis or even the shutdown for some of them. .
Aserious blow for nature and tourism in Italy: wildlife, habitats, rivers,
forests and coasts in the last 24 Italian natural paradises (Gran Paradiso,
Stelvio, Dolomiti Bellunesi, Foreste Casentinesi, Arcipelago Toscano,
Sibillini, Gran Sasso, Abruzzo, Circeo, Cilento, Vesuvio, Gargano and many
others) will be once again subject to speculation and indiscriminate
exploitation.
Every environmental policy required by the European Union will be cancelled,
and this just during the International Year of Biodiversity that recognizes,
as the National Biodiversity Strategy, the strategic role of Parks and the
need to strengthen them.
Altogether the National Protected Areas, which include about 5% of the
national territory, cost to the Italian Government 50 millions Euro, which is
equivalent to the price of one coffee a year for each Italian resident. But,
for the Italian government, environment, biodiversity, sustainable development
and EU policy strategies, do not deserve even this coffee!
On the 23rd of July, the associations which represent the parks’ world
(guides, employees, managing directors, park wardens, environmental educators)
and the environment NGOs have organized a sit-in in Rome in front of the
Italian Ministry of the Environment to say NO to an irrational reduction of
financial resources for National parks, a real shame for a civil country, a
serious violation to international, European and constitutional rights.
It is time to say NO to the continuous attacks that weaken and discredit
parks and their institution.
The casket of the Italian natural treasures, that parks cannot defend any more
for future generation, will be symbolically given back to the Italian Minister
Stefania Prestigiacomo, asking for:
1) a concrete and definitive recognition of the national parks’ role as
important and strategic instruments for environmental policy;
2) the exclusion of the protected areas from the reduction of financial
resources (item 7 paragraph 24 Law by Decree 78/2010) and the commitment to
provide parks the necessary means to comply to strategic international and
national aims.
Everybody is asked to participate to defend the Italian parks and environment.
The following associations and NGOs will participate to the sit-in:
UNIONE per i parchi e la natura d'Italia
394 Associazione nazionale personale aree protette
AIDAP Associazione italiana direttore e funzionari aree protette
AIGAE Associazione italiana guide ambientali
AIGAP associazione italiana guardie dei parchi e delle aree protette
WWF Italia Onlus
LIPU Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli
ISTITUTO PANGEA - MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS
PRO NATURA - ITALIA NOSTRA
COMITATO NAZIONALE DEL PAESAGGIO
VAS Verdi Ambiente Società
ALTURA Associazione Tutela Rapaci Italiani e loro Ambienti
for further informations,
please contact Andrea Gennai:
<[email protected]>
Tel. +39.320.4270842
