THE ITALIAN MANIFESTE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF MOUNTAINS

Manifest for mountain development UNCEM (En)

UNCEM proposes a radical change of the role of mountains: To change its perception as a marginal area lagging behind  the industrial centre of Italy, in need  of political assistance, to a  strategic territory proposing new solutions to economic and social challenges, in particular by developing the  sectors based on renewable energies .

As  a result of an analysis provided by a working group of economists, sociologists and spatial planners, UNCEM drafted The Manifest for Development of Mountains (Manifesto per lo sviluppo della Montagna) , published on the: http://www.uncem.it in order to gather support.

The Manifest - says the President of Uncem, Mr. Enrico Borghi- is a response of UNCEM to an outdated policy, which pretends to resolve problems by cancelling institutional elements, without aiming to valorise territorial resources. A real short-sightedness on the market rules which finally leads to a dispossession of main assets in a mountain territory.”

“The Mountains constitute a productive system of resources which are also consumed  in the lowlands.  We have to change the predominant perception of the management of resources, such as water, air, woods, which are necessary for human lives and thus should be used in a different approach of  property and sharing.

The mountains should be managed by institutions, with roots  in their own basis, which, in harmony with the development of entrepreneurship, allow to develop the  economy and to foster the territorial know-how.”

This document has received the official support of Mercedes Bresso, The President of AEM, during its General Assembly held in Turin on the 10 July 2009. Thus, AEM joins UNCEM in its  approach of valorising human and environmental assets of mountain territories. Moreover, AEM will contribute to this debate on opportunities offered by the green economy, within its work plan 2009-2010.

To know more about that: www.uncem.it