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REGIONAL LAW ON ‘PROVISIONS FOR THE CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT AND PROMOTION OF THE GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE’ APPROVED
From Carlo Riva Vercellotti, Regional Councillor for Fratelli d’Italia – immediately following the plenary session which saw the bill passed on the afternoon of 26 September by a unanimous vote of the Chamber (42 votes in favour out of 42 present), the bill of which he was the proposer, lead signatory and rapporteur – we have received a press release of great importance for the life and future of the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark, which we are pleased to publish and share.
A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT THAT RECOGNISES THE VALUE OF GEODIVERSITY.
“Today, Piedmont is taking a cultural leap forward that not only raises awareness of the extraordinary and unique heritage we have inherited, but which can and must provide an opportunity for cultural, tourist and economic growth. The legal recognition of Piedmont’s geodiversity and geological heritage is a historic milestone for our region.
We have a region that is a treasure trove, boasting a level of geodiversity that is unique on the planet, featuring a UNESCO Global Geopark, world-class sites and some of the most significant geological features in the world; yet, until now, the Region had neither recognised this value nor invested in developing a systematic approach to support its conservation and promotion. We have always taken so many things for granted, as demonstrated by the fact that we have so many landscapes, all profoundly different, and so many products of the land; we have researchers from all over the world who come to study our valleys and our lands; yet Piedmont had never enshrined this in law, nor had it ever embarked on a process of concrete support, including financial support.
We live in a region rich in geological treasures that should be harnessed for tourism and economic development. I am, of course, thinking of our local produce: wine, rice, cheeses, fruit and vegetables; but I am also thinking of our Monte Rosa and its glacier, the Fenera caves, the Valsesia supervolcano, the Insubrica Line, the outstanding features and unique characteristics of the Val Grande Park and the Ossola area, the Baraggia moorland, the plain rich in marine sediments, the outlying foothills of the Serra di Ivrea, and the lowland woodland of Trino – to name but a few examples. Why should we envy other regions of the world when we have a range of tourist attractions that can be enjoyed 365 days a year?
The law unlocks this potential, whilst at the same time fostering awareness, identity and memory, investing in training and education, and finally, for the first time, recognising the Sesia Val Grande UNESCO Global Geopark. One of the most extensively studied geoparks in the world, with enormous potential, but one which recently risked being rejected, partly due to the lack of a close relationship with regional institutions and a concrete action plan. “I am very pleased,” concludes Councillor Riva Vercellotti, “that UNESCO gave its ‘green light’ right at the start of September, and this is also thanks to the awareness of a legislative process that demonstrates the commitment to investing in the Geopark.”
In fact, the law allocates, for the Geopark alone, a sum in excess of 250,000 euros for the year 2023, whilst the total funding under the legislation exceeds half a million euros over the three-year period. Among the various measures provided for in the law are the creation of a register of geosites and the reform of regional legislation.
