Sustainable solutions to grade up the accessibility of mountain regions

Lucerne 5-6 September 2006

Angela Rollando, LAG Appennino Genovese

Montespon Seminar for transnational exchange and networking on mountain topics

LAG Appennino genovese area

Liguria Region (Nuts II), 1.572.000 inhabitantsDensity: 290 inhabitant/kmq87 % regional area is mountain31 % population is in mountain area68% regional area is covered by forest

LAG Appennino genovese area is the rural area of Province of Genova (Nuts III)99.868 inhabitants1.368,12 kmq56 municipalitiesRural area Density 73 inhabit./kmq

Born in 1997 to take part to Leader II, European programmePrivate/public partnership. 24 partners (Chamber of Commerce, Province, 8 Mountain Communities, Enterprises associations, Provincial Public Transport Company, a bank …) Main aim: to support integrated socio-economic development of rural area of Genoa Province. Improvement of life quality.Approach: bottom-upMain branches of activities:

Territorial marketing. To make regional mountain areas attractive/competitiveTo support/finance tourism, artisan and agricultural SMETo create innovative services for people and SME

Funds for projects: EU/regional/national funds/local co-financing. Leader II and +, Interreg III b and C …

LAG Appennino genovese company

weaknessLack of services and infrastructuresConsiderable ageing 30% over 65, 9% under 15Low settlement density,Desertification in the last 80 years the population has been halvedHigh unemployment rate: 6.75 %

SWOT Analysis

strength •High environmental quality•Presence of spontaneous associations•Presence of agricultural productions•Presence of underutilized woods•Presence of historic-cultural goods

opportunitiesManagement of net services , innovation.Development of the sustainable rural tourismSynergies with the urbanized coastal area“Return in mass”: coast -mountain

threats• desertification• environmental disruption • loss of cultural identity

To grade up accessibility in mountain areas we need a special approach

We need a massif/global approach instead of slope/side approachTo grade up accessibility of mountain areas we need a global evaluation/planning. We must think without borders, we must start from the problem tosolve

… and we must combine:integrated approach (multi-sector)massif approach (territorial)bottom-up/top-down (agreeable)

To improve accessibility in mountain areas we need a special approach, the experience of LAG Appennino Genovese

“Terre Alte” (high lands) Project , Border Cooperation in Apennine/Alp area. 4 LAGs lie along the two sides of Apennine/Alp chain 4 border mountain area in 4 different Italian Regions4 real remote areas, low density (20 inh/kmq), lack of services, isolation, desertification, …..Each one is too far from chief regional cities (Genoa, Turin, Milan and Bologna)Each one has the same problems.Together they are trying to solve problem using a massif approach, to stop sliding of people and services to lowlands (cities)

TORINO

MILANO

BOLOGNA

GENOVA

To grade up accessibility in mountain areasprojects/actions

•we can/must improve public-private system of transport

• we can/must improve broad band connection to internet network and services

•we can/must improve inhabitant and SME services, quality of life

About transport, Genoa Province situation

•Railways and motorways lie along the coast and through the 2 main accesses from/to North Italy

•Port and Airport are in Genoa

•In rural area only mountain roads, bends and long distances (about 100 km/ 2 hours to reach Genoa from some remote areas)

about transport, what LAG is working to …

Together with the Provincial Company for public transport, GAL is working to:Pilot projects to support public transport on demand in rural municipalities (remote valleys)Promotion actions to increase the utilisation of public transport in rural area. Connection: Coast-inland. Tourism utilisation on demand. (events, website www.camminalevante.itPlanning integrated use of public transport in rural areas. Not only for people but also for goods (post, medicines, bread …). To come back to the old coach “corriera”

About broad band the situation in Liguria Region

Pilot Project : Montana Community Alta Trebbia Valley

1. The first stage, the network construction (done)Creation of the intranet network, among the municipalities, the Montana Community and the Valley bodies for the shared services managementRealization of a wireless connection system (broadband) to improve the internet service of the residents and the enterprises.

2. The second stage, The setting of the services (to do)e-commerce, telemedicine, transport call, tourist services, enterprises services, training services at a distance, tele-work

About broad band, whatLAG is doing

RADIO LINK ALTA TREBBIA VALLEY

Installation example

About services, LAG in working to…

Telemedicine, to develop and test the innovativeapplications based on the use of new technologies ( particularly wireless) for the Telemedicine, so to supply assistance and domestic advice to chronically persons and to the older.

Babyparking,To support families and especially women. LAG worked out two baby-parking in rural areas and another is planning. Older. Dedicated services for old persons live in remote areas, Tele-assistance, cultural activities. New employments to help/use this important human resources.

For the future, we can …

•Keep on improving the exchanges of experiences among mountain areas. Same problems/similar possible solutions.

•Create links among different rural/mountain networks, such as: Leader and Interreg Alpine Space networks.

•Prepare new cooperation projects starting from actual results.

•Prepare the bases for a Strong European Policy of mountain areas, using a massif approach. Political level – not only technical level

Thank you for the attention ☺