S.E.H. Conservation Committee Blog

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.

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. .
A serious 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 canceled, 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 Societa'
ALTURA Associazione Tutela Rapaci Italiani e loro Ambienti

for further informations,
please contact Andrea Gennai:
Tel.  +39.320.4270842