Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Italy is extremely rich in biodiversity; it has the highest number and density of both animal and plant species within the European Union, as well as a high rate of endemism [ ] 129 Sustainable tourism— pilot intervention in the Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area The tourism sector can be a funda- mental economic activity for many protected areas, but it can cause important environmental impacts, especially if concentrated in limited seasonal periods and on particularly sensitive ecosystems. Therefore, there is a need to move towards tourism forms that respect and protect the en- vironment, ecosystems and biodiver- sity, implementing strategies to mini- mize and manage human impact. The Italian Ministry for the En- vironment promotes the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas, a methodological tool and a certification that allows to involve local stakeholders in the development of sustainable tourism. In this context, many projects have been realized in the protected areas; in particular, the Egadi Project, de- veloped by ENEA and Egadi Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA), has promoted a model of integrated and sustainable management of water resources, the waste cycle and natural resources in all three islands of the Egadi Archipelago. The project made it possible to create a composting plant for the transformation of the organic fraction of separate collection waste into ferti- lizer; the treatment and reuse of waste water and the instalment of a “house of water” fed by photovoltaic panels, to reduce the use of water bottles. In particular, to avoid the residues of Posidonia oceanica, a typical Med- iterranean aquatic plant, remaining on the beach or disposed as common waste, ENEA has patented a proce- dure that allows their replanting on the seabed, with a considerable en- vironmental benefit. This procedure has increased the submerged forests of Posidonia, an eventuality essential for the marine ecosystem because they may absorb high quantities of CO 2 as well as providing an impor- tant habitat for the reproduction of numerous fish species. An environmental quality label, implemented by the Egadi Islands’ MPA, has been created for local companies committed to reducing the environmental impact of their ac- tivities, also with the aim of promot- ing tourism. Up to now 100 operators have the MPA quality label. To carry out this project, ENEA conducted special surveys in col- laboration with the Municipality of Favignana, which also includes the islands of Levanzo and Marettimo, and with the Egadi Islands MPA, protecting and enhancing the largest marine reserve in Europe. Cala Rossa, Favignana, Sicily Italy I n Italy, the protected areas are one of the most important tools for nature conservation, that have also allowed to achieve some important goals of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Italy is one of the richest biodiversity countries in Europe and the system of national/regional protected areas, together with the Natura 2000 network covers an area of 9,474,343ha, affecting 21 per cent of the surfaces and over 19 per cent of the national marine area. The protected areas, in addition to preserving the richness of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, are ideal places to raise awareness on natural and cultural capital and to promote the development of territories enhancing a sustainable and responsible tourism. Luciano d’Angelo