Luca Lodatti - Veneto Region Mauro Varotto - University of Padua THE ALPTER PROJECT:

1. Luca Lodatti - Veneto Region Mauro Varotto - University of Padua THE ALPTER PROJECT: MIDDLE LANDSCAPES, FROM PROBLEM TO RESOURCE Locorotondo 11th International Congress of Dry-stone Walling – November 7th 2008

3. PROJECT ALPTER – TERRACED LANDSCAPES OF THE ALPINE ARC INTERREG III B Alpine Space is an initiative that aims at promoting interregional cooperation in the European Union (period 2000-2006). It is co-financed in the framework of the European Fund for Regional development. PROJECT ‘ALPTER’ - www.alpter.net A project for study and restoration of the terraced agricultural areas in the Alps. Aimed at enlarging the territorial knowledge, developing tools for promotion of disfavored areas and hazard. • Some results : • A common method for the analysis of terraced sites. • A network linking different experiences of study and recovery in EU terraced areas. • Integrated projects of recovery and revitalization of terraced abandoned areas. Partnership: Regione Veneto (Lead Partner) Regione Liguria (I) Regione Valle d’Aosta (I) IREALP (Sondrio - I) Universität BOKU (Vienna - A) University of Ljublijana (SLO) Dep. Alps Maritimes (F) Regione Bregaglia (CH) In collaboration wirh UNESCO

4. ALPTER Project Study Areas

5. TERRACED LANDSCAPES AS “MIDDLE LANDSCAPES” • Terraced sites are among the most significant (and fragile) semi-natural habitats, a combination of natural and cultural heritage. • They are based on anthropic equilibrium, which requires human inputs in order to be kept. • Their intermediacy regards also different fields, like social, environmental and economical aspects private property social values community artificial spaces environmental values natural environments monoculture economic values self-sustainment agriculture

6. TERRACED LANDSCAPES as „MIDDLE LANDSCAPES“ with regard to NATURE and ENVIRONMENT: Natural Artificial Wilderness Intensive cultivation Biodiversity Monoculture Semi-natural habitat High-biodiversity agriculture M.C. Escher, Day and Night, 1938 M.C. Escher, Day and Night, 1938

7. TERRACED LANDSCAPES as „MIDDLE LANDSCAPES“ with regard to SOCIETY and SIMBOLIC VALUES: Private Public Individual Collective Authonomy Interdependence Semi-private Collective works M.C. Escher, Day and Night, 1938

8. TERRACED LANDSCAPES as „MIDDLE LANDSCAPES” with regard to ECONOMY and PRODUCTION : Subsistence Economy Modern monofunctionality Polycolture Monoculture Hand techniques Mechanization Multifunctionality Modern polycolture M.C. Escher, Day and Night, 1938

9. The many threats to terraced landscapes The ‘Middle landscapes’ are threatened by all the processes towards opposite extremes:

10. Threats to terraced landscapes The Productivity Diktat

11. Threats to terraced landscapes The Urban Sprawl

12. Threats to terraced landscapes Abandonment and Wilderness

13. Intermediacy as a value of ‘middle landscapes’ The environmental and economical balance between the opposite extremes is a value: recognizing this character of the terraced landscapes means recognizing their importance. The terraced landscapes are a balanced setting at various levels: environmentally (man/nature), socially (private/common), economically (production/sustenance)They are a historical example of what is nowadays called ‘Sustainable land management’After recognizing their value, the necessity of supporting them emerges from local and international subjects

14. NEW ATTENTION FOR THE TERRACED LANDSCAPES • (Earth Summit Rio 1992 – Agenda 21, cap. 34) • 1987-2008: SPS Societé internationale pour l’etude de la Pierre Sèche - Drystone Walling Congress • 1997: ONU Programme against desertification • 1998: IPOGEA (UNESCO) • 1999: ‘Cinque Terre’ in the World Heritage • 2000: European PATTER Project • 2001: White Book of Italian Touring Club (Un paese spaesato) • 2003: PROTERRA (Swiss Found. for Landscape Prot.) • 2004: TERRISC Project • 2005: ALPTER Project • 2005: REPS Project • Specific research programmes (IT: AGEI, IMONT, SIGEA) • Eco-museums of terraces (Cortemilia, Valstagna)

15. The strategy of the ALPTER Project 1. Knowledge (Inventory, Mapping, Analysis) 2.b Promotion strategies: • Productive recovery • Tourist promotion • Enhancement of social value 2.a Promotion, not protection (active use vs ‘monumentalization’)

16. Example of activities of the ALPTER ProjectResearch and policies in Veneto

17. BRENTA RIVER VALLEY, VENETO, ABOUT 1950

18. ALPTER Project Study Areas

19. WORKERS IN A TOBACCO FIELD

20. EXAMPLE OF TERRACED LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT: BRENTA RIVER VALLEY, MID ’70s

21. EXAMPLE OF TERRACED LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT: BRENTA RIVER VALLEY, 2006

22. ALPTER Analysis activities (2005- 2007) Detailed Map of terraces in the study area (scala 1:25000) Work steps Start: Official Regional Topomap 1st step: Aerial photos (1967) 2st step: Survey on the ground Elaboration: University of Venice Results: Cartographic base the local Municipalities and the planners

24. Terrazzamenti Prato Bosco Pascolo Pascolo misto Incolto Edifici 1834 Terrazzamenti a orti Bosco Edifici Non disponibile 2000 Terrazzamenti Prato Bosco Pascolo Pascolo misto Incolto Edifici Non disponibile 1960 • Historical cadastre • (scale 1:25000) • Examined documents: • Austrian Cadastre - 1830 • Present Cadastre - 1990 • Elaboration: Univ. of Padua • State Archive of Bassano • On the right, comparison • between land uses: • - Land use in 1830 • - Land use in 1960 • - Present time (aerial photos)

25. Data collection for 17 sites Data sheets Common format to all the ALPTER project areas

26. Projects for management of some sites, in collaboration with the local Municipalities

27. Example of restoration and management project : Mattietti and 22 Hours Hill Higher settlement - Presently abandoned • Planning and design foreseeing sustainable technologies: • - Solare panels • Water collection systems • Passive buildings • Monorail • The higher part of the settlement has been conceived as self-sufficient Linking path - Well preserved Lower settlement - Inhabited

28. New Master Plan of the Valley Guidelines for landscape management With the support of the local administrations and of the planners, a classification of different typologies of terraced areas and related guidelines have been included in the new Master Plan

29. Establishment of financial support instruments • Proposal for integration of the Regional Rural Development Plan (EU Funds for Agriculture) • Meetings with the regional government for a funding measure for rural landscape • From 2009 to 2013, co-funding opportunities for landscape-related activities • Promotion strategies: • Productive recovery • Tourist promotion • Enhancement of social value

30. Who can restore and live in this terraced areas? Beside the local inhabitants, this is an area populated by immigrants who works in the plains and rent a house here. Resident population Immigrants/Residents Ratio for young people Immigrants/Residents Ratio: Higher than Italian average

31. “The stone refused by the builders has become a key stone ”

32. Thank You! www.alpter.net info@alpter.net