Massaciuccoli Lake Contract

Massaciuccoli Lake Contract

Overview

Status: in progress

Categorization: tourism, habitat and biodiversity, cultural heritage, local development, fisheries, water quality

Country: Italy

Period: /

Contact info

Name: Municipality of Massarosa

Organization: Municipality of Massarosa

Email: info@comune.massarosa.lu.it

Contact address: https://partecipa.toscana.it/web/contratto-di-lago-per-il-massaciuccoli https://www.comune.massarosa.lu.it/home/aree-tematiche/ambiente/contratto-lago.html

Summary

Summary description: The Massaciuccoli Lake Contract process started in August 2017 promoted by the Municipality of Massarosa which organized a series of participatory meetings and workshops in the context of the Interreg Maritime IT-FR RETRALAGS. The process aimed at discussing the main topics (water and biodiversity, hydrogeological risk, sustainable development, landscape, governance) with local stakeholders (private and public) in order to build a common knowledge and a strategy for the sustainable integrated management of the lake. In accordance with the guidelines released by the Italian Ministry of the Environment, the Lake Contract process followed the phases: i) subscription of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) listing the reasons for starting the process and the preliminary objectives; ii) development of a Context Analysis on environmental, social and economic aspects; iii) drafting of a Strategic Document defining the medium-long term scenario; iv) definition of an Action Program with a limited time horizon listing for each action: objectives, commitments of the involved stakeholders, timing, and financial resources; v) subscription of a legal-binding commitment (Contract) formalising the decisions shared during the participatory process.

Type: other

EU Challenges for sustainable tourism: (i) preserving and giving value to natural and cultural heritage and diversity, (iii) enhancing local community prosperity and quality of life, (v) limiting the environmental impact of tourism-related transport, (viii) mitigating and adapting to climate change, further challenges

EU Principles: (i) taking a holistic and integrated approach (economic, social and environmental aspects), (ii) planning for the long term, (iii) involving stakeholders, (iv) multilevel governance, (v) promoting awareness and commitment

Reason of interest for COASTING: The Massaciuccoli Lake Contract is a good practice for the application of the Environmental Contract tool in a coastal area.

Financial information

Budget: 430,000.00 €

Financial sources: The Interreg Maritime IT-FR RETRALAGS funded the starting of the governance process.

Background information

Territorial context: The territory affected by the agreement is that of the hydrographic basin of Lake Massaciuccoli, an ecosystem of great importance both from an economic and environmental point of view. The area is part of the Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli Park and includes four areas of naturalistic importance. Also it is a Ramsar area. The basin extends into the coastal area between the mouth of the Serchio river to the south and that of the Camaiore river to the north. The basin is characterized by the presence of a coastal lake surrounded by a vast belt of marsh vegetation, with eutrophic and shallow waters. The plains surrounding the lake basin are located at a very low altitude above sea level, or even below that level, which is why they have been subject to reclamation since 1740. The importance of the area is due to the concomitance of different factors that make up a relevant reality under the landscape and ecological profiles, as well as from the historical and cultural point of view.

Relation to policies and strategies: 92/43/CEE Directive, 2000/118/CE Directive, 2000/60/CE Directive, 2008/56/CE Directive, 2007/60/CE Directive, Piano di Gestione delle Acque, Piano di Gestione Rischio Alluvioni, Strategia Nazionale di adattamento ai cambiamenti climatici, Carta Nazionale dei Contratti di Fiume.

Regulation framework: Italy and Tuscany Region already have a regulatory framework for Environmental Contracts (River/Lake/Wetland). Specifically, the main regulations concerning the Environmental Contracts are: the National Charter of River Contracts (2010) and the National Environmental Code art. 68-bis, the Regional Deliberation n.1026 18/11/2014 with which the Region adhered to the National Charter.

Specific information

Objectives: Common strategic objectives: W.1 Improve water quality W.2 Prevent biodiversity loss caused by pollution, eutrophication, salinization W.3 Monitor and limit the anthropic pressure W.4 Sustainable use of water resources H.1 Reduction of subsidence H.2 Reduction of burials D.1 Promote sustainable agriculture and fishing D.2 Promote sustainable economies D.3 Promote sustainable tourism L.1 Prevent further consumption of land G.1 Awareness raising G.2 Overcome excessive fragmentation among stakeholders G.3 Improve the ability of implement shared decisions G.4 Improve the ability of manage conflicts

Developers (and governance): The coordinator of the Lake Contract is the Municipality of Massarosa.

Beneficiaries: Local communities, farmers, tourists.

Innovation aspects: Multilevel and multistakeholder approach

Actions: The Massaciuccoli Lake Contract process includes a series of participatory activities involving key stakeholders that led to the definition of the Action Plan.

Stakeholders involvement: Parco Regionale Migliarino, Comune di Massarosa, di Vecchiano, di Viareggio, Consorzio di Bonifica Toscana Nord, Autorità di Bacino Distrettuale Appennino Settentrionale, CIA Toscana Nord, Coldiretti Lucca, Associazione Culturale Le Nostre Radici, LIPU, Associazione Ancora in Viaggio, Pro Loco Massarosa, Comitato di Rappresentanza Locale di Massaciuccoli, Italia Nostra Sezione della Versilia

Results achieved: The formal Agreement of the Massaciuccoli Lake Contract (Accordo di Programmazione Negoziata) was signed on 22 March 2019.

Potential for learning and transfer

Challenges and obstacles: N/A

Success factors: Active involvement of key stakeholders.

Transferability in COASTING project: The Massaciuccoli Lake Contract is a best practice for touristic and environmental governance capable of delivering a multi-level, integrated strategic vision for the sustainable development of coastal landscapes.