Beyond the cities, a rich and varied natural heritage
Bologna, Parma... The cities of Emilia-Romagna are well known on the European and world stage for their beautiful architectural heritage, which makes Italy famous as a land of history and distant legacies. But the rich northern part of the country is also an ideal area for holidays in the heart of a varied and beautiful nature. Mountains, plains, coastline, it's simple, there's something for everyone and the region has plenty to surprise. Among the national parks in Italy, the Casentinesi Forest is one of the most important in Emilia-Romagna. Created in 1993, it is divided between Romagna and neighbouring Tuscany. Here you can walk through primary forests full of beech trees, some of which are among the oldest in Europe. It isalso in the middle of all this greenery and relief that we find the Ridracoli dam, with the Diga di Ridracoli, a turquoise artificial lake that stands out from the surrounding greenery. The National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines is a mountainous territory with the highest peak at 2000 m. Here you can see rocky walls, wooded ridges and vegetation, which includes some endemic species such as Primula appenis, revealing rivers, lakes and waterfalls here and there. Not forgetting the fauna present: wolves, fallow deer, rattles, golden eagles have been living here for a very long time. Emilia-Romagna is also about water, as you can see when you walk through the Po Delta Regional Nature Park and walk along the marshes and salt marshes. The biosphere is so rich that the reserve has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. And then there is the coastline along the Adriatic, the holiday destination for those who want to enjoy the joys of the beach and the sea. The Romagna Riviera boasts typical seaside landscapes, and seaside resorts have multiplied to become the meeting place for holidaymakers of all origins.Environmental challenges are present
As a fertile and productive region, Emilia-Romagna faces different types of ecological challenges, especially since industrialization in the 19th century. Among the various problems present in the region, first of all there has been deforestation, causing soil erosion, and unfortunately new trees have not always been replanted. Agricultural pollution has also been debated with a nitrogen surplus that has often been above European standards in the region. Not forgetting the cities, which did not hesitate to discharge waste water directly into the sea until the early 2000s due to the lack of treatment plants. Finally, the presence of kilometres of beaches is a constant ecological challenge, wherever you are, because when there is a lot of human traffic in season, there is also a need to protect the sand and the sea from waste.
It would be wrong to think that the Italian authorities have turned a blind eye and shown laxity, since measures have been put in place to reduce the impact of industrial and agricultural activities on the environment. One example is the fact that under Italian legislation, and the weight of European directives, industries are now accountable in terms of emissions. At the agricultural level, in 1999 the Italian government published a code of good agricultural practices to encourage the country's large farms, particularly those in the Po basin, to adopt practices that are more respectful of nature. While efforts must be maintained and everything is far from perfect, the authorities' willingness to remain attentive to the environment is also illustrated by the decisions taken in 1986 to ban atrazine and to renew pesticide declarations following the massive contamination of drinking water in northern and central Italy by herbicides.The modes of action today
Environmental concerns are present everywhere in the world and are growing in an era of global warming and its adverse effects on nature and humans. To meet these challenges, the Quality Control label was created in the Emilia-Romagna region, for a production method that protects man and the environment. It includes compliance with standards such as the limited and selective use of fertilisers, land use that safeguards the nutritional values of the soil, and compliance with these standards is verified by certification bodies recognised by the Emilia-Romagna Region. The agricultural enterprises that adhere to these standards choose production methods that are more respectful of the environment and human health. Today, Emilia-Romagna holds the European record for agri-food certification.
In the city, Bologna launched an initiative in 2017 to encourage inhabitants to reduce car travel and to favour walking, cycling and public transport. Through an application, BetterPoints, residents and tourists can enter their own journeys and collect points which they can then use to collect a reward (ice cream, beer, etc.) in one of the member shops. This initiative generated 16,000 rewards in the year of launch and could be a model for other Italian cities.
And as further proof that Italy is seeking to become ever more involved in environmental protection, in 2020 the country became the first country in the world to make it compulsory to study global warming and sustainable development at school, with 33 hours of classes each year. Raising awareness among the youngest: the best way for the country to involve the actors of tomorrow.
