…………………………………………………………………………………… Alpine Space Programme
CAPAC ities
Competitiveness Actions and Policies for Alpine Cities
Project No. 6-1-1-I
Work package 5.2: DEFINING AN INNOVATIVE AND TRANSNATIONAL APPROACH FOR REPRESENTING AS_SLUC PECULARITIES
SWOT ANALYSIS FOR PILOT AREA Valle Varaita and Saluzzo Piedmont
Authors: Andrea Bocco, Paolo Zeppetella
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SWOT ANALYSIS FOR PILOT REGION: © Piedmont Region 2010
ANALYSIS: Andrea Bocco (Turin Polytechnic), Paolo Zeppetella (Piedmont Region)
PHOTOGRAPH : Turin Polytechnic
TRANSLATORS:
DESIGNER: Jerneja Fridl
PROJECT PART-FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION ……………… ……
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CAPACities SWOT Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………… ABLE OF CONTENTS T 1 INTRODUCTION ...... 3
2 SWOT ANALYSIS ...... 3
2.1 Settlement and Geographical Questions ...... 3
2.2 Economic Questions ...... 4
2.3 Social Questions ...... 6
2.4 Environmental Questions ...... 7
2.5 Institutional Questions ...... 8
3 REFERENCES ...... 10
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CAPACities SWOT Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………… INTRODUCTION 1 The SWOT analysis presented in the following pages is the synthesis of a complex set of analysis carried out (and partly still in process) by Regione Piemonte on its Pilot areas, with the scientific support of Turin Polytechnic. The basic sources for this synthesis are three:
1. a collection of an high number of quantitative data on morphology, ecology, demography, economy, social dynamics, infrastructures, services etc.;
2. the analysis of the main planning and programming instruments that are currently operating on the areas concerned, both at a regional and at a local scale;
3. the results of an ongoing participation process, through which local subjects (different kinds of public authorities, private stakeholders, organised citizens' groups and so on) have been questioned in order to define an insider view on the main characters of the Pilot areas.
The synthesis presented here is thus the result of both quantitative and qualitative analysis that will be better presented in Regione Piemonte WP6 outputs.
SWOT ANALYSIS
2 2.1 Settlement and Geographical Questions
CAPACities SWOT ANALYSIS: SETTLEMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONS
STRENGTHS
diversity of landscapes, from the plain to Monviso
morphology, climate, soil fertility, exposure and abundance of water have always facilitated the development of a qualified agriculture Saluzzo as a “hinge” between plain and mountain: it is the place where incoming fluxes are sorted and access door to the highlands, therefore playing a strategic role in the territorial structure WEAKNESSES peripheral ubication with respect to communication lines: links to motorway network are via provincial road no. 662 Saluzzo-Savigliano ……………… ……
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(to A6) and regional road no. 589 Pinerolo-Saluzzo-Cuneo (to A55); Agnello pass (to France) is open just a few months per year; Saluzzo- Savigliano and Saluzzo-Cuneo railway lines, single-track and diesel traction, suffer trip cuts and remarkable infrastructural limitations. Both main external communication axes are weak
the length of the valley (nearly 60 km.) contributes to the isolation of its upper part extensive urban sprawl, particularly a ribbon-like conurbation at the piedmont, along regional road no. 589. This causes intense consumption of highly-productive agricultural soil, traffic congestion, landscape degradation, pollution, and car accidents. Saluzzo-Manta– Verzuolo conurbation and its finger in low Varaita valley is now a built continuum which definitely separates the hilly area from the plain. Mid- and highlands gravitate towards such conurbation. Also on the two sides of Saluzzo-Costigliole road factories have been built on all available land
OPPORTUNITIES
the valley isolation has somehow preserved landscapes and cultural and natural heritage integrity, which thus constitute a valuable resource for future developments
THREATS
marginality might become a permanent character if measures are not taken for strengthening the links between the Valley and the plane, and mostly with the city of Saluzzo, in terms of infrastructures and services but also of common development policies
CHALLENGES
the main challenge the Pilot Project area has to face for what settlement questions are concerned is the turnabout of the consolidated unbalances – extensive sprawl in the valley floor and depopulation of the mountainsides and of the highest parts of the valley
2.2 Economic Questions
CAPACities SWOT ANALYSIS: ECONOMIC QUESTIONS
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STRENGTHS
water resources, much exploited both for energy production (hydroelectric stations) and agriculture (irrigation) great wood manufacturing tradition (furniture’s), historically recognised excellence persistence of high quality agricultural productions (the plain around Saluzzo and part of Varaita valley are the most relevant fruit production pole in Piedmont) constantly growing tourism, based on cultural, gastronomic, environmental and mountain-sport destinations, to be integrated with Cuneo and Alba tourist circuits. Great development potential, particularly in high-valley
WEAKNESSES
wood as a raw material is prevailingly of foreign origin. Local forests are underexploited because of difficult access, low productivity and fragmentation of land ownership
wood manufacturing tradition is in crisis: it does not exploit local resources (the wood for handicraft enterprises mostly comes from Easter Europe), many enterprises are family-based and younger generations tend not to replace the oldest ones, there is a lack of cooperation between enterprises
weakness of the economic activity induced by tourism; local resources are largely underexploited. Mountain tourism is mainly a summer activity, particularly in holiday houses
OPPORTUNITIES
the creation of a Forest management consortium in the territories of Maira valley (leader), Po-Bronda-Infernotto valleys, Varaita valley, and Grana valley has been envisaged; such an organisation could help overcoming difficulties in exploiting local wood resources
THREATS
two main threats can be foreseen: 1) the absence of specific policies might accelerate the depopulation of the highest part of the valley, and this could endanger any development opportunity; 2) the absence of coordination among economic and institutional actors might create unbalances in local development, with single interesting projects or investments that are not linked with their context, and that will thus not generate positive externalities. ……………… ……
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CHALLENGES
two main challenges characterise Varaita valley for what economic development is concerned: 1) a better integration with the city of Saluzzo and its neighbouring towns, both for what development policies definition and governance structures creation/strengthening are concerned; 2) a more efficient exploitation of local resources, especially for what the supply of row materials to local industries is concerned
2.3 Social Questions
CAPACities SWOT ANALYSIS: SOCIAL QUESTIONS
STRENGTHS
quite strong local identity, with the persistence of long-term traditions (like the “Baìo”, a festival commemoring the expulsion of Saracens invaders in the Xth century) and local languages (Occitan in some parts of the valley, Piemontese in others)
WEAKNESSES
overall stable demography, but as a result of two opposed tendencies: depopulation of mountain areas; notable, continuous growth of piedmont and low-valley communities. Most of production, trade, and services are located there; immigrants come basically from the highlands, where just a few thalweg towns are still alive. This phenomenon has important consequences on employment, public services, and maintenance of environment and buildings. This problem might be opposed by: integrated exploitation of natural and cultural assets, including training and research activities; enlargement of protected areas and exploitation of forests and pastures; settlement of crafting and typical food-producing activities in the mid-valley low educational levels, also because of the migration of qualified students
OPPORTUNITIES
potential high quality of life if material resources (environment, features of traditional settlements, renewable energy sources) are ……………… ……
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exploited
THREATS
difficulties in transmitting local culture to younger generations might endanger them, with traditional know-hows that are in danger of disappearance
at the same time traditional culture and a strong local identity could easily become a barrier “protecting” from the outside, thus increasing the isolation from external social and cultural influence
the vicious circle depopulation - aging population - less income for the Municipalities – less services delivered – minor attractiveness can become an insurmountable obstacle for any local development
CHALLENGES
the constant depopulation of the higher part of the Valley poses severe questions to the social stability of the Pilot Project area, the main challenges being: in the short term, how to guarantee a satisfactory level of services delivered, and in the longer term how to attract new population
2.4 Environmental Questions
CAPACities SWOT ANALYSIS: ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS
STRENGTHS
abundance of woods, particularly in mountain areas, constantly increasing. Beech, larch and cembra woods, mostly public property, represent more than one third of the total. Woods are one of the major attractions for mountain tourism. The Bosco dell’Alevè Park includes the highest cembra wood in Europe. Firewood market is strong in mid-valley integrity of natural environment. This constitutes a key attraction factor both for quality and eco-compatible tourism (which is considered the major development opportunity for the area), and for settlement of new residents and enterprises, as an alternative to less favourable conditions in neighbouring areas
WEAKNESSES land property is very fragmented, also due to the fact that many owners migrated in the past and their descendants are now hard to ……………… ……
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find; this phenomena makes it difficult for public bodies to provide an efficient system of forestal management
depopulation and economic structure changes have caused the abandonment of agricultural fields and of pastures in the highest areas of the Valley. This situation generates two main side effects: on the one side there’s a huge natural reafforestation, while on the other side the decreased presence of human activities on the mountainsides has increased the difficulties in guaranteeing territorial maintenance (paths are cancelled, terracing are coming down, and so on)
OPPORTUNITIES
a new Regional law on forestall planning (approved in 2009) should allow a more efficient territorial management, also supporting the creation of ad hoc consortia
THREATS
without huge and coordinated investements, both public and private, it might be very difficoult to reverse the trend of adandonment of mountainsides, with possible negative effects also on slopes stability
CHALLENGES
due to lack of public financial resources, the management of environment seems to depend on new forms of public-private partnership; the main challenge seems thus to create new structures (for example consortia at a inter-municipal level) that can handle this issue in a economically sustainable manner
2.5 Institutional Questions
CAPACities SWOT ANALYSIS: INSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS
STRENGTHS
interconnection and elaboration of common projects with neighbouring French region of Queyras. Mountain areas are very active in integrated programming, also thanks to the role played by the Mountain Community ……………… ……
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the governance networks settled up for the design of integrated projects in the past years seem to have diffused and rooted a more cooperative and intersectorial approach to policy design among local stakeholders, and especially among public institutions
WEAKNESSES
there is still a high degree of parochialism among local actors, and quite often each little Municipality has a "self-centred" approach for what local development is concerned. This is particularly evident in the field of tourism policies, scarcely coordinated and even less integrated
the relation between local institutions and the higher level ones (Province, Region, State) is too often a one-way system: the latest offer from time to time opportunities (typically financial resources) and define the way they can be exploited (which kind of activities or interventions can be financed), while quite rarely things happen the other way round (local stakeholders asking for specific measures and resources for answering local needs)
OPPORTUNITIES
newly approved integrated programmes like the "PIT Monviso" (a three-years long 10 millions Euro Alcotra project that will finance a wide set of actions in the field of tourism, environmental resources valorisation, economic development, training etc.) might help local stakeholders in making cooperative behaviours a permanent habit in policy making, especially when (and if) the concrete results of such projects will become visible (new tourist fluxes, new small economic activities, etc:)
THREATS
the newly designed Po Bronda, Infernotto and Varaita Valleys Mountain Community, which includes 29 municipalities instead of the 14 of the old Varaita Valley Mountain Community, might have a negative effect on local governance networks, especially if it will become a "political" institution rather than a development agency supporting local communities and integrating their policies
CHALLENGES
if the main critical aspect for what institutional issues are concerned is the weakness of governance network, then the main challenge seems to be reinforcing them through a bottom-up approach, i.e. addressing a long-term change in mentality and encouraging a cooperative, intersectorial and inter-institutional approach to public policies. This should not necessarily mean creating new formally- ……………… ……
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defined institutions, but rather strengthen and make permanent the informal and flexible structures that are already operating, like the Major's Conference that has addressed the definition of the last integrated programmes and policies
REFERENCES 3
NOTE: Since many of the sources for this document are draft papers or intermediate reports produced in the framework of CAPACities, no references will be noted here. A detailed bibliography will be produced in the coming months.
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