…………………………………………………………………………………… 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 ……………… …… 0 CAPACities SWOT Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………… 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 ……………… …… 1 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 ……………… …… 2 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 ……………… …… 3 CAPACities SWOT Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………… (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 ……………… …… 4 CAPACities SWOT Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………… 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. ……………… …… 5 CAPACities SWOT Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………… 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 ……………… …… 6 CAPACities SWOT Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………… 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