Olive groves of the slopes between Assisi and Spoleto ACTION PLAN FOR THE DYNAMIC PRESERVATION OF THE SITE INDEX 1 METHODOLOGY 2 2 AIMS AND SCOPE OF THE DYNAMIC ACTION PLAN 3 2.1 GENERAL PURPOSE 3 2.2 OBJECTIVES 3 2.3 AREA OF INTEREST 3 3 ACTION PLAN 4 3.1 NEED FOR INTERVENTION AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE MITIGATION OF AREAS OF VULNERABILITY 11 3.2 STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE MITIGATION OF AREAS OF VULNERABILITY 12 3.3 POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION OF THE PROPOSED AREA 15 4 PROPOSAL OF ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INSTITUTION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF GIAHS 37 5 MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF PROGRESS AND THE EFFECTS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN 38 1 1 Methodology The action plan was developed through a participative method that involved the main regional and local institutions. Its definition is based on the preliminary analysis of threats and of the elements of vulnerability that over time risk compromising the existing agroindustrial system. Strategic mitigation plans have been assigned to each threat and area of vulnerability, through a bottom-up planning approach. The latter have the aim of orienting the development and preservation of the olive grove slopes between Assisi and Spoleto along the following directives, in total coherence with the criteria necessarily pertaining to a GIAHS site: - Agroindustrial sustainability of oil production - Preservation of biodiversity - Preservation of know-how and technologies in use on the site - Preservation of crop orientation and historical memory - Preservation of landscape value A Management Committee has been established with the participation of the institutions below who each designated their representative. The Management Committee will manage the implementation of the present Action Plan: - Regione Umbria - Provincia di Perugia - Comune di Trevi - Comune di Assisi - Comune di Spello - Comune di Foligno - Comune di Campello sul Clitunno - Comune di Spoleto - Sviluppumbria Spa - Camera di Commercio di Perugia - CIA UMBRIA - COLDIRETTI UMBRIA - CONFAGRICOLTURA UMBRIA - SLOW FOOD UMBRIA The Management Committee is backed by a Scientific Committee of experts in various fields with the specific function of giving the former’s decision technical and scientific support. The members of the Scientific Committee are the representatives of the following institutions: Comune di Trevi, Bernardino Sperandio; Consiglio dell'Ordine Nazionale dei Dottori Agronomi e dei Dottori Forestali – CONAF, President Andrea Sisti; 2 Villa Fabri foundation, Antonio Boggia; Università degli Studi di Perugia, Facoltà di Agraria, Franco Famiani; CNR Perugia, Representative pending; Regione Umbria, Representative pending; Comune di Foligno, Ezio Palini, Agronomist. The present document gives a general picture of feasible interventions for the preservation of the olive grove slopes between Assisi and Spoleto. It is not exhaustive in nature and can be opportunely implemented in light of social, economic, agricultural, and landscape developments. The Action Plan also aims to establish the monitoring indicators of the Site. 2 Aims and scope of the dynamic action plan 2.1 General purpose Preserving and improving the sustainability of the agricultural systems of the olive grove area between Assisi and Spoleto; promoting biodiversity and guaranteeing, at the same time, the transmission to future generations of the traditional heritage. 2.2 Objectives The above general purpose is declined in the following objectives: 1. Improving the area’s ability to react to ecological and social challenges, and to economic and cultural changes, using endogenous mechanisms; 2. Improving the system’s economic sustainability; 3. Preserving and transmitting knowledge of the area’s agricultural heritage, making the integration of traditional and modern techniques possible so as to guarantee the best management of natural resources. 2.3 Area of interest The dynamic action plan provides for the implementation of strategic measures and plans in response to the threats and challenges observed in the agricultural and environmental system of the olive grove region, which can be activated with national, regional, and local funding, without ruling out private contributions that may arrive in the future. The action plan will be implemented thanks to the involvement of various stakeholders, who are represented in the Management Committee. Its approach is multisector and intergenerational, involving different sectors such as agriculture and tourism, as well as segments of various ages of the population, so as to guarantee the transferal of knowledge. 3 3 Action Plan Threats and challenges: analysis of the main vulnerabilities of the area Social vulnerability: In the table the main demographic indexes for the interested municipalities elaborated by ISTAT (National Statistical Agency) as of January 1, 2017 are reported. The aging index of the resident population represents the increase in the age of the population. It is the percentage ratio between the number of people over sixty-five and the number of people under 14. The active population turnover index is the percentage ratio between the segment of population that is about to retire (60-64) and the one that is about to enter the work force (15-19). The active population is younger the further below 100 the indicator goes. The active population structure index represents the degree of aging of the working population. It is the percentage ratio between the older working population (40-64) and the younger (15-39). Table 1 Main demographic indexes concerning the inhabitants of the Assisi – Spoleto olive grove strip (ISTAT 2017) Active population Active population Municipality Aging index Average age turnover index structure Assisi 185 45 136,3 135 Foligno 186 45 143,4 136 Campello sul Clitunno 215 47 151 158 Spello 203 46 156 153 Spoleto 234 47 160 149 Trevi 175 45 136 140 As per the last census of the population resident in the municipalities of the proposed area, 34% of the population make up the work force, divided between employed work force (30% of the resident population) and work force in search of employment (3% of the resident population). The consistent presence of non-work force population (30% of the resident population) should be considered a vulnerability factor. As you can see from the table, in the entire area a process of population aging is underway, with older workers and a difficult generational turnover of the employed population. The municipalities of Spoleto and Campello sul Clitunno show the highest indexes. 4 Figure Professional condition of inhabitants of applicant municipalities (ISTAT 2011) Figure: Occupation categories of inhabitants of applicant municipalities Vulnerability of the primary sector: 5 Employees of the primary sector are a small percentage of the work force in all the Municipalities of the proposed area; in average, only 4% of the work force is employed in agriculture. The aging of the working population becomes manifest also in the agricultural field. According to the last Agriculture Census (2010), on the farms of the municipalities of the olive grove area 60% of the heads of the companies are over 60; 13% are between 60 and 64; 12% between 65-69; 13% between 70 and 74; 22% over 75. In family-run farms the percentage of workers over 60 is 52%; 13% is between 60-64; 11% between 65 and 69; 11% between 70-74; 17% over 75. The municipalities of Assisi, Foligno, and Spoleto register the highest number of agricultural workers (both heads of companies and laborers) over 75. The SAU (Superficie Agricola Utilizzata, i.e. cultivated agricultural land) trend over the 1982-2010 period shows an overall 14% reduction, with the highest values reached by the municipalities of Spello (-33%) and Spoleto (-28%), while the lowest values are registered in Trevi (-9%) and Foligno (-1%). This contraction is similar to that in other parts of central Italy, while if you consider only the proposed area and not the entire territory of the interested municipalities, the situation seems to be better, a thing which is also confirmed by the VASA analysis (see specific chapter). Figure: Cultivated agricultural land over the 1982-2010 period Environmental vulnerability: From the analysis carried out by the ARPA (Regional agency for environmental protection) over the 2000-2012 period, interesting data emerges on the state of health of the environment and the related dynamics in the area. The varied composition of the territory in both demographical terms and from the point of view of production establishments determines a remarkable variability in environmental conditions. In particular, near the main Municipalities the analysis has in some cases shown conditions of environmental emergency. The analysis of bodies of water monitored over the 2002-2007 period has shown how rivers such as the Topino (monitored upstream from Foligno) have a “good” environmental state, while monitoring stations along the Clitunno in the stretch of the Corno river upstream from the confluence with the Nera have reported, during the monitoring period, deterioration, becoming 6 “sufficient.” Underground water, instead, presents good qualitative traits, though some risks of bacteriological and chemical contamination should be mentioned, mainly owing to anthropic activity. As regards the quality of the air, the available data shows that between 2006 and 2012 there were no significant variations, displaying a constant trend in concentration and limits provided for by the law,