The events to celebrate International Mountain Day 2024 promoted by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Ministry for Regional Affairs and Autonomies took place in Frabosa Soprana and Frabosa Sottana, small Alpine municipalities in the province of Cuneo, and were an important opportunity to focus on the challenges and opportunities of mountain areas.
One of the main events, the presentation of the “White Book the Mountains”, prepared by UNIMONT, the Alpine hub of the University of Milan, attracted considerable attention. The report offers a detailed picture of the situation of Italian mountain areas analyzed region by region and proposes innovative solutions for their sustainable development.
Professor Anna Giorgi, head of UNIMONT, stated during her speech: “Mountains should not be interpreted as areas of disadvantage and marginality, but as a laboratory of innovation and sustainability, capable of attracting young people and resources. The Strategy for Italian Mountains, envisaged by the new law under discussion, represents a crucial step to transform this vision into reality.”
The Minister for Regional Affairs and Autonomies, Roberto Calderoli, with government delegation for the development of mountain territories, participated in both days of meetings, speaking with institutional representatives, experts, stakeholders, and delegates of national and international organizations.
Another key theme was the discussion on the Legislative Decree for Mountain areas, currently in Parliament, which aims to redefine the administrative boundaries of mountain areas and to establish a specific Strategy for Italian Mountains. Among the main objectives of the law are the improvement of services, support for youth entrepreneurship, environmental conservation and strengthening the dialogue between urban and mountain areas.
Innovation, young people, environment and adaptation to climate change were the main topics of the meetings, in line with the international theme chosen by FAO for 2024: “Mountain solutions for a sustainable future – innovation, adaptation, youth and beyond”.
The event ended with a message of optimism and commitment: mountains can become a model of integrated development, thanks to collaboration between territories, monitoring of good practices and specific policies to enhance its peculiarities. Drastic change is underway, with marginality giving way to the centrality of a unique natural and cultural heritage.
