The UNIMONT Centre of the University of Milan, in collaboration with the Lombardy Region, organized and hosted three days of activities in Edolo as part of the European Strategy for the Alpine Region – EUSALP

On 15^th, 16^th and 17^th June, the UNIMONT Centre of the University of Milan hosted a series of meetings organized in collaboration with the Lombardy Region in the framework of the European Strategy for the Alpine Macro-Region (EUSALP) focused on identifying policies aimed at promoting a sustainable future in mountain areas.

15^th June – Alpine Region Universities for a Green Transition

During this first day of work, the EUSALP Action Group 1 – Research & Innovation, of which Prof. Anna Giorgi is Leader on delegation of the Lombardy Region, met in the presence of various Universities from throughout the Alps to define joint actions to facilitate sustainable development in the Alpine region.

16^th June – EUSALP Policy Workshop: promoting a sustainable future in mountain areas

The meeting was opened by the Rector of the University of Milan Elio Franzini who highlighted the importance of training and innovation for the sustainable development of mountain areas, activities which, thanks to its alliance with local authorities, the University of Milan provides through its UNIMONT centre. Next, the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, highlighted the need to create resources and initiatives to enhance mountain areas and to make them more and more attractive. As part of the event, the Councilor for the Environment and Climate of the Lombardy Region, Raffaele Cattaneo, emphasized the importance of sustainability and innovation as development drivers for future years, and representatives of European and national institutions including the Hon.Alessandro Panza – Member of the Regional Development Commission of the European Parliament, who underlined the need to undertake development policies in the mountains, and Roberto Pella – Deputy Vice President ANCI Nazionale who pointed out the importance of staying and living in the mountains, also contributed.

In the second part of the workshop various experts from universities and research centres belonging to the Alpine area, including Raffaella Balzarini of the Grenoble – Alps University and Linda Osti of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, explained various studies conducted in order to implement functional strategies for the promotion of sustainable mountain tourism.

Young local administrators Gloria Carletti, Lorenzo Giacomino, Francesco Chiabai and Riccardo Omacini concluded the day’s work sharing their experiences and highlighting the challenges and opportunities related to the management of these territories.

17^th June – EUSALP Roadshow: Promoting a sustainable future in mountain areas: future perspectives for tourism

In this third meeting, 25 young people from all over Italy discussed sustainable tourism in the mountains, creating a link with the academic world through an excursion that took place in the Valle delle Messi (BS). Thanks to the insights provided by the experts, the young participants were in fact able to reflect on the future prospects that are outlined for the Alps through a productive exchange of ideas and information. The event was organized in collaboration with the Alpine Convention.