The Green Flags
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More and more Green Flags fly over the Alps.
Also in 2021, the number of banners assigned by Legambiente to innovative practices and experiences of environmental and cultural quality in high-altitude territories is growing: there are 18 this year, double the nine Black Flags symbolically conferred, instead, to practices harmful that cause lacerations in the mountain territory.
The 2021 Green Flags are distributed as follows: five in Piedmont, two in Valle d'Aosta, one in Lombardy, three in Alto Adige, two in Trentino, two in Veneto, three in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The winning situations have as protagonists "the youngest and their return to their homeland, the strenuous defense of a unique heritage threatened by human actions and / or the effects of climate change, attention to biodiversity and vocation territories, the development of inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial activities ".
Exactly half are the Black Flags distributed by Legambiente - two in Piedmont, one in Lombardy, one in Alto Adige, one in Trentino, two in Veneto, two in Friuli. According to the NGO, they point out "the evergreen attempts to establish models of tourism and exploitation of the territory that are now out of time, completely incompatible with the sustainable development objectives essential for the future of our Alps".
The 18 good practices awarded this year by Legambiente are added to those of previous years, for a total of 226 Green Flags. A real network that since 2002 has grown stronger throughout the Alps.
Five Green Flags awarded in Piedmont: to the Gesso and Stura Natural Park (CN), to the Piccolo Carro ODV Association of Chiaverano (TO, to the PEFC Group of Pinerolese - Legno Locale (TO / VCO), to the Young facilitators of the RIFAI network of the Valley Stura (CN).
On the other hand, two green banners were awarded in Valle d'Aosta: to the joint purchase group A TUTTO GAS-PSM (AO, to Matteo Alberti, organizer of outdoor events, and to the Pro Loco of Valgrisenche (AO).
A Green Flag also waves in Lombardy, assigned to the ASFO (land association) Valli delle Sorgenti (VA).
Two Green Flags have been awarded in Veneto: to the Municipality of Livinallongo del Col di Lana (BL) and to Federico Sordini, an entrepreneur from the Belluno area who produces clothing with organic wool and certified against mistreatment.
Two green banners also attributed in Trentino: to the BrennerLEC Project and to the Women in Campo Trentino Association.
Three Green Flags awarded in South Tyrol: to the Plattform LAND / Platform;
to the Province of Bolzano and the Pro Landscape South Tyrol Foundation.
Finally, three Green Flags have been assigned in Friuli Venezia Giulia: to the Dogna municipal administration;
at Lis Aganis, Regional Ecomuseum of the Friulian Dolomites;
to Elisa Manig, a local entrepreneur.
The Black Flags
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On the other hand, there are nine Black Flags which, according to Legambiente, "signal the lacerations of the Alpine territory, useless and harmful practices, many of which have been contested for decades".
Two Black Flags have been awarded in Piedmont: to the Municipality of Limone and the Limone On (CN) business network for the Montecarlo-Limone helicopter air taxi initiative;
to the president of the Mountain Union of the Municipalities of the Eastern Biellese (BI) and the Piedmont Region for a project for an artificial snow-making basin within the SIC and ZCS Valsessera.
In Lombardy, Black Flag to the Municipality of Corteno Golgi (BS) for the renunciation of the protection of the Valli di Sant'Antonio Nature Reserve in favor of private interests, with an agreement for the reduction) of the SAC area.
Two Black Flags in Veneto, to the Municipality of Malcesine (VR) for having granted private individuals the use of an area of particular environmental and naturalistic value for the construction of an 18-meter cross on Monte Baldo for purely commercial purposes;
to the Veneto Region which continues to pursue the project of the so-called "Carosello no-car of the Dolomites", a large ski area in the heart of the Unesco Dolomites area.
In the list of the assignees of Black Flags there is also the Autonomous Province of Trento, for a reorganization resolution of the Provincial Agency for the Environment (APPA) which according to Legambiente weakens all its technical and control activities.
A black banner also in Alto Adige, to the Board of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano which approved the expansion of the Bolzano airport: to the Tarvisian Tourist Consortium for the review of rock concerts organized in the locality of the Fusine Lakes, with an impact not indifferent to the fragile mountain ecosystems.
Finally, a black flag in Friuli Venezia Giulia at the Regional Tourism Department, Promoturismo FVG and the Municipality of Chiusaforte for the project to restore ski slopes and facilities in Sella Nevea, in an area located below what is defined as LAN - line of snow reliability for tourism purposes.
