INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP THE ALPS AND THE ARDENNES: SHARING EXPERIENCES AMONG TRANSBOUNDARY MOUNTAIN AREAS Sedan Castle, France, 15-16 September 2014 The European Natural Park of the Maritime Alps Mercantour and the "UNESCO World Heritage" Working Group of the Alpine Convention Unesco Working Group of the Alpine Convention Patrizia Rossi, Parco Alpi Marittime (Chair)
The Alps are in the centre of Europe
The importance of the Alps Range for biodiversity conservation in Europe. In the centre of Europe, rising from the sea level (Mediterranean sea) up to 4810 mt (Mont Blanc, highest elevation in Europe) bridge linking Pyrenees (West) with Balkans and Carpathians (East) refuge: for endemic species during glaciations, now for big carnivores water reservoir for many European people physic/cultural barrier and link at the same time, transit and exchange area lower Alps: first areas inhabited in prehistory. Human induced biodiversity and cultural diversity. Anthropogenically shaped cultural landscape Now: a mosaic of developed areas with heavy infrastructures and wild, impenetrable, reforested areas; that s why conservation and sustainable development are strictly linked in the Alps
The Alpine Convention - International treaty signed in 1991 - Works through protocols for its implementation STRUCTURE: Conference of Parties Permanent Committee Permanent Secretariat Thematic Platforms and Working Groups
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION Adopted in 1972 and signed by 190 State Parties «identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity» 745 cultural properties 188 natural properties 29 mixed properties in 157 State Parties in Europe there are few mountain sites
The UNESCO WORKING GROUP of the Alpine Convention Established in 2007 Mandate assigned by the Alpine Conference Contribute to the harmonisation of the Tentative Lists, Develop the study and definition of OUVs in the Alps on technical scientific basis. Facilitate the exchanges of experiences and the development of proposals for serial transnational and/or transboundary potential nominations in the Alps. Examine the possibilities to use the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and other UNESCO instruments. Communicate and disseminate the results
ACTIVITIES outputs: information on national procedures study document on OUV of the Alps grid
The Grid List of potential properties, grouped according with the themes identified by the 10th Alpine Conference
Meeting UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE HQ Paris 18 2010 January Participants: UNESCO World Heritage Centre Permanent Secretariat of Alpine Convention Presidency of Working group
CONCLUSIONS 1 - The WG is the only existing process for harmonisation of the tentative lists in 8 countries in a well identified biogeografic region, the Alps 3 - The WH Centre has defined it as a best practice and an example to follow for other similar regions 2 - It works implementing a strong ministerial mandate, through the Alpine Convention 4 It s a unique occasion of cooperation between two International Conventions: UNESCO World Heritage and Alpine Convention
Experts meetings: for ranking and upstream processes 1st Expert meeting: World natural Heritage in the Alpine region, Bern, Switzerland, from 14th to 15th December 2010 2nd Expert meeting : World cultural Heritage in the Alpine region, Trieste, Italy, from 2nd to 3rd February 2011 3rd Expert Meeting: Comparative Analysis of Natural sites in the Alpine region, with specific focus on Alpi Marittime/Mercantour, Terme di Valdieri, Italy, from 23rd to 24th July 2012
Situation 12
two sides for the same mountain Mercantour, France, South Alpi Marittime, Italy, North 13
Unity and diversity 14
Starting projects: wildlife management bearded vulture ibex and wolf 15
The steps of cooperation The two parks were established in the 80ies on King Vittorio Emanuele s hunting reserve Twinning: 10 July 1987 European Council Diploma award : 16 October 1993 Partnership Charter signed 6 June 1998 (juridical comparison) Common Action Plan approved october 2006 EGTC established 23/5/2013: EUROPEAN PARK 16
Signature EGTC European Park 23rd of may 2013
The process started with an AGREEMENT PARK-REGION-MIN ENVIRONMENT transfrontier working group for creation of an EGTC following EU Regulation n.1082/2006 Why an EGTC? Management European Funds (INTERREG) Management common projects across the frontier Management UNESCO WH candidature
The proposal came out in 2012 from the experts WS of the Alpine Convention WG: natural tranboundary property criteria viii (tectonic process) and ix (all habitats sequence from Mediterranean sea to the Alps, variety of substrates and climatic conditions, endemic and rare species) THE ALPS OF THE SEA Alpi Marittime/Mercantour Le Alpi del mare
Le Alpi del mare Parc National du Mercantour (France) Parco Alpi Marittime (Italy) Parco del Marguareis (Italy) Parco Alpi Liguri (Italy) Natura 2000 sites (Provincia di Imperia) Villa Hanbury natural and Marine Reserve (Uni Genova) From the Mediterranean sea to 3300 mt in the Alps
Alpi Marittime/Mercantour Le Alpi del mare April 2013: inscription in both Italian and French Tentative Lists as a transboundary natural property; May 2014: signature of an agreement between the EGTC and the other partners for the preparation of the dossier and management. Next steps: Technical: Development of the Comparative Analysis Participation: meetings with all the stakehoders Finalisation of the candidature for 2016 Thanks for your attention!