Site Management Structure

Two Main Authorities

The organization of the management structure, along with the respective responsibilities, is defined in Annex B of Regional Government Resolution No. 1524 of 08/07/2024 (PDF - 12.5 MB) titled “Regional tasks related to the serial World Heritage site named ‘Evaporitic Karst and Caves of the Tosco-Emilian Apennines’.”

The governance system consists of two main administrative authorities: the Tosco-Emilian Apennines National Park and the Emilia-Romagna Region.

The National Park, in particular, contributes to the coordination of site management by directly administering the component site (cs.) 1 Alta Valle del Secchia, and as the managing body of the “Tosco-Emilian Apennines” Biosphere Reserve, it is also involved in the governance of the UNESCO EKCNA site both through the Memorandum of Understanding and the Collaboration Agreement with the Emilia-Romagna Region (RER).

The Emilia-Romagna Region, on the other hand, ensures the coordination of site management through two regional departments: “Protected Areas, Forests and Mountain Area Development” and “Territorial Protection.” Based on the effects generated by the UNESCO recognition and the subsequent activities related to protection, management, and enhancement of the site, it assesses the possible impacts on its other competencies, such as water resource protection and remediation planning, environmental impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment, the geo-themed information system and environmental thematic mapping, the Regional Territorial Plan and coordination with subregional territorial plans, as well as urban and landscape planning.

In general, the Region:

• programs the resources allocated from the regional budget for the implementation of institutional activities connected to site management;

• organizes the operational structure dedicated to coordinating site management (WH EKCNA focal point);

• establishes the Scientific Committee, based on the Agreement with the National Park;

• submits to the Regional Government for approval or directly approves: the Overall Management Strategy; the Visitor Experience Management Plan; the Coordinated Communication Plan of the site; the three-year plan for conservation, management and enhancement activities; and the periodic reports on the state of conservation of the site as required by the World Heritage Centre;

Moreover, it:

• manages relations with the Institutional Committee, and in particular with the National Park;

• ensures the integration of the goals and objectives set out in the Overall Management Strategy into sectoral planning by acting within its areas of competence.

The Institutional Committee

In addition to the Tosco-Emilian Apennines National Park and the Emilia-Romagna Region, there is an Institutional Committee established based on the Memorandum of Understanding (PDF - 132.4 KB) signed by all territorial actors (Emilia-Romagna Region, National Park, 3 Provinces, 1 Metropolitan City, 9 Territorial Unions, 19 Municipalities, and 3 Management Bodies for Parks and Biodiversity—36 entities in total).

The Institutional Committee serves as the political reference body with an advisory and propositional role, whose functions are to:

• express opinions on the criteria and guidelines of the Overall Management Strategy (OMS);

• formulate proposals regarding the activities, programs, and objectives set by the OMS;

• verify and approve the implementation status of the OMS;

• provide opinions on the three-year planning for conservation, management, and enhancement activities;

• provide guidance and proposals on support activities and the formation of consultative groups of external stakeholders/supporters (i.e., thematic support groups for the site such as UNESCO clubs, speleological, mountaineering, and naturalistic organizations, social volunteering, cultural associations, etc.).