24/05/2005 The agreement
on the adoption of solutions aimed at the
adaptation of the port of Trapani ahead of
the preparatory regattas for the America Cup
in September was reached to the satisfaction
of all interested parties in Palermo at the
regional council office for territory and
the environment. The WWF, heavily involved
in the transactions from the outset together
with other environmental associations, was
particularly satisfied. The WWF is also in
charge of the nearby natural reserve of Saline
di Trapani and of the Paceco reserve – the
area which, together with the zone under special
protection established in line to the Habitat
Directive for the Protection of Birds,is affected
by the aforementioned adjustment projects.
Gaetano Benedetto, Deputy Secretary for the
WWF who followed the negotiations from the
beginning commented: “ For the first time
a plan of action was set-up which created
a constructive debate between institutions,
parties with financial interests at stake,
and environmental associations…We are definitely
satisfied with the results obtained not only
because the proposed project is compatible
with the safeguard of the local environment,
but also because a balance was achieved between
the necessity to protect and the need for
economic development and, finally, because
all legal and procedural aspects were respected.
The meetings have already resulted in technical
and legal solutions for the realisation of
the docks which are necessary in view of the
regatta, and an agreement has also been reached
on the construction details of the dam which
will protect the entry to the harbour. What
remained open to the end was the delicate
issue of dredging – the 600.000 cubic metres
of mud can only be moved in an appropriately
restricted area. Only a few days ago, however,
a compromise was reached on this point. The
plan is now to utilise only 7 hectares of
land for this purpose, and the adopted area
is one which has already been degraded owing
to illegal dredging activities in the past.
Thus,no further damage will be done and the
illegally dredged substances, which are by
now dry and compact, will even serve as natural
containers for the mud.
The WWF, which acted in full coordination
with the other environmentalist associations,
hopes that the America Cup planning methodology
shall serve as an example and “school” for
all those situations in which it is necessary,
in the name of sustainability, to reconcile
the interests of conservation with those of
financial nature. The identified solution
foresees two steps: all plans will undergo
an environmental impact valuation and, in
any event, the dredging will be considered
temporary so that it will subsequently be
removed and the affected area will be restored.
Translation by Isabella TrupkeThe agreement
on the adoption of solutions aimed at the
adaptation of the port of Trapani ahead of
the preparatory regattas for the America Cup
in September was reached to the satisfaction
of all interested parties in Palermo at the
regional council office for territory and
the environment. The WWF, heavily involved
in the transactions from the outset together
with other environmental associations, was
particularly satisfied. The WWF is also in
charge of the nearby natural reserve of Saline
di Trapani and of the Paceco reserve – the
area which, together with the zone under special
protection established in line to the Habitat
Directive for the Protection of Birds,is affected
by the aforementioned adjustment projects.
Gaetano Benedetto, Deputy Secretary for the
WWF who followed the negotiations from the
beginning commented: “ For the first time
a plan of action was set-up which created
a constructive debate between institutions,
parties with financial interests at stake,
and environmental associations…We are definitely
satisfied with the results obtained not only
because the proposed project is compatible
with the safeguard of the local environment,
but also because a balance was achieved between
the necessity to protect and the need for
economic development and, finally, because
all legal and procedural aspects were respected.
The meetings have already resulted in technical
and legal solutions for the realisation of
the docks which are necessary in view of the
regatta, and an agreement has also been reached
on the construction details of the dam which
will protect the entry to the harbour. What
remained open to the end was the delicate
issue of dredging – the 600.000 cubic metres
of mud can only be moved in an appropriately
restricted area. Only a few days ago, however,
a compromise was reached on this point. The
plan is now to utilise only 7 hectares of
land for this purpose, and the adopted area
is one which has already been degraded owing
to illegal dredging activities in the past.
Thus,no further damage will be done and the
illegally dredged substances, which are by
now dry and compact, will even serve as natural
containers for the mud.
The WWF, which acted in full coordination
with the other environmentalist associations,
hopes that the America Cup planning methodology
shall serve as an example and “school” for
all those situations in which it is necessary,
in the name of sustainability, to reconcile
the interests of conservation with those of
financial nature. The identified solution
foresees two steps: all plans will undergo
an environmental impact valuation and, in
any event, the dredging will be considered
temporary so that it will subsequently be
removed and the affected area will be restored.
Translation by Isabella Trupke
