River Agreement
Inspired by two amazing italian researchers, Giorgio Pizziolo and Rita Micarelli, that worked on a participatory process to revitalize another italian river called Panaro, as well as by the European Directive 2000/60/EC Water Framework, and by the European Landscape Convention, we started a troubled dialogue with local Institutions.
After several months of meeting with representatives of local institutions, a document finally has been signed on April 2012, in order to start some steps toward the River Agreement. Signers are municipalities of Adrano, Belpasso, Centuripe, Paternò, Troina, the Province of Enna, the University of Catania - Department of Architecture, and local NGOs (Vivisimeto, Comitato Civico Salute - Ambiente Adrano, Boys and Girls Scouts at Upstream Simeto River, Casa di Maria Association). This document is still open to new signers.
The tree above represented is a metaphor for the River Agreement; it symbolizes the most important steps of the process that has just started.
Roots are history, inhabitants memories, and all elements, material or immaterial, that deserve to be preserved and that are recognized as evidence of heritage and identity. These elements can be defined as Everlasting Landmarks.
Trunk is the structure, it is the regulatory framework for transformations and behaviors, i.e. principles aimed at defining which projects are sustainable and represent a common vision. Rules are, at the same time, the organizational structure of the River Agreement. They have to be intended as adaptive and flexible during the process.
Foliage and fruits are Community Projects; examples of them were already proposed during the Community Mapping and the Participatory Design Workshop. Some of them are: Participatory Monitoring of resources like water and energy (the idea is that inhabitants themselves may start watching at indicators for pollution that can be easily recognized), Ecological Labs with schools, Restoration of sections of the river, Network of Responsible Tourism Operators promoted by different advertising devices, a Museum for the Lively Memory and Traditional Arts&Crafts. These projects must be intended as an opportunity to face the current socio-economic challenges in a balance with environmental issues.
Though there is a wide literature about River Agreements, being some italian experiences ongoing, the aim of next section is to collect a wide variety of cases around the world, in order to start a critical reflection about how to continue working along the Simeto river.
The official site is up to date!
(italian version only)
http://pattosimeto2013.wix.com/pattodelsimeto
Roots are history, inhabitants memories, and all elements, material or immaterial, that deserve to be preserved and that are recognized as evidence of heritage and identity. These elements can be defined as Everlasting Landmarks.
Trunk is the structure, it is the regulatory framework for transformations and behaviors, i.e. principles aimed at defining which projects are sustainable and represent a common vision. Rules are, at the same time, the organizational structure of the River Agreement. They have to be intended as adaptive and flexible during the process.
Foliage and fruits are Community Projects; examples of them were already proposed during the Community Mapping and the Participatory Design Workshop. Some of them are: Participatory Monitoring of resources like water and energy (the idea is that inhabitants themselves may start watching at indicators for pollution that can be easily recognized), Ecological Labs with schools, Restoration of sections of the river, Network of Responsible Tourism Operators promoted by different advertising devices, a Museum for the Lively Memory and Traditional Arts&Crafts. These projects must be intended as an opportunity to face the current socio-economic challenges in a balance with environmental issues.
Though there is a wide literature about River Agreements, being some italian experiences ongoing, the aim of next section is to collect a wide variety of cases around the world, in order to start a critical reflection about how to continue working along the Simeto river.
The official site is up to date!
(italian version only)
http://pattosimeto2013.wix.com/pattodelsimeto
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