Increase in Italy i rural municipalities who implement land management strategies that benefit the environment and the quality of life of the entire community. This is attested by the assignment of Green Spikes 2022 national program of FEE – Foundation for Environmental Education, the organization that releases the Blue Flag recognition for coastal resorts in the world.
This year, the number of rural localities that will be able to boast of the recognition has risen to 63 Green Spikes 2022, compared to 59 last year: 7 are the new entries, 3 are the unconfirmed Municipalities.
Green ears it is a tool for enhancing our rural heritage, rich in natural and cultural resources, also with a view to employment. In order for the program to achieve maximum results, two essential elements are needed: the willingness of the municipal administration to start a process of improvement and the participation of the community and businesses, especially agricultural ones, in its implementation.
To bring rural municipalities to the gradual adoption of the Spighe Verdi scheme, the FEE Italia foundation has shared a set of indicators with Confagricoltura capable of capturing land management policies and directing them towards criteria of maximum attention to sustainability.
The procedural process, ISO 9001-2015 certified, guided the evaluation of the applications, allowing the Evaluation Commission to achieve the final result. In the working group, the contribution of various institutional bodies was important, including the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies; the Ministry of Tourism; the Ministry of Ecological Transition; ISPRA and Confagricoltura.
Some indicators taken into consideration were: the public participation; education for sustainable development; the correct use of the land; the presence of typical agricultural productions; sustainability and innovation in agriculture; the quality of the tourist offer; the existence and degree of functionality of the purification plants; waste management with particular regard to differentiated waste collection; the valorisation of any naturalistic areas present in the territory and of the landscape; the care of street furniture; accessibility for all without limitations. These are just some of the indicators that guide the program and that will be susceptible to changes, with a view to continuous improvement and maximum involvement of the Italian Municipalities. Also confirmed this year among the AGRIcoltura100 indicators, created by Confagricoltura and Reale Mutua which rewards sustainable companies.
Agriculture has a priority role in the Spighe Verdi programme, as this is where the real cultural revolution must take place. From this need arises the collaboration with Confagricoltura and the other institutional partners.
Green ear municipalities: 63 virtuous ones, Piedmont is the first region of Italy
Le Green Spikes 2022 they have been assigned in 13 Regions. The Piemonte obtains the highest number of awards with 10 Spighe Verdi: Alba, Bra, Canelli, Centallo, Cherasco, Guarene, Monforte d'Alba, Pralormo, Santo Stefano Belbo, and Volpedo. Immediately after Marche, with 9 awarded locations: Esanatoglia, Grottammare, Matelica, Mondolfo, Montecassiano, Montelupone, Numana, Senigallia, Sirolo. The recognitions are increasing in Puglia with 8 Municipalities Spighe Verdi: Andria, Bisceglie, Castellaneta, Carovigno, Ginosa, Ostuni, Pietramontecorvino, Troia. Follows the Toscana with 7 awards: Bibbona, Castellina in Chianti, Castiglione della Pescaia, Castagneto Carducci, Fiesole, Grosseto, Massa Marittima. With 7 locations follows the Calabria: Belcastro, Crosia. Montegiordano, Roseto Capo Spulico, Santa Maria del Cedro, Sellia, Trebisacce. The number of o'clock reaches 5 Green ears in Umbria: Deruta, Montefalco, Norcia, Scheggino, Todi. There are 5 locations in the Lazio: Canale Monterano, Gaeta, Pontinia, Rivodutri, Sabaudia. Also there Campania gets 5 awards: Agropoli, Ascea, Capaccio Paestum, Massa Lubrense, Positano. Veneto boasts two localities: Montagnana and Porto Tolle. There are also two Municipalities in Liguria: Lavagna and Sanremo. There is a Spiga Verde rural municipality in Abruzzo (Tortoreto), in Emilia-Romagna (Parma), in Lombardy (Sant'Alessio con Vialone).
Spighe Verdi Certification: rewards the commitment of citizens, entrepreneurs and administrators for a cultural change
Claudio Mazza, president of FEE Italy, the increase in the number of Municipalities that have obtained the Spighe Verdi certification it is a “sign that clearly shows the determined will of administrators and citizens to be ready for the challenges that the transition imposes. Spighe Verdi is a program 'that calls to action', which calls for a continuous and radical commitment from each citizen or entrepreneur or local administrator, each called to do his or her part on the issues and timing of sustainability, in a virtuous circle of necessary and interconnected actions. At a time when administrations are also called to deal with natural disasters, sudden climatic changes, environmental and health emergencies, a Spiga Verde certified municipality certainly has a way of working and managing the territory, in which everyone is the protagonist of good practices environmental and virtuous behaviors that not only make the difference but that over time make possible the cultural change we need".
And for Massimiliano Giansanti, President of Confagricoltura the FEE program demonstrates how the value of farmers' work is understood and certified. The award certifies the ability of the sector, which has contributed to preserving and enhancing municipalities with a strong agricultural vocation, as a tourist, cultural and food and wine attraction. "Green" realities capable of innovating, of being attentive to sustainability and care of the territory, presiding over it and ensuring correct environmental, tourist, cultural and food and wine management, so much so as to deserve this important recognition ".
