Integrated territorial strategies for the mountainous and internal areas
About this good practice
Emilia-Romagna Region gives significant importance to the development of the rural areas, which encounter widespread dynamics of depopulation, lower economic and employment growth, environmental and infrastructural vulnerability, connectivity under-provision, lack of public and private services. So, the 2021-27 Regional Strategic Document, provides for a policy system for mountain and rural areas, directing the European resources towards the municipalities of the Lower Ferrara and mountainous ares of Apenines.
The Region has implemented an integrated territorial strategy instrument for mountain and inland areas (STAMI). This tool consists in the Development of Territorial Strategies in coherence with the strategic vision shared at regional level through the chain of programming tools (Pact for Work and Climate, Regional Strategy Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, Regional Strategic Document, S3 strategies, Programs ERDF and ESF+).
The depopulation that characterizes the inland and coastal rural areas causes the progressive reduction of the territorial presence: reduction of the territory, under-utilization of natural resources, abandonment of buildings for residential and productive use, desertification of public services and private. The enhancement of available resources requires the construction of innovative projects capable of grasping the specific potential of the areas; they originate from desires, talents, abilities of the local communities and young people.
Resources needed
The resources allocated to the lines of intervention related to the STAMI amount overall to approximately 91 million Euros, most of which come from the ERDF AND ESF+ referring to the 2021-2027 Programming Period.
Evidence of success
The instrument involves, on different levels, local authorities and economic and social delegates which pursue the purposes of individual territories by sharing resources and commitments.
1) it mobilises areas by sharing choices for the achievement of common goals
2) it grants the leading role of local authorities and local communities in the 2021-2027
3) it promotes a multi-level governance and the full involvement of local partnerships
4) it adopts a multi-objective and multi-fund approach
Potential for learning or transfer
STAMI instrument is useful to fund the sectorial transition towards a greener economy and more resilient thanks to calls also addressed to companies in the agri-food and aquaculture sector in order to allow them to create more opportunities and diversify the economy offer from a traditional sector to a more innovative and digitalized one. At the moment there are no specific examples as it is being implemented, but there has been a lot of positive feedback from potential local beneficiaries.
Therefore, it can be considered a good practice since it focuses on helping disadvantaged areas (as our area target, coastal and nearby coastal areas in Ferrara province), its impoverishment and school dropout.
So, the goal is the creation of a rural environment that offers the same opportunities compare to suburban and urban areas, for example, by increasing the digitalisation of rural activities.
Further information
Good practice owner
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