A Garden or a Laboratory? Conflicting Views about Nature Preservation and Local Development in the Aspromonte National Park, Italy

摘要

Natural parks are important institutions for the preservation of natural environments, biodiversity, and sometimes historical sites. In many cases, though, tensions can arise between parks and local communities who live and make their living in the area. This is the case of the Aspromonte National Park (ANP), established in an area with a considerable human presence in a context of social marginalization and economic backwardness. In this context there is a difficult balance between nature preservation and socio-economic development. The case of ANP shows an interesting attempt to find this balance, with initiatives discussed and agreed with local communities, projects for the recovery and the enhancement of local culture, and the promotion of innovative practices of sustainable development. The recent history of the ANP confirms that a natural park, beyond the preservation of natural sites, can encourage sustainable development even in economically backward areas. At the same time it highlights what kinds of conflicts can arise between different stakeholders. Finally, it shows that the involvement of the communities and the creation of networks are essential for a sustainable development strategy in a protected area.