Rotaliana Koenigsberg

Piana Rotaliana is renowned for its supreme wine production and other fine agricultural products (apple, asparagus, etc.) and for its fine traditional rural and historical location. The area is placed at the crossroads of different valleys and many infrastructures. Rivers Adige, Noce and Avisio, the Motorway from Pianura Padana to Germany (Verona-Munich of European Relevance), International and Regional railways, 2 national roads, many others local or rural roads, water channels and cycling paths are fragmenting the plan land with an evident impact of ecological connectivity and land use.

In recent time the main local Institution defined new planning and infrastructure documents and strategies. Among others it has been conducted a study towards the creation of an “Agro-District”. The aim is to find alternative and innovative models and governance tools to enhance the various ecological, agricultural and cultural elements in the Rotaliana plan area. In particular to valorise the “minor” productions (namely vegetables) and smallholder farmers, ensure the ecological connectivity, protect from extreme events (namely flash floods into the area and to the nearby city of Trento), valorise local products and landscapes (easy reachable by bike, train or cable car).

Despite what is ensured by the regional Law (which can support the creation of “Rural parks”) in accordance with the Comunità di Valle, the municipalities and the key stakeholders have started a process of dialogue. The process is necessary in order to define what are the common aims, the spatial limitation and all the financial and juridical framework of support. Until now the process allowed for different meetings among the municipalities, citizens and key stakeholders that showed that although the agricultural producers are doing many efforts to reduce the negative impact of the production (pesticides, water management, new varieties, efficient transformation systems….) they are still scared by the “park” idea. This short-vision of agricultural producers remains a concrete obstacle to further advancement in the process. The involvement of young population could help to tackle this issue.  In a later stage, when an appropriate economic legal entity that may define the park will be individuated, some further pilot activities should be implemented with productive, social, protective and recreational aims.