cesare micheletti | 16.12.2010

scientific advisor (landscape and governance) for the

Nomination of the Dolomites to UNESCO WHL

AN INTER-REGIONAL CO-

OPERATION TO ACHIEVE THE

INSCRIPTION ON THE UNESCO

HERITAGE WORLD LIST.

THE DOLOMITES AS CASE-STUDY

OF INTEGRATED STRATEGIES.

from global to local DOLOMITI DOLOMITEN DOLOMITES DOLOMITIS

1. what is the WH ? THE CONVENTION

On the basis of an international treaty called the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural

and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972.The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and

natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. What makes the

concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application.

World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are

located.

1. what is the WH ? THE LIST

The World Heritage List includes 911 properties in 151 States Parties :

• 704 cultural,

• 180 natural

• 27 mixed

As of June 2010, 187 States Parties have ratified the World Heritage Convention.

1. what is the WH ? THE SELECTION CRITERIA

To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least

one out of selection criteria.

The selection criteria are 10: 6 for the cultural sites and 4 for the natural sites.

The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations.

i. to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;

ii. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in

architecture or technology, monumental arts, townplanning or landscape design;

iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;

iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant

stage(s) in human history;

v. to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or

human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;

vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding

universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);

CULTURAL

SITES

NATURAL

SITES

vii. to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;

viii. to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological

processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;

ix. to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of

terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals;

x. to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing

threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

1. what is the WH ? ITALIAN SITES

In the Alps there are only 4 natural sites:

Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, Swiss Tectonic Sardona Arena (Switzerland),

Monte San Giorgio (Switzerland-Italy) and the Dolomites (Italy).

Italy, with 45 properties, is the country with the greater number of World Heritage sites.

Currently only three of these are inscribed to the List as natural property, the Aeolian Islands,

the Dolomites and Monte S.Giorgio, while all the others are inscribed as cultural properties.

2. The Dolomites THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA 250 MLN YEARS AGO

At that time of the Pangea supercontinent in a great oceanic gulf called the Tethys, approximately

correspondent at the Mediterrean region, an archipelago of islands was formed creating atolls and

lagoons, separated from one other by deep stretches of sea up to than a thousand meters deep.

The life of these islands, resulting from the incessant work of small organisms capable of fixing mineral

salts in their skeletons - or stabilising the sediment - is recounted in these extraordinary mountains, which

now represent a unique fossil archipelago.

2. The Dolomites THE ALPS

The red lines show the faults, fractures generated when the continents Africa and Europe collided. These

broke up the Dolomite region into many sectors, raising or lowering them, thus allowing us to appreciate all

the rocks involved.

In the Dolomites the tectonic deformation, which was very intense elsewhere, was milder and the original

relationships between the sedimentary units have been preserved.

NOMINATION SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS

piero gianolla (sc.coord.)

geology and cartography

cesare micheletti

landscape and governance

mario panizza

geomorphology

mountain systems core zone buffer zone Total (ha)

1 - Pelmo-Croda da Lago 4.343,570 2.427,252 6.770,82

2 - Marmolada 2.207,530 577,953 2.785,48

3 - Pale di San Martino/Lucano -Dolomiti Bellunesi 31.665,700 23.668,939 55.334,64

4 - Dolomiti Friulane e d'Oltre Piave 21.460,630 25.027,641 46.488,27

5 - Dolomiti Settentrionali / Nördlichen Dolomiten 53.585,968 25.182,289 78.768,26

6 – Puez-Odle / Puez-Geisler / Pöz-Odles 7.930,337 2.863,546 10.793,88

7 – Sciliar-Catinaccio-Latemar / Schlern-Rosengarten 9.302,098 4.770,689 14.072,79

8 - Rio delle Foglie / Bletterbach 271,600 547,408 819,01

9 - Dolomiti di Brenta 11.135,442 4.201,045 15.336,49

total areas (ha) 141.902,875 89.266,762 231.169,64

2. The Dolomites THE NINE COMPONENT PARTS OF THE DOLOMITES WH

The nine component parts that make up the Dolomites property, include all areas that are essential for

maintaining the beauty of the property and all or most of the key interrelated and interdependent earth

science elements in their natural relationships.

2. The Dolomites CRITERIA VII + VIII

criterion VII: to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and

aesthetic importance

criterion VIII: to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the

record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms,

or significant geomorphic or physiographic features

2. The Dolomites DOLOMITES (2008)

Gianolla P., Micheletti C., Panizza M., The Nomination Document of the Dolomites for Inscription on the

World Heritage List, 2008.

WHC Decision: 33 COM 8B.6, Seville (E) 26.06.2009.

Micheletti C. (ed) The Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage, Trento (I), 2010.

Cassol M., Gianolla P., Lasen C., Viola F., Nomination of the Dolomites for Inscription on the World Natural

Heritage List, 2007 (first dossier).

Micheletti C., Ponticelli L., The Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Management Framework, 2009.

Micheletti C., Ponticelli L., The Governance Strategy of the Dolomites Unesco World Heritage between

Universal Value and Local Culture, London (GB), 2010.

www.dolomiti-unesco.org

www.whc.unesco.org

3. nomination process BRIEF CHRONOLOGY

1st Nomination

2005 , Jan – Inscription on the tentative list of natural properties

2006, Feb – Nomination Document on the basis of all criteria of natural properties (vii, viii, ix, x)

2006, Sep - IUCN field visit and first evaluation of the nomination

2007, Jul - World Heritage Committee decision to defer the nomination on the basis of criteria vii

(natural beauty and aesthetic importance) and viii (Earth Science importance)

2nd Nomination

2007, Sep - Full revision of the nomination document on the basis of criteria vii and viii; revision of the

components boundaries and number in compliance with the IUCN and UNESCO

requests

2008, Feb – Submission of the renewed Nomination Document

2008, Sep – IUCN field visit

2009, Feb – Sending of the supplementary informations requested

2009, Jun – Final decision of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (Sevilla, 22-30/06/2009)

3. nomination process ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

3. nomination process PROGRAMME AGREEMENT

Considering the complexity of the administrative framework, the nomination project was agreed in a

Programme Agreement underwritten by the five Provinces to coordinate the policies of conservation

and management of the proposed areas.

one representative for each founding member

3. nomination process UNESCO 4D FOUNDATION

The UNESCO “Dolomiti-Dolomiten-Dolomites-Dolomitis” Foundation, established by the five

Provinces and the two Regions involved in the recognition, has the objective of ensuring coordinated

management of the property, in an area with a range of different institutions of various levels.

BOARD OF DIRECTORScomposed of the 5 provincial councillors,

the chairman is selected in alphabetic rotation

secretary general

FOUNDING MEMBERS

BL PN TN UD RV

panel of supporters scientific committee

3-5 experts on on the WHL inscription

criteria (landscape, geoheritage,

management and sustainable development)

Municipalities, Parks, Universities and research

organizations of the UNESCO heritage area,

sharing the purposes of the Foundation

panel of auditors

standardising policy for the

management of the UNESCO

Dolomites property

direct contact for the UNESCO

World Heritage Committee

ensuring in its triennial reports

that the overall management

strategy is consistent with the

observance of universal values

BZ FVG

3. nomination process MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

This strategy interpreted the institutional complexity as a resource rather than an obstacle, to be used

to enhance all the constituent parts of the property while respecting their autonomy and specificity.

In fact a management strategy was developed as a mechanism for the improvement and

implementation of the resources already present.

main reporting

structures

of the Provinces

criterion VII

landscape heritage

DOLOMITES WHS Observatory

(standing observatory for monitoring

the integrity conditions on the WHL

inscription criteria)

geoheritage

criterion VIII

FOUNDATION

FO

UN

DIN

G M

EM

BE

RS

Secretary General

The Secretary general, with

technical-administrative staff,

implements the policies and the

objectives concerning the

management and conservation

of the UNESCO heritage

Services of the Provinces

implementing the

management objectives

• Servizio Urbanistica

• Geological Service

• Land protection Service

• Water resources Service

• Fauna, hunting, and fishing Service

• Communication and promotion Service

• ecc.

• Nature and Landscape Department

• Geology and materials testing office

• Water works department

• Provincial environmental agency

• Forestry department

• ecc.

• Territorial Planning Service

• Environmental Protection Service

• Agricultural Department

• Central Directorate for Agricultural,

Natural, Forestry, and Mountain

Resources

• ecc.

• Urbanistic and landscape protection

service

• Geological Service

• Provincial environmental protection

agency

• Forest and Fauna Service

• Parks and Nature Conservation Service

• ecc.

• Technical Area - Land Protection and

Civil Defence Service

• Environmental Area - Natural Resources

Service

• Central Directorate for Agricultural,

Natural, Forestry, and Mountain

Resources

• ecc.

Board of Directors

Ordinary and extraordinary

management of the Foundation

Panel of Supporters

gives opinions and proposals

on the activities and

programmes

Autonomous

Province

of Trento

Dipartimento Urbanistica e

Ambiente

Province of

Udine

Area Tecnica

Province of

Pordenone

Servizio Pianificazione

del territorio

Autonomous

Province

of Bolzano

Ripartizione natura e

paesaggio

Ufficio Parchi Naturali

Province of

Belluno

Servizio Urbanistica

The Foundation, in its activities, for the

implementation of the objectives defined

in the management plan (see action

scheme), makes use of the cooperation

of technical-administrative structures of

the Provinces or of their allied

organizations through the main reporting

structures of the Provinces

overall management plan

Scientific committee

technical-scientific advice on

management and conservation

of the UNESCO heritageThis strategy was based on the

activation of proactive networks

between institutions,

corporations and various

authorities present in the

region, in order to finalise the

conservation, enhancement

and promotion of the UNESCO

World Heritage Site.

Therefore the intention was not

to create a new organism to

administrate the property but

rather to construct a network

between the existing

corporations and others

already involved.

At a local level, stakeholders

and representatives from

groups with interests or

activities based in specific

areas were involved.

4. governance strategy CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

The first axis deals with conservation of the property and the values for which it is universally

recognised and therefore concerns landscape and geology.

1.01. conservation of the landscape heritage

1.02. conservation of the geological heritage

1.03. management of tourist flows

Regarding management, importance was placed on the aspects of tourism, which provides the main

threat to the integrity of the property, as pointed out by UNESCO in its final recommendations.

1.03.01 guidelines to examine recreational tourist activities and the census and analysis of visitor

movement

1.03.02 guidelines for the upkeep of footpaths

1.03.03 development of instruments of control and measurement of the carrying capacity of each CS

1.03.04 survey of the footpath network within the WHS

1.03.05 organisation of the monitoring of access and use of the footpath network

1.03.06 organisation of the monitoring of accommodation facilities (mountain refuges and camps)

within the WHS

1.03.07 definition of the visitor code of conduct (vade-mecum of responsible mountain tourism)

4. governance strategy COMMUNICATION

The second axis deals with internal and external communications and their implementation, with

the objective of increasing knowledge of the universal value in a global context amongst the local

population as well as providing information on the Dolomites for tourists.

2.01. communication instruments

2.02. information

2.03. training

2.03.01 definition of the guided divulgation strategies (internal and external to the WHS) 2.03.02 definition of the code of conduct for tourist operators (vade-mecum) 2.03.03 organisation of workshops for permanent training 2.03.04 organisation of training campaigns with provincial tourist operators (awareness of the

UNESCO WHS) 2.03.05 training of local operators (refuge managers, etc)2.03.06 training of staff for accompaniment and management of the property (Alpine guides,

environmental guides etc.) 2.03.07 elaboration of educational modules and projects for schools of all levels, on the universal

merits of the WHS2.03.08 organisation of thematic seminars and conferences on an international level

4. governance strategy PROMOTION

The third axis deals with promotion as an instrument to consolidate international recognition and as a

stimulus for local administrations to consider mountain topics (cultural specificity, landscape and

geological heritage, sustainable development and tourism) according to a perspective of accessibility

and comparison.

3.01. sustainable development

3.02. research

3.03. business plan

3.01.01 definition of the strategies for sustainable tourism within the Dolomites WHS

3.01.02 advancement of research to determine the potential conflicts of interest with the traditional

ways of managing the primary resources

3.01.03 organisation of a public transport system to link the CS of the Dolomites WHS

3.01.04 evaluation of the feasibility of environmental certification of the accommodation structures

(ecolabel, ISO 14001)

3.01.05 organisation of theme trails (geology, landscape etc.) in each CS

3.01.06 organisation of visitor trails for the whole WHS (based on: mountaineering difficulty, season,

level of preparation, interests, criteria, etc.)

3.01.07 organisation of promotion of local products (gastronomy, wood carving etc.)

4. governance strategy LOCAL MANAGEMENT NETWORKS

The strategy aims to create a network of cooperation between local communities and institutions

already in charge of the administration of the Dolomites, in order to ensure the effectiveness and

adequacy of protection measures for the Dolomites, for their aesthetic, landscape and geological-

geomorphological values to be passed on to future generations.

LOCAL NETWORKS

FOUNDATION

Esperti esterni

Università/

centri di ricerca

Musei/

Centri culturali

PROVINCES

Funzioni proprie

della Fondazione

SEGRETARIO GENERALE

valorizzazione geologica

referente Trento

strumenti per il turismo

sostenibile

referente Bolzano

formazione

referente Trento

valorizzazione del

paesaggio

referente Udine

valorizzazione della

naturalità

referente Pordenone

arte e montagna

referente Belluno

CONSERVAZIONE

Strategia della gestione complessiva

Sintesi e divulgazione dati monitoraggio

Strategia per il turismo sostenibile

Valutazione dei risultati

FORMAZIONE/EDUCAZIONE

Educazione al valore del Bene

Formazione degli operatori

COMUNICAZIONE

Pubblicazione della rivista

Gestione del marchio

Gestione degli eventi (Festival)

VALORIZZAZIONE

Storia e identità

Arte e montagna

Valorizzazione del paesaggio

La Fondazione esercita le principali funzioni

attraverso l’apporto delle Province/Regioni

secondo la logica a rete delle 5 sedi operative

nell’ottica della sussidiarietà

GRUPPO GUIDA INTERPROVINCIALE

Il gruppo guida è l’interfaccia, a titolo di

collegamento informativo tra le

Amministrazioni provinciali/regionali e il

segretario generale. Questo gruppo

programma e risponde dell’attività, in

relazione alle funzioni di competenza delle

Province/Regioni nonché della

rete delle funzioni della Fondazione stessa

Armonizzazione politiche di gestione

dei parchi naturali e dei SIC

Monitoraggio geologico

Unificazione cartografia geologica

Sistematizzazione dati informativi

Armonizzazione discipline

di tutela paesaggistica

referente Belluno

referente Bolzano

referente Pordenone

referente Trento

referente Udine

referente Belluno

referente Bolzano

referente Pordenone

referente Trento

referente Udine

referente Belluno

referente Bolzano

referente Pordenone

referente Trento

referente Udine

5. results FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL

The main principle of the strategy - from a social-cultural point of view - is therefore to negotiate, that is to

find points of agreement between two different systems of values:

tourism as a product of global culture

landscape diversity as a product of the interaction between nature and local culture

The overall strategy of the Dolomites World Heritage Site does not simply correspond to the sum of all the

different forms of management, but works – according to an holistic point of view - like a multiplication factor

that is capable of enhancing all these specific management forms.

The governance strategy of the

Dolomites UNESCO World

Heritage, adopts the

complexity of the local

management structure of these

mountains and profits by it,

taking it as a reflection of the

richness of cultural and natural

resources typical of the region.

The Dolomites are an excellent

example of the environmental

and cultural diversity which is

the distinctive heritage of the

Alps and of Europe in general.

The strategy updates the

collective management

principles traditionally

developed by local

communities: independent

regulations and administration,

sharing, mutual agreements

and joint possession.

local culture

landscape diversity

tourism

local culture

landscape diversity

t o u r i s m

6. five questions HOW TO DEVELOP INTEGRATED STRATEGIES BASED ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM ?

• Harmonization of set of rules regarding infrastructure, settlements, and buildings within the WHS

• Guidelines for surveying tourism and recreational activities including estimating and analysing

visitor flows

• Elaboration of tools for measuring and monitoring the carrying capacity of each component site

• Definition of a code of conduct for visitors (aware hiking vademecum)

• Definition of the DOLOMITES WHS brand and logo

• Determination of the ongoing good practice of sustainable tourism within the DOLOMITES WHS

• Launching of international co-operation efforts with other WH Sites in the Alps

• Promotion of partneship with the alpine transboundaries organizations

1

6. five questions HOW TO BUILD NEW AND INNOVATIVE TOURISM POLICIES, WHICH REFLECT LOCAL

CHARACTERISTICS AND WHICH ADDRESS LOCAL NEEDS?

• Cataloguing of unique landscape features (natural phaenomena, natural beauty, aesthetic

importance) and monitoring of landscape diversity

• Cataloguing of unique geological and geo-morphological features

• Promotion of research for the identification of possible conflicts of interest with resource

management methods

• Co-operation with the network of museums and natural parks

• Identification of assets/services/projects produced by WHL and individualization of their economic

potential

2

6. five questions HOW TO BUILD ON LOCAL STRENGTHS TO VALORISE A LOCALITY AND HOW TO ENGAGE LOCAL

COMMUNITIES IN THIS PROCESS?

• Definition of information strategies (inside WHS, outside WHS)

• Prepare of DOLOMITES WHS information points in hotspot areas

• Definition of a code of conduct for operators (operators vademecum)

• Organization of thematic workshops for permanent training

• Elaboration of modules and didactic projects on the WHS, differentiated for schools of primary,

secondary and advanced level, in order to the geologic and landscape outstanding values

• Prepare of DOLOMITES WHS magazine

3

6. five questions WHICH MECHANISMS COULD BE DEVELOPED IN ORDER TO ENSURE VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL CO-

OPERATION AMONG ALL STAKEHOLDERS?

• Promotion of research for the identification of possible conflicts of interest with resource

management methods

• Elaboration of a communication strategy concept (local, provincial-regional, national, and

international levels)

• Guidelines for managing the footpath network

• Promotion of research projects involving geoparks, natural parks, natural science museums and

local cultural institutes

4

6. five questions HOW TO BUILD ENTREPRENEURIAL, INCLUDING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, TOURISM CAPACITIES

AND DEVELOP SPECIFIC TOURISM SKILLS?

• Training of economic and tourism operators with reference to the management plan (awareness

DOLOMITES WHS)

• Training of local operators (refuge managers, …..)

• Training of staff in charge of guiding and environmental management (alpine guides,

environmental guides, etc.)

5

“In the character of the magnificent scenery of the Dolomites

mountains .., may be discovered the type of the landscapes and

backgrounds of many of Titian’s pictures.”

(John Murray, A Handbook for Travellers in Southern Germany, 1837)

thank you

references

Gianolla P., Micheletti C., Panizza M., The Nomination Document of the Dolomites for Inscription on the

World Heritage List, 2008.

WHC Decision: 33 COM 8B.6, Seville (E) 26.06.2009.

Micheletti C. (ed) The Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage, Trento (I), 2010.

Cassol M., Gianolla P., Lasen C., Viola F., Nomination of the Dolomites for Inscription on the World Natural

Heritage List, 2007 (first dossier).

Micheletti C., Ponticelli L., The Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Management Framework, 2009.

Micheletti C., Ponticelli L., The Governance Strategy of the Dolomites Unesco World Heritage between

Universal Value and Local Culture, London (GB), 2010.

www.dolomiti-unesco.org

www.whc.unesco.org