ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION AS A TOOL FOR COASTAL CITIES SUSTAINABILITY VALENTINA BORAGNO Interdepartmental Centre for Environmental Research Bologna University - Italy Fifth European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns Sevilla, Spain, March , 2007 INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT IN MEDITERRANEAN

2 SUMMARY INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION CERVIA LOCALIZATION CERVIA LOCALIZATION OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES METHODOLOGY METHODOLOGY DATA COLLECTION AND APPLICATION DATA COLLECTION AND APPLICATION RESULTS RESULTS CONCLUSION CONCLUSION

3 THE ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION OF CERVIA MUNICIPALITY The case study presented describes the application of the Environmental Management System to Cervia Municipality, a small city located in Italy on the Adriatic seashore. The case study presented describes the application of the Environmental Management System to Cervia Municipality, a small city located in Italy on the Adriatic seashore. How the application of an EMS can contribute to the sustainable development of a coastal territory? How the application of an EMS can contribute to the sustainable development of a coastal territory? Coastal areas with fragile ecological environment are particularly sensitive to the impacts produced by tourism.Coastal areas with fragile ecological environment are particularly sensitive to the impacts produced by tourism.

4 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS The EMSs are voluntary environmental management schemes based on harmonized guidelines and principles, open to all sectors of organizations. The EMSs are voluntary environmental management schemes based on harmonized guidelines and principles, open to all sectors of organizations. O rganizations decide to implement an EMS to obtain: O rganizations decide to implement an EMS to obtain: –Improved environmental management. –Better performance of managing activities. –Wider transparency and higher credibility. –New business opportunities. –Improvement of image and confidence. utilities municipalities factories

5 The European Local Authorities with the major number of EMAS Registration at February 2007 are in Germany (77), in Italy (44), in Spain (20), in the United Kingdom (16 organizations) and in Denmark (11).

6 MAIN PURPOSE OF AN EMS: IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY The EMS is characterized by a cyclic process aimed at the continuous environmental improvement of organization The EMS is characterized by a cyclic process aimed at the continuous environmental improvement of organization Audit Environmenta l Programme Initial Environmenta l Review

7 ADRIATIC SEA LIGURIAN SEA EMILIA-ROMAGNA REGION

8 CERVIA: LOCATION AND MAP Emilia-Romagna Region Ravenna Province With the scientific support of Bologna University Cervia Municipality obtained the International Environmental Certification ISO in May 2005 and the European EMAS Registration in February 2007.

9 CERVIA ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORK Territory surface: 82 km 2 Territory surface: 82 km 2 Green surface: 2 km 2 of Green surface: 2 km 2 of protected areas, pinewoods, natural parks, public parks A Saltpan of about 8 km 2 A Saltpan of about 8 km 2 A 27-hole golf A 27-hole golf A Spa still use mud and water from the saltpans to therapeutic and beauty treatment A Spa still use mud and water from the saltpans to therapeutic and beauty treatment

10 A channel harbour and a marina for 300 pleasure boats. A channel harbour and a marina for 300 pleasure boats. Coastal sea-shore: 9 kilometres of fine sandy beaches. Coastal sea-shore: 9 kilometres of fine sandy beaches. 230 fully-equipped bathing establishment. 230 fully-equipped bathing establishment.

11 TOURIST AND INHABITANTS IN CERVIA year ,541,850 presences 3,541,850 presences 531,053 arrivals 531,053 arrivals 391 hotels 391 hotels 4,352 apartments 4,352 apartments 5 campsites 5 campsites 53,020 beds 53,020 beds HAMLETSINHABITANTS% km 2 Inhab/km 2 CERVIA COAST , INTERNAL HAMLETS ,48122 TOTAL ,19334

12 CERVIA LAND USE … ADRIATIC SEA Agricultural zone, 58 % Anthropic areas, 16 % Historical centre, 1 % Protected areas, pinewoods and saltpan, 25 %

13 GREEN AREAS… Flowerbeds, urban pinewoods and public parks constitute the Cervia public green areas. Flowerbeds, urban pinewoods and public parks constitute the Cervia public green areas. The application of Visual Tree Assessement and GIS permitted to identify, describe and locate, with an elettronic system, about trees. The application of Visual Tree Assessement and GIS permitted to identify, describe and locate, with an elettronic system, about trees. The surface of natural and public green area (11 km 2 ) represents the 14 % of the territory. The surface of natural and public green area (11 km 2 ) represents the 14 % of the territory. Green surface (included the saltpan) per inhabitants: 405 m 2 /inhabitants. Green surface (included the saltpan) per inhabitants: 405 m 2 /inhabitants. TOTAL PUBLIC GREEN AERAS YEARSURFACE, m 2 ANNUAL INCREMENT INCREMENT ON COASTAL ZONE , % ,9393 %66 % ,0297 %66 % ,11648 %70 %

14 URBAN MOBILITY … The new Traffic Urban Plan, in compliance with the principles of sustainable mobility allows: The new Traffic Urban Plan, in compliance with the principles of sustainable mobility allows: –To improve the urban and coastal circulation with car parking; –To implement pedestrian areas interdict to traffic, actually only the 3%; –To promote the use of bicycle; –The implementation of bicycle-path: in four years from 12 to 18 km (7% of total road system); –To develop a more efficient public transport system.

15 WATER CONSUMPTION IN CERVIA The graph represents the monthly values for the total water consumption in Cervia: it is clearly a close connection between the increase in the water consumption during the summer months with the number of tourist. Year Total consumption, m ,846, ,803, ,736, ,673,377

16 SOLID WASTE PRODUCTION The graph shows clearly a close connection between the number of tourist nights spent in Cervia and the waste production in 2006.

17 INITIAL ENVIRONENTAL REVIEW The Initial Environmental Review (IER) has permitted to identify the most critical aspects dealing with resources conservation and environmental effects. The Initial Environmental Review (IER) has permitted to identify the most critical aspects dealing with resources conservation and environmental effects. IER has been developed through different phases : IER has been developed through different phases : –description of environmental context and regulations –analysis of activities connected with environmental aspects –collection, analysis and assessment of environmental data. IER has permit to Cervia Municipality to define the Environmental Policy and to select the priority objectives and programme to achieve significant improvements on the environmental performance. IER has permit to Cervia Municipality to define the Environmental Policy and to select the priority objectives and programme to achieve significant improvements on the environmental performance.

18 THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY: TARGETS & ACTIONS In compliance with the EMAS Scheme, Cervia Municipality develops measurable environmental objectives and targets: In compliance with the EMAS Scheme, Cervia Municipality develops measurable environmental objectives and targets: 1.The improvement of waste fraction collection up to 48 % will be reach in The development of the Green Public Procurement up to 40 % (recycled paper and so on…). 3.The development of good practices for water and energy consumption. 4.The control of mosquitoes in the territory. 5.The promotion of a sustainability mobility: use of methane in private and public car, implementation of bicycle-path and new area interdict to traffic. 6.The planning and qualification of green areas through biological methods.

19 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT The Environmental Programmes for the improvement of waste selected collection was engaged by Cervia municipality from The Environmental Programmes for the improvement of waste selected collection was engaged by Cervia municipality from The implementation of the programme include the designation of specific responsibility; the definition of intermediate and final objectives; the analysis of environmental indicators. The implementation of the programme include the designation of specific responsibility; the definition of intermediate and final objectives; the analysis of environmental indicators. Cervia promoted many different actions in hotels, restaurant, bath- establishments, some specific information for citizens and tourist, with the collaboration of the waste treatment facilities. Cervia promoted many different actions in hotels, restaurant, bath- establishments, some specific information for citizens and tourist, with the collaboration of the waste treatment facilities. THE ANNUAL TARGETS FOR THE WASTE SELECTED COLLECTION THE ANNUAL TARGETS FOR THE WASTE SELECTED COLLECTION ANNORSU, tRD, tRD %TARGET ,87811, % ,98514, % ,75514, % ,50716, % 40 % % %

20 IMPROVEMENTS FOR CERVIA SALTPAN … A wider buffer zone where hunting is forbidden; A wider buffer zone where hunting is forbidden; Promotion of a tourism with educational and ecological characteristics. Promotion of a tourism with educational and ecological characteristics. An adequate management of the water cycle can help both the aquatic bird reproduction and the salt production; An adequate management of the water cycle can help both the aquatic bird reproduction and the salt production; Artificial rises for bird nesting away from the main paths; Artificial rises for bird nesting away from the main paths;

21 IMPROVEMENT FOR COASTAL ZONE… A specific Cervia EMAS target is now involved in the application of Integrated Coastal Zone Management actions. A specific Cervia EMAS target is now involved in the application of Integrated Coastal Zone Management actions. The ICZM approach represents the advanced tool chosen by Emilia Romagna Region to address all coastal activities towards economic, social and environmental sustainability. The ICZM approach represents the advanced tool chosen by Emilia Romagna Region to address all coastal activities towards economic, social and environmental sustainability. The ICZM Project actually developed in Cervia territory is the adaptation of the municipal waste-water treatment plant, an improvement finalized to the water reuse in agriculture and to technical improvement of the plant. The ICZM Project actually developed in Cervia territory is the adaptation of the municipal waste-water treatment plant, an improvement finalized to the water reuse in agriculture and to technical improvement of the plant.

22 CONCLUSION The experience and the results obtained with the EMS procedure applied to Cervia Municipality, has demonstrated the validity of the method for reaching better environmental and sustainability performances. The experience and the results obtained with the EMS procedure applied to Cervia Municipality, has demonstrated the validity of the method for reaching better environmental and sustainability performances. The full engagement of the The full engagement of the administration staff has been an important condition to satisfy the environmental targets. The experience gained in the The experience gained in the certification of Cervia Municipality has also demonstrated that tourism, if correctly planned and managed, can contribute to the environmental protection and conservation of biodiversity and more generally to the achievement of a better sustainability, too.

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24 PRESENTED BY: Dott. ssa VALENTINA BORAGNO Interdepartmental Centre for Environmental Research Bologna University - Italy Tel – Fax