(ANSA) - UDINE - Mountain huts and pastures are the key focus areas of a new cross-border cooperation project between Italy and Austria, the Interreg V-A '' Made, Malga and Alm Desired Experience ''. The goal is to preserve the cultural and natural heritage of the summer pastures in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Carinthia, expand tourism in terms of seasonality, support local production and increase employment against depopulation. The project, approved by the European Commission, was presented today in Udine by the partners: Tarvisio Tourism Promotion Consortium, the town of Hermagor-Presseggersee and the Regional Agency for Rural Development (Ersa), in the presence of the regional councillor Cristiano Shaurli. The Austrian partners were represented by Christopher Gruber, from Hermagor Tourist Office, and Hannes Slamanig, from Carinthia's Managing Authority. The project results from a consolidated cross-border cooperation among the partners, which got started in 1984 with the multinational bid - FVG along with Austria and Slovenia - for Winter Olympics'', said the president Gabriele Massarutto. Made includes a network of approximately 50 huts and pastures, 30 in FVG. Through this project, expiring August 5, 2019, with a total investment of 1,175,000 euros, 17 natural and cultural sites, and 800 hectares of habitat will be better protected and preserved for future generations. Six actions have been already planned to enhance the attractiveness of the natural and cultural heritage. (ANSA).