DOLOMITI-UNESCO: POLITICIANS AND MOUNTAIN LOVERS REJOICE
TRENTO - National politicians from the Dolomite regions have greeted the news that Italy's famous Dolomites mountains have been made a World Heritage Site with great satisfaction. Laura Froner, a Democratic Party (PD) MP from the Trentino Region, and Giacomo Santini, also from Trentino and a People of Freedom (PdL) senator, have applauded the addition of the Dolomites to the United Nations World Heritage List, approved by the World Heritage Committee Friday in Seville, Spain.
''We supported the nomination but it doesn't end here. We will discuss it in our meetings. We meet next week in Rome with the Italian Alpine Club and the Alpine Guides and it will certainly be on the agenda'', said the MPs, both members of the Friends of the Mountains parliamentary group.
''We know the recognition can trigger a positive reaction and that it means an evolution in the Dolomites value, both from a landscape point of view and in terms of sustainable development in reconsidering tourism'', said Froner. ''The recognition also answers requests from the associations most concerned about environmental protection and in this sense is a commitment and a responsibility. The foundation being set up will need to be created using the best existing models for protection as well as development. The Dolomites proposal can't be devalued to a simple increase in the number of tourists'', added Froner.
''I expect that many people who don't know the Dolomites will want to come and that those who know them will want to return but I hope there isn't too much promotion because the danger has always been too many people. The Dolomites are less compact than granite mountains and there have been recent cases of crumbling which changes the landscape and puts people at risk. Being a World Heritage Site doesn't mean that the World Heritage will protect the site, we have to be careful not to rest on our laurels'', said Santini.
''Those fortunate enough to live in the Dolomite provinces must now take on the responsibility of maintaining and protecting the natural values'', added Froner. Asked what roles the MPs could play Froner explained that ''we can work to provide those who protect the mountains the best possible safety conditions and see that they are not weighed down with bureaucracy. I'm thinking of the refuges, the guides' associations and the alpine rescue services that guarantee access, services and sustainability in the mountains''.
Both Froner and Santini also see the recognition as an additional protection for the Dolomites linguistic minorities, particularly the Ladin speaking population that ''has always worked to protect the mountains and continues to be engaged in territorial conservation''.
