Double initial memory
The course for journalists organized by Assostampa and Arga Toscana in collaboration with the Accademia dei Georgofili in Florence, held at the Georgofili headquarters, concluded on October 8th with high-level speeches. AST President Sandro Bennucci, in introducing the course, nostalgically remembered his friends and Presidents of the Georgofili Franco Scaramuzzi and Giampiero Maracchi. Going through his memories as a reporter, regarding the problems that Florence has had due to water, he reports that the first flood mentioned in the chronicles dates back to 1177, followed by another in 1269, to which 64 others were added. The penultimate one in 1844, which preceded the one that everyone remembers in 1966, of which he was also a young witness. In quoting Giampiero Maracchi, founder of LAMMA, the meteorological observatory, he recalled that he was there then, when it was coined for the first time by the Academician prof. Maracchi uses the definition “water bomb”, which sadly resonates in these times of repeated floods.
A collection of testimonies
Franco Polidori, who together with Bennucci conducted the seminar, thanked the speakers, to whom Arga gave a gift of a collection of testimonies (“Il Gioco del Chiaro – Cento Anni nel Padule di Fucecchio”) co-written by Giovanni Franceschi, recently deceased, and Coletta Quiriconi, both born and lived all their lives “a gronda di padule”, living in practice all the traditional activities, fishing, hunting, gathering marsh essences, wise observers of a social and environmental change up to today’s reality. Polidori also thanked the participants, to whom Arga gave a gift of a CD with images and sounds of the marsh, made by the nature photographer Luigi Bellandi, who until October 31st exhibits his photos at the Castelmartini Visitor Center, Larciano, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
A heritage rich in life
Zeffiro Ciuffoletti, Emeritus Academic of the Georgofili, greeted the attendees also on behalf of President Vincenzini, who was unable to attend in person because he was busy with an institutional meeting. In introducing the topic, he highlighted how, unfortunately, the wetlands in Italy have culpably decreased over time, while – the remaining ones – still constitute a heritage rich in life, from which all the surrounding lands also benefit. He also referred to the important research of his colleague Prof. Leonardo Rombai, historic director of Italia Nostra, and illustrious expert on waters and wetlands.
Floods and landslides
Gaia Checcucci, Secretary General of the Northern Apennines Basin Authority, discussed in great detail the issue of hydrogeological risk, which requires an interdisciplinary approach, including production activities, infrastructure, and biodiversity protection. The Arno basin, she said, is among the most dangerous in Italy. With the aggravating factor that sometimes the problem becomes more complicated when even the most basic rules are ignored. The result: floods and landslides. In the management of the complex catchment system, sometimes mistakes are made, voluntarily or involuntarily, which often lead to very dangerous consequences.
Renewable energies
Lidia Bai, Federparchi Councilor, vice-coordinator of the Federparchi Consultation and president of the Parco delle Colline Metallifere, a heritage of “geodiversity”, referred to the European Green Agenda, which denounces the many environmental emergencies; that of water is one of the most important, and urges the transition to renewable energy. She highlighted that with respect to all environmental and water problems in particular, it is essential to adopt social, economic and environmental systems based on sustainability as soon as possible, in order not to further alter ecosystems. The role of parks and protected areas, precious for the maintenance of biodiversity and the conservation of animal and plant species, is not decisive – in Italy protected areas cover 20% of the territory, the European objective aims at 30% – but it contains great importance as a heritage of knowledge to be taken into consideration also for the management of the other part of the territory. Among the species at risk, more than towards the better known species, particular attention should be paid to insects, which play an important role in the ecosystem, especially pollinators. It is necessary to promote the integration between man and the environment to safeguard anthropological values, otherwise there is the risk of abandonment, also through the promotion of sustainable tourism. It is necessary to experiment with new social and production models, in synergy between all interested parties. The maintenance of forests is essential: they constitute an important water resource and reduce CO2. It is necessary to imagine parks in terms of a balanced relationship between agriculture, sustainable fishing, and tourism. For new prospects of ecological transition it is necessary to network the heritage of protected areas, both at national and international level.
Don't erase the past
Zeffiro Ciuffoletti, a scholar of Tuscan history and reality, introduced the topic by inviting us not to erase the past: it is a serious mistake. In retracing the history of the Tuscan marshes, he referred to the Tuscan waterways to which the Medici, and later the Lorena, had given primary importance for trade and to develop the annonary system: along the course of the Arno they founded 30 farms, developed the systematic production of cereals and constituted the Annona, that is, the mass of grains, leading Tuscany to become one of the most important granaries in Italy. They started the reclamation (in the last century also favored to eradicate malaria, especially in Maremma) and the drainage system of the marshes, both in Maremma but also in the Padule di Fucecchio, a source of life for the coastal populations and beyond. The collection of plant products, above all, but also fishing and hunting are very important resources. Hunting is also very important today: only by living it can one understand the Padule. To keep it alive, its culture, its history, its traditions must be defended. Returning to a primitive Eden is very dangerous. It is necessary to act with balance to preserve its heritage, wisely supporting the residual economic values.
Water management
Ventavoli, President of the Consorzio Basso Valdarno, for the maintenance of the Padule, referred to the current activity of the Consortium which has as its primary objective that of water management (restoration of the canals and management of the area), through the maintenance of all the rivers and streams of the Valdinievole that flow into the Padule, from where they flow into the Arno. For the vitality of the Padule (which is part of the Ramsaar Convention and the European project called Natura 2000) he defined the active presence of private individuals as crucial. Of approximately 1800 hectares of the crater, only 207 hectares are public property, constituted as a protected area. Through the vision of a series of beautiful images of the Padule taken from above, he highlighted the importance played by private individuals for the conservation of the marsh area. If it were not for the clearings with hunting posts, which guarantee a constant presence of precious animal and plant species, the Padule would soon become a mass of vegetation tending to fill and therefore disappear. He reported that after the approval of the management regulation, together with the Region and other interested parties, they are working on the definition of a Regulation with the aim of making the management of waters more efficient, hopefully present throughout the year, and the periodic mowing of marsh vegetation. For this reason, he argued that the collaboration of private individuals and associations who operate in the area is important, to develop knowledge and tourism compatible with the fragility of the places. With regard to water pollution, still present, but partly resolved thanks to the connection with the Arno spillway, he reported that with the definitive commissioning of the so-called "tubone", connected to the industrial purifiers of Santa Croce, it will be possible to provide decisive help to the insufficient activity of the purifier of Pieve a Nievole.
The problem of mowing
Marco Ferretti, director of the Wildlife Service of the Department of Agriculture of the Tuscany Region, associated his information with a series of maps (available from a regional geoscope) that serve as a guide to illustrate the different realities connected to the use of the area from an environmental, agricultural, social, hunting and fishing perspective. For the Padule di Fucecchio, the division between two administrative realities (Pistoia and Florence) has proposed and in part continues to propose two conflicting realities. In the area, the problem of mowing the marsh vegetation is very much felt. The increased presence of reeds causes problems, due to the difficulty in keeping them under control. The management system in place does not facilitate the solution of the problem, which is poorly connected to the complexity of the system. He reiterated the crucial importance of hunting clearings (only 64 remain) for the conservation of the fauna and plant heritage. If this reality were to disappear, there would be significant losses of biodiversity. In essence, there has been a significant increase in the heritage of aquatic birds. The presence of alien species is quite serious. In particular: nutria, Californian crayfish, Egyptian goose, sacred ibis. The seminar ended regularly on schedule. Special thanks were given to all those who contributed to the success of the interesting event. (Source ARGA TOSCANA)
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