New territories
The TAR of Piedmont has rejected the appeal of the Alpine Hunting District Vco1 which asked to annul the acts and provisions – starting from the decree of the President of the Republic of 11 October 2023 – which allowed the expansion of the Val Grande National ParkThe expansion, which brings the total protected area to approximately 17 hectares, encompasses new territories in the municipalities of Verbania, Ornavasso, and Mergozzo, the entire territory of Caprezzo, and part of Vogogna, including the hilly area that slopes from Monterosso down to the Fondotoce reed bed. The VCO1 district, represented by lawyers Paolo Scaparone and Federico Burlando, challenged the extension process, citing a flawed preliminary investigation and the inclusion of "large, anthropized areas" that, according to the appeal, "serve only to connect the park to an area of Verbania characterized by tourism and hospitality."
The correctness of the procedure
The Turin administrative judges, however, confirmed the full propriety of the procedure followed by the Ministry and the Park Authority, noting that the process involved "a larger number of parties than required by law" and that the expansion complies with the objectives of environmental protection legislation. The Regional Administrative Court also noted that national parks can also include ecosystems "partially altered by human intervention," in accordance with Framework Law 394, which protects not only wilderness areas but also those eligible for specific protection and sustainable development. Luigi Spadone, President of the Val Grande National Park, expressed his satisfaction: "This way, the park's boundaries are defined, provided, of course, that the appellant does not challenge the first-instance decision before the Council of State. Today, we are beginning to establish a firm foundation for the extent of our Park's territory." He added: "We can only welcome the ruling because it recognizes the work carried out in an absolutely legitimate and correct manner. If there is an appeal, we will see what the Council of State will ultimately decide." Meanwhile, the first-instance ruling confirms the new territory of the Val Grande National Park."
Wilderness area
Spadone also emphasizes the importance of the TAR's ruling: "The panel of judges believes that the procedure adopted by the Park and the Ministry was absolutely consistent with current legislation. The judge highlighted how, in the procedure itself, the Park allowed broader participation than required by law, with greater transparency than the law required." Finally, he observes: "It's true that the new areas aren't wilderness, just as the Park is wilderness, but this doesn't mean that other situations can't be protected, because Law 394 isn't limited exclusively to the defense of a wilderness area: it also covers areas deemed eligible for specific protection. Law 394 addresses parks, biodiversity, but also sustainable development and the territory." "Now," Spadone concludes, "we can finally begin the Park Plan, which is mandatory and extremely necessary for local development connected to this environmental heritage."
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