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A powerful park

Six park centers, 90 administration employees, 2000 animal species, 91.000 hectares, 800.000 annual visitors - the Ticino Park, the first regional park in Italy, is also one of its biggest - and the most powerful biosphere reserve that I have visited until now.

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"Some natural areas here are a miracle if you consider that they are only 20km away from Milano, the second-biggest city in Italy", states park employee Giovanni Solaro. In order to safeguard such the environment in such a "sea of cement of asphalt" (Dario Furlanetto) as the Po valley, a Park needs a lot of energy and authority.

Control is one way of protection. For example, urban development in the region is restricted to a few areas. Forests, even private ones, can only be harvested with an official permit from the park administration. 20 park rangers patrol in the park boundaries to stop illegal fishing, tree cutting, parking and poaching.

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More effective than mere control, however, is cooperation. In order to multiply its forces, the park actively seeks the participation of other individuals and associations. Park rangers coordinate their activities with local police units. Environmental education is spread by a dozen of non-governmental organizations, as well as 206 natural guides, trained and constantly updated by the park.

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The agricultural sector maintains positive personal relations with 500 farmers. "If you become their friend, you can better understand their necessities and talk with them", believes Michele Bove, agricultural specialist. He and his team not only support farms to benefit from environmental EU programmes and provide technical assistance. The Ticino Park has even set up an own labeling programme: Farmers that follow international guidelines for integrated / organic agriculture and in addition care for ecological corridors or wetlands on their property can put the "Parco Ticino" logo on their products.

The powers of the Ticino Park reach their limits when national interests start to play a role, such as in the case of national motorways, railroads or the development of the Airport Malpensa (see article Malpensa - bad idea). In such a case, even European (Natura2000) and international (UNESCO) recognitions are helpless. "If we are lucky, we can influence WHERE and HOW a road is built - but not IF it is built". And so, the ocean of asphalt still continues to grow...

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A powerful park

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