The contribution of the scientific research for a less vulnerable and more resilient community: the Val d’Agri (Southern Italy) case

Abstract

The increasingly intensive use of natural resources with consequent environmental impacts has generated numerous social conflicts over the years, for whose solution it is necessary to build up an innovative territorial governance model based on sustainable and resilience thinking. At the international level, the problems associated with oil and gas extraction activities have been tackled by recognizing scientific research as a strategic role aimed at guaranteeing a more in-depth knowledge of environmental issues, the creation of collaboration networks between the various stakeholders and the whole usability of environmental data. This article presents the commitment made by the National Research Council of Italy – Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis – CNR-IMAA to make the Val d’Agri community, an area affected by mining activities, less vulnerable and more resilient. Through the combined use of different scientific research methodologies, a multidisciplinary approach was developed which contributed to increasing the overall knowledge of the environmental problems of Val d’Agri as well as providing concrete indications for the development of more effective territorial management tools. Other activities, complementary to those of research, were aimed at ensuring correct and detailed environmental data information and communication and a broaden participation and involvement of citizens.

Keywords:

• Smart community
• innovative territorial governance model
• sustainability and resilience
• multidisciplinary approach; environmental awareness

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank Vincenzo Lapenna – Director of the National Research Council of Italy – Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis – CNR-IMAA and Donato Viggiano – General Director of the Department of the Environment, Territory, Sustainability policies of the Basilicata Region, for having given them the opportunity to face the compelling challenge of the Val d’Agri with their desire for knowledge. They also show their deep gratitude to Lucia Possidente and Maria Marino for having coped with this challenge together! The CNR-IMAA colleagues R. Caggiano, C. Cosmi, G. Pavese, N. Pergola, A. Perrone, S. Piscitelli, V. Summa. are gratefully acknowledged for their scientific support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Basilicata Region in the framework of the Operational Agreement between the Basilicata Region – Val d’Agri Environmental Observatory and the National Research Council of Italy – Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis – CNR-IMAA of the 17th January 2012 (number of protocol CNR-IMAA 0000113) and the Operational Agreement between the Basilicata Region and the National Research Council of Italy – Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis – CNR-IMAA of the 21st September 2015 (number of protocol CNR-IMAA 0002813). Tony Alfredo Stabile is currently funded by the INSIEME project of the Italian SIR-MIUR program (grant RBSI14MN31).