Assetti e scenari territoriali connessi all'attivazione dei parchi naturali in Italia, con particolare riferimento agli aspetti sociali ed economici

Research on sustainable models of economic development continues to fuel the historical debate on the relationship between human beings and nature. Politics is the most appropriate context where large scale economic intervention is planned. This article deals with the governance of the environment on three territorial dimensions: international, E.U.-based, and national. It takes into consideration one the most characterizing aspects of environmental protection policies, i.e. the management of conservation areas and nature reserves. By chronicling the development of measures of environmental protection, the objectives, tools and actors of the policies in this field are analyzed. In particular, the study examines the socio-economic aspects linked to the establishment and management of Italian conservation areas and National Parks as instruments for enhancing the Italian natural heritage.