IL RUOLO DEI PARCHI NATURALI NELLO SVILUPPO TERRITORIALE COSTIERO DEL MEDITERRANEO OCCIDENTALE

This dissertation investigates the role of coastal natural parks in the Western Mediterranean through a comparative analysis of Italy, France, and Spain. These areas should not be seen solely as tools for environmental protection, but as multifunctional entities capable of shaping socio-economic, cultural, and territorial processes. The study combines theoretical insights with empirical applications by developing a multiscale and multidimensional model (MoPaN) and the “matrix of protection,” which provide a framework to compare governance structures, management tools, and developmental trajectories of protected areas. Findings highlight common challenges—such as dependence on top-down regulations, economic fragility, and difficulties in linking conservation with sustainable local development—while also revealing opportunities, including participatory governance and the growing relevance of ecological transition. Overall, the research demonstrates how coastal natural parks can act as strategic drivers to integrate conservation, sustainability, and territorial cohesion across the Western Mediterranean.