News from the Italian Parks

(10 Mar 09) Federparchi Board of Directors, updated during the recent national Congress, has unanimously appointed Giampiero Sammuri as the new President of the Association. Sammuri, President of Maremma Regional Park, will be supported by the new Executive Committee, unanimously appointed too. There are three vice-Presidents: Gianfranco Giuliante (President of Majella National Park), Antonello Zulberti (President of Adamello Brenta Park), and Salvatore Sanna (President of Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area). The other members of the body are Franco Bonanini (President of Cinque Terre National Park), Domenico Pappaterra (President of Pollino National Park), and Sebastiano Romano (President of Plemmirio Marine Protected Area). A group which adequately represents the variety and richness of the Italian protected area system, both from a geographical-territorial point of view and as far as the different protected area typologies existing in our Country are concerned.

The new-appointed President has highlighted the unitary spirit and the great representativeness of the new governing bodies: «The election has been characterized by an essential agreement and a bipartisan approach, the ideal climate for an association representing the whole Italian protected area system, with no political or party differences». According to Sammuri, the promotion of this complex and extraordinary network is the main mission: «Within the conservation of the precious environmental heritage of our Country, the role of the protected area system - national and regional parks, marine protected areas, nature reserves, and Natura 2000 sites – is essential».

While leading Federparchi, Sammuri will also aim at strengthening the relationship between the Association and the local and national Institutions: «We will strengthen the relationship with the Ministry of the Environment, the parliamentary Committees, with Regions, Provinces, and Municipalities, as well as with environmental, agricultural, hunting associations, and with economic categories. Moreover, we will reinforce the role of Federparchi as representative body of the Park Authorities and as an instrument at the members' disposal». Ambitious goals, that can be achieved «thanks to the team spirit that will characterize without a doubt the Committee and the Board of Directors, formed by top-quality members that will give an essential contribution to the work of the Federation». «I would also like to thank Matteo Fusilli and the other members of the outgoing Committee and Board of Directors for their work in these years».

Giampiero Sammuri, 54 years old, from Grosseto, succeeds Matteo Fusilli. He is President of Maremma Park for eight years now and he has been for as many years member of Federparchi Board of Directors, in which he dealt for a long time with the Biodiversity sector.