Green Community

The project “Green Community Pilot La Montagna del Latte” refers to a mountainous area of the Reggiano Apennines, covering a surface of 970 km² and a population of approximately 43,469 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2021). This territory, although relatively small in size, has gained significance as an example of local and sustainable development, thanks also to its success as a pilot area of the National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI) 2014-2021. The SNAI has placed this region at the heart of territorial cohesion policies, promoting development and cohesion actions in mountainous areas.

With the 2021-2027 programming period, the Emilia-Romagna Region has expanded the area to include the Unione Montana and the three municipalities already part of the Mountain Community (Canossa, Viano, and Baiso). This expansion is part of the new Territorial Strategy for Mountain and Inner Areas (STAMI), which provides a framework for the future development of the territory. The “Green Community” program of La Montagna del Latte fits within this context and aims to strengthen sustainability and territorial integration.

During the implementation of SNAI, the need to focus more on sustainability emerged—an aspect that initially had not been given sufficient emphasis. Although some actions focused on sustainability were already present, particularly in the livestock supply chain and human capital sectors, a comprehensive strategy to properly valorize the environmental resources of the territory had not been developed. In response, the Unione Montana initiated a technical and political in-depth study to create a proposal addressing this need.

The result of this work is the “Operational Plan Green Community Pilot La Montagna del Latte”, which develops along three main sectors:

– Integrated and certified management of forest resources — a plan to optimize the use of local forest resources sustainably.

– Production of energy from local renewable sources — promotion of renewable energy use such as solar and wind, aiming to make the territory energy self-sufficient.

– Development of a sustainable farm model — creation of farms that integrate ecological practices and can serve as examples of sustainability in natural resource management.

The project aims not only to improve the environment but also to strengthen social and economic cohesion by promoting practices that can serve as a model for other mountainous and inner areas of the country.