Last updated: October 2021
The project regards the creation of a natural park close to the Orteto river, which crosses the city of Palermo. The problems of the area mainly concern the housing development, which was increasing during the years without considering the potential negative environmental impact. The creation of the park is expected to be a solution to face the challenges created by the unsustainable development of the area. It would be an opportunity to regenerate an area where intervention is needed, providing additional ecosystem services such as coastal protection, and improving air quality. (Ref.1.)
Oreto River Park (2013)
Photographer: Jessica Smeralda Oliva, retrieved 09/04/2018 from Barbara Lino
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Blue infrastructure
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Waste management
Focus
Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
The project aims at providing solutions to face ecological and environmental challenges of the area and to promote territorial identity. The main goals concern the regeneration of the coast of the river, currently in a state of depletion and pollution due to human activity, through the creation of a large green area on the river's bank. It will help to protect the local species of both flora and fauna, which provide important ecosystem services (Ref.1.)
Implementation activities
To reach the above-mentioned goals, parts of blankets of green will be positioned in strategic parts of the area surrounding the river, together with new plants and trees. This will contribute to the mitigation of human pollution and further extension of housing. (Ref.3.)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Clear and control invasive alien species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The initiative was implemented with the collaboration among three different municipalities (Palermo, Altofonte, Monreale), which agreed to jointly implement the project. The reason is that the river crosses the three different cities, and the project was to extend the park for the lenght of the three locations. At the same time the region of Sicily was involved in the project, as well as the University of Palermo which was carrying out a research on this intervention (Ref.2.). The first part of the planning process concerned the implementation of a detailed analysis of the state of the river banks, in terms of current environmental conditions. After that, the dimension of the park were established, after an evaluation of natural, environmental, urban and infrastructural conditions. The last part of the assessment project was the request from the municipality of Palermo to the regional council for development to include the Orteto project in the regional law 98/81 (Ref. 1&2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(There is a regional law on parks and natural areas 98/81 (piano regionale dei parchi e delle riserve ai sensi della
legge regionale 98/81) which regulates interventions and activities aiming at regenerate green and blue areas. In particular, the law aims at identifying specific natural sites threatened by human impact, and offers guidelines to implement interventions (Ref.2.))
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
Ref.1. Dipartimento Città e Territorio di Palermo (2009). PALERMO: IL PARCO FLUVIALE DELL’ORETO COME CENTRALITÀ
CATALIZZATRICE DI QUESTIONI ED OPPORTUNITÀ. Il progetto dell'urbanistica per il paesaggio. Bari: pp. 1-6
Ref.2. Provincia regionale di Palermo (2005). FIUME ORETO: DAL DEGRADO ALLA ISTITUZIONE DI UN PARCO. Palermo: pp. 1-3
Ref.3. Archilovers (2010). FIUME ORETO - PROGETTO URBANO PER IL PARCO FLUVIALE DI PALERMO Available at Source link (Accessed 10-10-2020)
Ref.4 Balarm (2019), Sentieri, un museo, eventi e iniziative in natura: il Parco dell'Oreto sta per nascere, Available at Source link (Accessed 10-10-2020)
CATALIZZATRICE DI QUESTIONI ED OPPORTUNITÀ. Il progetto dell'urbanistica per il paesaggio. Bari: pp. 1-6
Ref.2. Provincia regionale di Palermo (2005). FIUME ORETO: DAL DEGRADO ALLA ISTITUZIONE DI UN PARCO. Palermo: pp. 1-3
Ref.3. Archilovers (2010). FIUME ORETO - PROGETTO URBANO PER IL PARCO FLUVIALE DI PALERMO Available at Source link (Accessed 10-10-2020)
Ref.4 Balarm (2019), Sentieri, un museo, eventi e iniziative in natura: il Parco dell'Oreto sta per nascere, Available at Source link (Accessed 10-10-2020)