Iblei Park talks begin as Sicilian municipalities seek revision

The presidents of the free municipal consortia of Siracusa, Michelangelo Giansiracusa, and Ragusa, Maria Rita Schembari, agreed to launch a joint process on the Iblei National Park. A first institutional meeting was scheduled for Monday 13 July at 10:30 a.m. in the Urban Center of Siracusa, bringing together local officials, regional and national parliamentarians, agricultural and production representatives, environmental groups, scientific and university experts, and trade unions.

Giansiracusa welcomed Schembari’s proposal for a unified approach covering the territories of Siracusa, Ragusa and Catania, emphasizing listening to communities and analysing perimeter, zoning and impacts on agriculture. He also warned that the current park draft contains unacceptable elements and calls for a substantial revision that reflects the Iblei’s unique environmental, social and economic characteristics. The outcome will be a shared institutional position to be presented to the Sicilian regional authority and the national government.