Sicily balances UNESCO biosphere reserve plans with new waste‑cleanup funding

The UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" (MaB) dossier for the Saline di Sicilia, promoted by the regional Chamber of Commerce, the Sicilian Region, local municipalities, a consortium and WWF, is facing a critical meeting on May 15. The inclusion of the commercial port of Trapani and an adjacent industrial zone in the proposed biosphere reserve has sparked opposition from the port cluster, which argues that the UNESCO status could complicate dredging, waterfront works and other development projects. The port authority’s president, Annalisa Tardino, called a summit in Palermo and signaled that the port’s operational and employment interests must be safeguarded, while the promoters are considering redrawing the reserve’s boundaries to exclude the port and industrial area in order to preserve the UNESCO candidacy.

Separately, the regional government has launched the "Sicilia Pulita" programme, offering grant funding of up to €50,000 for comprehensive waste‑removal projects and up to €20,000 for targeted street‑cleaning actions. Modica’s youth association leader, Giovanni Baglieri, urged the municipal administration to submit a proposal, highlighting the programme’s potential to improve urban decor, tourism appeal and environmental quality across Sicilian towns.