Costa dei Trabocchi National Park establishment debate

The establishment of the Costa dei Trabocchi e Teatina National Park has triggered significant debate among local stakeholders regarding land use and economic impact. Initial concerns centered on the potential effect on over 11,000 hectares of agricultural land, with the Cia Chieti-Pescara warning that new regulations could hinder local business investment.

In Vasto, the City Council expressed support for the park but requested that existing urban planning, including coastal construction and hydrocarbon extraction, be maintained. Meanwhile, the association APS I Trabocchi criticized the lack of public consultation and advocated for the recognition of the Via Verde Costa dei Trabocchi as strategic infrastructure for sustainable tourism.

As the situation progressed, nineteen mayors from the affected territory were summoned to Rome by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security for technical and political discussions. Local leaders are attempting to coordinate a unified vision to address concerns that the current park perimeter and ‘zone 2’ classification will create bureaucratic obstacles for intensive agriculture, such as vineyards and olive groves. While most mayors seek to negotiate modifications to boundaries and zoning, five mayors have expressed outright opposition to the park’s inclusion of their territory, calling for the legislation to be canceled.