Preserving Trapani's Salt Pans Through Sustainable Tourism

 The Trapani salt pans must be preserved and enhanced through a model of sustainable tourism that avoids the consumption and commodification of the landscape. This was the main takeaway from the urban planning workshop "Trapani Salt Pans: Sustainable Paths from Land to Sea," organized by the Trapani Order of Architects and the "Francesco La Grassa" Trapani Architects Foundation. The event, held at the Maria Stella Mill within the Oriented Natural Reserve, involved experts, administrators, and environmental associations to discuss the challenges and prospects of the protected area.

The workshop marked an important opportunity for dialogue on the thirtieth anniversary of the Reserve. Director Silvana Piacentino highlighted the progress made in protecting biodiversity but also the threats posed by surrounding urban pressure. "We cannot ignore the impact that the urban context has on the Reserve," Piacentino stated, emphasizing the need for greater efforts in safeguarding the territory.

A significant highlight was the lectio magistralis by Prof. Paolo Pileri, an expert in territorial and environmental planning from the Polytechnic University of Milan. He focused on the issue of land consumption and the necessity for greater awareness in preserving the landscape. He also highlighted the importance of the European "Restoration Law" regulation, which mandates the protection and restoration of natural environments, not only in protected sites but across the territory.

During the debate, several professionals, including Architect Gianfranco Naso, vice president of the Trapani Order of Architects PPC, and Architect Salvatore Cusumano, reiterated the need to integrate sustainable mobility into urban design without compromising biodiversity and to restore the Reserve's historical structures, such as windmills, which are at risk of decay.

A central point of discussion was the tourism model for the salt pans. "Tourism must not be a destructive force but a lever to build a sustainable future," was a recurring theme in the discussions. The goal is to move beyond the consumption logic of the landscape and promote responsible enhancement of the territory.

The workshop highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue among local administrations, professional orders, citizens, and associations to ensure a balance between environmental protection and sustainable development. Only through a renewed cultural vision and shared commitment can a future be envisioned where the Trapani salt pans become an example of active conservation and sustainable enhancement.