Conference "Protected Areas... more than just restrictions!"

A conference to change the way we see protected areas

The "Protected Areas... more than just restrictions!" conference takes place at the Cascina Moglioni Ecomuseum, in Capanne di Marcarolo, within the municipality of Bosio, in the province of Alessandria (Piedmont). The event stems from a simple yet counter-intuitive idea: to demonstrate that a protected area is not just a set of rules and prohibitions, but above all an opportunity for growth for those who live and work in the region.

For too long, parks have been perceived as a hindrance: signs that forbid, boundaries that limit, and bureaucracy that complicates the lives of farmers, breeders, and tourism operators. This meeting aims to flip the perspective, showing how biodiversity conservation is actually an added value capable of attracting visitors, enhancing local products, and generating income.

The Capanne di Marcarolo Park as a laboratory

The Capanne di Marcarolo Natural Park is the ideal setting for such a discussion. This corner of the Piedmontese Apennines, straddling Liguria and Piedmont, preserves mountain landscapes, rural traditions, and a deep historical memory. The Cascina Moglioni Ecomuseum is its cultural heart: a place where nature dialogues with the community's memory, through community maps, ancient crafts, and peasant knowledge.

It is here that the conference addresses the issues closest to the territory:

• sustainable tourism as a lever for development for mountain villages and hamlets;
• the promotion of typical products and local agricultural supply chains through the park's brand;
• economic opportunities for businesses, Pro Loco associations, and young people choosing to stay or return to the mountains;
• the role of environmental education in building a new culture of the territory.

Part of the "Appennino Racconta" calendar

The conference is part of Appennino Racconta, the seasonal program promoted by the Management Body of the Piedmontese Apennine Protected Areas and presented by its president, lawyer Paolo Caviglia. This series weaves together biodiversity protection and the historical and anthropological enhancement of the territory, alternating informative meetings, guided excursions, scientific evenings, and nature-based performances.

The same calendar also features, still at Capanne di Marcarolo, the historic Livestock Fair dedicated to local breeds and theatre performances in nature at the Ecomuseum. The Bosio conference thus fits into a rich season designed to make the park not a closed reserve, but an open, participatory place and a source of opportunities.

Target audience

The meeting is designed for administrators, tourism operators, farmers, breeders, local associations, and all citizens interested in understanding how protected areas can become an opportunity for development, rather than just a set of constraints. A useful chance for discussion for those who believe in the future of the Alessandria mountains.