Save the Stelvio National Park!

With a great shame and regret, I have to make you all know that Stelvio National Park, one of the most important and largest in Italy, founded 75 years ago to preserve one of the few remaining beauties in the Central Alps, is about to be divided in three parts, to be managed in autonomy by the Provinces of Trento and Bolzano, and by the region of Lombardy.

On December 22, 2010, a Government decree established this division. The decree is to be converted into a law after the signature of the President, mr. Giorgio Napolitano, an event expected in the next days.

Dividing a National Park, and downgrading it to a casual assembly of regional / provincial parks, is the first step towards a full suppression.

This decision will have irreversible effects both on environment quality, given the strong local pressures to "use" the territory, and the area wealth, with the major attractive of these places doomed.

Why such a blind decision? Have we Italians lost some war we were not informed of?

No. The answer is much simpler. On mid December the Prime Minister mr. Berlusconi was risking his place. To remain in charge he bought various votes, in part with money, in part with promises. Including those of two fellows of the Sudtiroler Volkspartei, who in exchange of their abstention to the vote of confidence asked for the division of the Stelvio National Park.

Deleting a National Park is not something occurring frequently. And the very idea is an absolute shame. It's a theft against not only Italy, but the whole World.

We may still try stopping this. Some important Italian environmentalist associations have written to the Italian President in order he does not sign the decree. You may find some account, for example, on site

But more can be made by diffusing this "new" worldwide.
Before it's too late.

So, my dear sisters, brothers, friends, I ask you advice and, if possible, to let this shame be known everywhere.

Mauri