APPELLO (english text below)

Per la tutela, la riqualificazione e la valorizzazione

dell’area S.I.C. (Sito di Interesse Comunitario) compresa

tra le Località “La Reggia” e le “Rupi di San Mauro”

 

l sottoscritti cittadini

PREMESSO

·       che ai sensi delle Direttive comunitarie 92/43/CEE (“Habitat”) e 79/409/CEE  è stata costituita la Rete Ecologica Europea, denominata “NATURA 2000”, mediante l’individuazione di Siti di Importanza Comunitaria (SIC) e Zone di Protezione Speciale (ZPS);

·       che in Puglia, i siti che costituiscono la Rete “NATURA 2000” sono stati individuati con Delibera della Giunta Regionale n.3310 del 23 luglio 1996 ed inseriti nell’elenco ufficiale contenuto nel Decr. del Ministero dell’Ambiente del 3 aprile 2000 tra cui vi è il S.I.C. denominato “Montagna Spaccata e Rupi di San Mauro” (IT9150008) ricadente nei territori di Galatone e Sannicola;

·       che ai sensi del combinato disposto degli artt. 4 e 6 del D.P.R. 8 settembre 1997 n. 357, così come modificato dal D P.R. 12 marzo 2003, n.120, spetta alla Regione Puglia assicurare per i S.I.C. “opportune misure per evitare il degrado degli habitat naturali e degli habitat di specie, nonché la perturbazione delle specie per cui le zone sono state designate” (art. 4, comma I);

·       che, in data 5 giugno 2007, la Regione Puglia e i Comuni di Galatone e Sannicola hanno sottoscritto un apposito Protocollo d’Intesa per la redazione del Piano di Gestione del S.I.C. “Montagna Spaccata e Rupi di San Mauro” che, con Delibera della Giunta Regionale n.2558 del 22 di-cembre 2009 si è proceduto all’adozione definitiva del vigente Piano di Gestione del SIC “Montagna Spaccata e Rupi di San Mauro”

·       che con decreto 21 marzo 2018 il Ministero dell’Ambiente  ha individuato 36 Zone Speciali di Conservazione  nel territorio della Regione Puglia tra cui l’area della “Montagna Spaccata e Rupi di San Mauro (IT9150008) 

RILEVATO

-          Che il Piano di Gestione del S.I.C. “Montagna Spaccata Rupi di San Mauro” è rimasto preva-lentemente inattuato e che, con la sopravvenuta istituzione del Zona Speciale di Conser-vazione tale Piano deve essere  comunque aggiornato 

-          Che da circa due decenni nell’area del S.I.C. “Montagna Spaccata e Rupi di San Mauro” si verificano frequenti incendi di natura dolosa e colposa ed inoltre in tale area risultano frequenti alcune attività di smaltimento illecito di rifiuti speciali e pericolosi nonché attività di rimozione della vegetazione autoctona;

PROPONGONO

1) che nell'area S.I.C “Montagna Spacca e Rupi di San Mauro” siano messe in atto una serie di azioni volte alla riqualificazione ambientale e paesaggistica attraverso la ripiantumazione delle aree boscate interessate dagli incendi ed il risanamento delle aree degradate;

2) che venga predisposto un sistema di prevenzione degli incendi attraverso la collocazione di sistemi di controllo e di repressione di ogni attività illecita;

3) che siano creati una serie di percorsi naturalistici e di messa in sicurezza del tratto stradale della Montagna Spaccata nonchè una rigorosa gestione delle aree demaniali; .
                                                                                             

Ai sensi del DGPR n. 2016/679 e al d. lgs. 101/2018 di adeguamento della normativa italiana e del “Codice in materia di trattamento dei dati personali” del 2003 alla normativa comunitaria, si autorizza l’utilizzazione dei dati forniti solo ed esclusivamente per la presente petizione.

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This petition is based on facts and observations of the state of increasing degradation of the stretch of coast of the municipalities of Sannicola, Gallipoli, Galatone and Nardò. Citizens of these municipalities and habitual summer residents are promoting a redevelopment plan for the area to preserve and restsore cultural, natural and historical assets threatened by fire, commercial and building speculation and even EU-funded initiatives such as the mini seaplane terminal of Santa Maria al Bagno.

- We ask for support by signing this petition to be submitted to the mayors of the municipalities concerned and to the national and EU authorities.

 

Background

 

The area between the Four Columns and the Cliffs of San Mauro / Alto Lido is an area of the highest scenic, natural, cultural and historical value.

- The forest of Montagna Spaccata was until a few years ago comparable to the pine forest of Porto Selvaggio. This is composed of Aleppo pines and eucalyptus trees planted with funds from the World Bank since 1950. 

- The coastal rocky line and the forest give shelter to protected species and are fundamental elements for the protection of the marine and sylvan biotope. Some elements of the avian fauna are at risk of extinction, while clearly the destruction of the forest takes refuge from resident or migratory birds.

- The sustainable conservation of this territory, already recognised by the European Union as a SCI (Site of Community Interest) area, is severely threatened by many factors:

 

1.               Very frequent wildfires of a negligent nature and perhaps even arson, especially in the area between the Villaggio Santa Rita, the Reggia and Lido Conchiglie.

2.               Inconsistent management of the road system and pedestrian safety, forced to proceed in single file in bends to pass from the northern to the southern side of the Split Mountain promontory, with poor lighting and no pavement. The area is also characterised by strong geological instability (road built on a cave, Split Mountain unstable) and, if on the one hand, the administrations allow the transit of vehicles for private and commercial use, on the other hand they prohibit bathing and prohibit pedestrian transit in the area without actually preventing anything.

3.               Wild building and urban development in the SCI area, with buildings that are presumably not part of an ad-hoc municipal development plans, without lighting, with a very rough road layout, with doubts about the existence of a sewerage system.

4.               Other related aspects can be added to these points:

5.               The recent announcement without vision of the project by the community of a seaplane hydrostage of the community project "SWAN" for the connection of Taranto with Corfu, with a stopover in Santa Maria, Gallipoili, Leuca,  with a mini terminal to be installed in the area where the Garden of Memory and Reception of Jewish Refugees of 1945 stands today, created in 2010 with private donations to the Maritime State Property and the Municipality of Nardò of over 200 plants, the only public garden on the coast from Gallipoli to Santa Caterina destined to commemorate the Refugee Camp n. 34 for which the President of the Rebblica, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, awarded the gold medal of civil merit to the people of Nardò in 2005. The ditching of the seaplanes during the summer period may result in a ban on bathing along an important stretch of coast in Santa Maria al Bagno from the Quattro Colonne, in front of the Trullo, at the Ginetto restaurant, to the ENI petrol station, over 1000 metres, with a ditching point about 200 metres from the coast.

6.               Lack of cycle paths and safe and accessible walks from San Mauro to Porto Selvaggio.

7.               Lack of respect for historical places and memory linked not only to Byzantine, Basilian (San Mauro), Aragonese and Hapsburg settlements (coastal towers of the 15th and 16th centuries), but also to the last century, such as the allied anti-landing bunkers of 1942/43 wanted by the Germans from the Aspide to the Montagna Spaccata in lido Conchiglie.

9.Spillage of toxic waste in the tuff quarries above the rocky ridge of Lido Conchiglie10. Illegal occupation of public or state land near the coast line

11. Progressive occupation of stretches of beach and coastline that should remain public also under the recent "Rodotà" law on collective domains, n. 168/2017, which expressly provides that beaches, as well as water sources, forests or landscape are to be considered inalienable "collective domains" that cannot be subtracted by private individuals, including concessionaires, to full and undisputed collective and public use.

12. Territorial division that prevents a healthy collaboration between Municipalities for a healthy management of the territory in favour of the supreme good of the citizens (landscape and nature conservation).

 

OUR PROPOSAL

- Replanting of the wooded areas affected by the fire and massive extension of the wooded areas in the area, also in collaboration with the regional nursery of Lecce and Gallipoli, using native plants such as Aleppo pine, Phoenician juniper, Macrocarpa juniper ("coccolone"), tamarisk, filirea angustifolia, lentisk, oleanders, agaves, wild myrtle, pomegranate, cypress, olive, rosemary, etc. etc.

- Enhancement of the area by giving priority to the landscape, nature and common goods, avoiding "hit-and-run" tourism and focusing on quality tourism rather than quantity.

- Creation of a safe and usable network - facing the sea - of cycle paths and promenades.

- Safety of the road section Montagna Spaccata with the installation of bollards, passageways for cyclists and safe walks, also considering the total or partial closure of the road, also by creating an equipped itinerary along the ridge of Montagna Spaccata.

- Massive reduction of coastal areas assigned to private individuals (example: Santa Maria beach)

- Strict controls and law enforcement with regard to the occupation of public and state land

- The current situation is no longer bearable and is extremely dangerous for people's health and safety. 

- Verification of the responsibilities inherent to soil maintenance and warning of those responsible for expenses incurred by State, regional and local authorities for fires, with criminal as well as civil consequences.

- Intervention by the relevant Ministries (Environment, Mibact, Superintendence, Interior) and the European Union to verify why the SCI area has not yet been implemented and whether there are the prerequisites to adopt more stringent regulations for the defence of the territory.

- Verification of the appropriateness of installing a hydro-stairway right in the historic centre of Santa Maria al Bagno, identifying areas that are less urbanised and congested by traffic and bathers along the entire Neretina coast of over 20 km of extension (for example, the non-swimming area of the Inserraglio where the wastewater drainage system ends).

- To encourage the municipalities of Gallipoli, Sannicola, Galatone and Nardò and at least one body designated by the European Union as the Prefecture of Lecce (with coordination, control and guidance functions) to jointly present a redevelopment plan for the area that takes into account public interests and the common good.

 

INVITE

Residents, tourists, guests and people who put sustainable development of our country above commercial interests to sign this petition

 

 

 

 

 

foto: cortesia di Khalil Forssane