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Bajardo
is a village with about 350 inhabitants; it lies within the province of
Imperia, in Italy’s region of Liguria.
The village is located in the Ligurian Maritime Alps at 900 m over
sea level, and spreads over 24,000 hectares, most of which are covered by
olive groves. The remaining area is fallow ground, on a part of which
flowers are now grown, and then there are vineyards, chestnut trees and
woods.
A
vast pine-wood in the Armea valley is recognised by the EU as a biotope. The
historical village core was founded in the first millennium b.C. and has
maintained up to the present day its typical Ligurian country architecture.
The
olive oil produced here has always been renowned for its extraordinary
quality and fine taste. However, many parts of these olive groves are no
longer cultivated. Because of its particular micro-climate Bajardo is the
place with the highest olive groves in Europe.
The area suffers
from strong depopulation, which continued
over the last few years, though a big effort was made to counter it.
The
village is located in the sunniest position in Liguria, and has optimal
climatic characteristics, since two different climatic zones meet here, the
typical Mediterranean climate and the Alpine climate, that create a
particular micro-climate.
The
EcoBajardo project was planned by Bioliguria
– EcoArchitettura and is
carried out and managed by the company Bajardo-Bioliguria scrl.
Bajardo
is the process of an efficient programming with the following emphasis:
-
concentrated
interventions are priority on the basis of the traditional culture and
the consideration of natural resources where one avoids the effects of a
negative tourism and the associated foreign capital control.
-
specifically
targeted groups are a warranty for quality tourism, who respect the
local culture and landscape.
-
integrated
senior residence with medical resources.
-
respectful
and careful use of existing and natural resources.
-
preservation
and recreation of the delivered historical rural culture landscape.
Programme for the local development Bajardos
-
recreation
of the fallen down village structures.
-
professional
training in handicraft & traditional occupations, bio-architecture
seminars in the "model Bajardo", e-Learning, University for
environment and culture.
-
afforestation/forest
management, harvest and processing of forest fruits (mushrooms,
blackberries, raspberries, forest berries, strawberries, herbs, etc.)
by local resident handicraft workers(Rural - Market).
-
mineral
waters/welfare water
-
renewable
energy/alternative energy
-
water
management (regeneration)
-
ecology-compatible
infrastructures
-
refuse
economy
- “ecology-restaurants”,
localtypical biological products, moving ways
2.1.
Starting
position
This
project follows on from the socio-economic development plan, which was
compiled in 1994 and whose measures were finalised. The new development plan
was created by the Bioliguria -
Ecoarchitettura on the basis of a study of Bajardo. Within this
framework, analyses were carried out and the local situation was evaluated.
A lack of employers, investments, ideas and informations could be determined
in the preceded years, which has accelerated the disintegration of the
structures and villages and the drifting of the population. As a consequence,
there is no money available for studies and project development. Without
private interventions Bajardo, like many other Ligurien mountain villages,
is bound for ruin.
The
plan for the development and recreation of Bajardo was taken up in October
1999 of the Bioliguria, on suggestion from the mayor of Bajardo, who
suggested an integrated development programme including natural resources
yet without substantial colonization.
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The
starting point for an investigation was the population situation, the
community and its problems, in order to compile possible solutions on
scientific basis. An international board was formed with experts and
representatives from different areas.
The
plan for the development and recreation of Bajardo was taken up in October
1999 of the Bioliguria, on suggestion from the mayor of Bajardo, who
suggested an integrated development programme including natural resources
yet without substantial colonization. The starting point for an
investigation was the population situation, the community and its problems,
in order to compile possible solutions on scientific basis. An international
board was formed with experts and representatives from different areas.
The following processes were
used:
-
collection
of data and historical materials and meetings between experts and
citizens;
-
analysis
of the population trend and the labour situation, collection and
analysis of the data of economic activities: Agriculture, tourism
handicraft and culture
-
meetings
with the different segments of the population about varying subjects,
presentation of contents of the preliminary study, presentation of the
collected data and discussion, to check the data and collect suggestions;
-
on
the basis of the data and the notes from the meetings, a plan was
suggested and developed, in which targets, priorities, duration and
resources were listed;
-
the
suggestions were submitted to the local council and agreed upon
unanimously
the
following measures were put into action:
-
creation
of a local museum for identity preservation.
-
the
improvement of agricultural production and the selling of the products
-
remanagement
of a section of the olive groves
-
development
of concepts for vacation on the farm
-
different
public projects: Sports field, purification plant, public footpaths,
improvement of the cities decorations, local olive press.
Despite
being able to present results from this first phase, they won’t halt the
continuous process of disintegration in Bajardo. The decrease in population
and drifting due to inadequate perspectives is the cause of disintegration
and Bajardo especially and the surrounding mountain areas are awaiting a
solution.
The
aim of the project EcoBajardo 2001-2013 is to solve these problems and to
promote integrated and future orientated developments in phases of the
project.
2.2.
Aims
Aim
of the project is to use the Bajardo development over the next decade as a
model for imitation for the surrounding villages, in order to intervene the
inexorable disintegration process of the sea-alps.
2.3.
Participants
Administration
and local council, UNCEM, INRM, external experts (sociologist, architects),
citizens.
2.4.
Time framework
The
preliminary studies began in October 1999. In July 2001 the project was
presented and discharged. This project will illustrate one way of supporting
the forward-looking development for this region and was put into action
December 2001.
2.5.
Financing
The
means for the study and planning were provided by the Bioliguria
- Ecoarchitettura. The total investment amounts to over 30 million euro.
The largest part of this amount is supported by the Bajardo Bioliguria scrl.,
a part is promoted by the national program PRUST, further means will be
requested from individual European Union programs. Contacts to sponsors were
manufactured as well.
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