IPROMO Scuola Internazionale della Montagna
by
sstanchi
—
last modified
2008-08-06 12:15
This climate response measure was submitted by third parties in summer 2008 as part of the competition for the cc.alps project. Responsibility for the contents rests with the persons indicated on the form.
Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta
it (Italy)
2008-01-01
36 months
Mr Ermanno Zanini
DIVAPRA Chimica Agraria e Pedologia
Ms Silvia Stanchi
DIVAPRA Chimica Agraria e Pedologia
silvia.stanchi@unito.it
:
The International Programme on Research and Training on Sustainable Management of Mountain Areas (IPROMO) is led by DIVAPRA (Department of Reclamation and Protection of Agro-forestry Resources - Torino University ) with the support of UNESCO’s Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at FAO. It includes the creation of the "International Post-Graduate School for Mountains" located at the Istituto Angelo Mosso in the Monte Rosa Massif.
The International Programme on Research and Training on Sustainable Management of Mountain Areas (IPROMO) is led by DIVAPRA (Department of Reclamation and Protection of Agro-forestry Resources - Torino University ) with the support of UNESCO’s Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at FAO. It includes the creation of the "International Post-Graduate School for Mountains" located at the Istituto Angelo Mosso in the Monte Rosa Massif.
IPROMO International School for Mountains
Adaptation measure
- educational
- technical
- strategic
- Education
- Water management
- Natural hazards management
- Nature conservation
transnational
Mountains,
global change,
environment
formation
training - capacity building
The IPROMO program includes the creation of the permanent “International Post-Graduate School for Mountains” located at the Istituto Angelo Mosso at Col d’Olen (Monte Rosa). The scientific Institute was built with international funding in 1907 and recently restored. Now the Institute hosts the Alpine Soil and Snow Laboratory of DIVAPRA (scientific responsible Prof. Ermanno Zanini), which gave a consederable support to the Italy-Switzerland INTERREG IIIa Project, resulting in the restoration of the Institute The unique location of the School allows the reclamation and full development of the structure, also from a didactic point of view. In fact, the lab is located in the middle of the Monte Rosa Massif (between Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta), it has an historycal value and strong potentials as a training site. Courses are now planned for the first three years of activity, the first starting July 23d, 2008.
The didactic activities (full-immersion post-graduate courses for selected participants) are held at a graduate and post-graduate level. The target audience includes technicians, planners and decision-makers from mountain regions of the world, particularly from areas with severe overexploitation and degradation, i.e. regions that are potentially more sensitive to global change impacts. In the selection criteria, priority is given to countries and institutions members of the Mountain Partnership. The school is residential, thanks to the availability of alpine huts close to the Mosso Scientific Institute. The first year's programme, starting July 2008, includes courses in the fields of natural sciences, forestry, socio-economics focusing on "Mountain Environment and Global Change" with 30 participants coming from 21 countries, and about 20 teachers from Universities and Research Centers located in EU, Switzerland, USA, Africa.
The final objective is the training of students, researchers, technicians for the management of mountain areas, characterised by considerable ecological, social, economical complexity. Moreover, the aim is to provide scientific knowledge and to enhance the ability of participants to assess potential ecological and social impacts of different management policies. Moreover, the creation of the school will help building permanent research networks allowing scientific exchanges in the field of global change-related issues in mountain areas.
Assessment criteria for the Jury’s decision
This aspect can not be quantified directly as the measure proposed is a training/capacity building activity. However, formation activities are for sure beneficial for climate change mitigatio and social awareness increase.
The effect of training activity on negative climate change consequences can not be directly quantified, but an indirect effect on people's attitude and awareness is certainly present.
| Field | Positive impact | Neutral impact | Negative impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landscape | X | ||
| Alpine ecosytems/biodiversity | X | ||
| Water, soil, air | X | ||
| Others | X | ||
|
The initiative will promote the sharing of scientific and technical knowledge, which is fundamental to develop mitigation/contrast strategies related with landscape and ecosystemsconservation and protection, and biodiversity conservation. The permanent presence of scientists and technicians in the small community hosting most of the course (Alagna Vasesia) will increase the awareness of tourists and locals on the issues of climate change, involving them in open lectures, educational activities, field excursion, open days at the lab with activities for children and adults/teachers |
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| Field | Positive impact | Neutral impact | Negative impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social justice | X | ||
| Co-determination/participation | X | ||
| Regional/cultural identity | X | ||
| Others | |||
|
The direct involvement of small communities that will host the Course might promote a better awareness of local identity and culturale heritage, thanks to the contact/exchange with different experiences and people from all over the world. The considerable heterogeneity of participants' background and origin is certainly a point of strength of the initiative and a source of cultural/scientific enrichment. |
|||
| Field | Positive impact | Neutral impact | Negative impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | X | ||
| Value added/income | X | ||
| Know-how/competitiveness | X | ||
| Others | |||
|
The municipalities hosting the course (e.g. Alagna Valsesia) will benefit every summer season from the presence of a consistent number of visitors, hosted in different residences and hotels. Such presence in summer is certainly a positive aspect, considering that turistic activities here are concentrated almost exclusively in the ski season. This would help create a better balance in the touristic presence all over the year |
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The initiative was promoted through newsletters and mailing lists (FAO-Mountain Partnership Secretariat, other sponsors), local and national press, Minerva (magazine of the University of Torino), University websites and a specific website (www.ipromo-school.it), in 4 languages (Italian, English, Spanish, French) constantly updated with information and material for candidates and selected participants, leaflets and other promotional material. More than 200 candidates from over 25 countries (mainly developing countriies) took part in the selection. 30 candidates were finally selected for the Course. 20 of them will receive a full grant (registration, boarding, travel), 10 a partial grant (excluding the trip).
The main organization steps can be easily be transfered to similar experiences. The network of teachers and research centers established during the organization of the 1st edition will certainly be helpful for the next programmed events focusing on different aspects of mountain environments.
This field is not directly applicable to our training program. However, the program is part of the UNESCO's DESD (Decade of Education for Sustainable Development) which is certainly a strategical action with a worldwide impact.
Further information
The main goal is making the formation activities on mountain-related issues a permanent iitiative. The location of the School is really unique for its position, between Piemonte-Valle d'Aosta, but also Italy-Switzerland. The "Mosso" scientific institute has also a long history in high altitude mountain research, and its restoration is a good starting point for establishing a permanent network.
86.000
We could increase the number of scholarships and contact a larger number of teachers/lecturers.
Online information on the measure
The website contains the project and partnership description, information for participants, course schedule
http://www.ipromo-school.it
DIVAPRA - LNSA (laboratory for snow and alpine soils research): the website describes the main activities carried out by the department, with a main focus on Alpine soil research, organic C and nutrient cycling, snow science, education and formation on soils and snow
http://www.lnsa.unito.it/
Mountain Partnership Website. Gentile Ing. Francione, in allegato il file con le tipologie di risalite e relativi costi, coem da proposta inviatami da Michele Freppaz. La pregherei gentilmente di diffonderla anche al Dott. BAlestrini.
http://www.mountainpartnership.org
:
Administration (local, regional, national), Universities or other education institutions, Individuals, Organisations of civil society
DIVAPRA (Department of Reclamation and Protection of Agro-forestry Resources) is involved in many research activities suche as Interreg and EU projects but also consulting activities for public bodies and private enterprises. Its main research interests are: alpine soils, snow science, soil-snow interactions and soil-plant interactions, C and nutrient cycling, C forms and sinks, natural hazards
Rosalaura Romeo c/o FAO Mountain Partnership V,le Terme di Caracalla - Roma Rosalaura.Romeo@fao.org
Photos, illustrations, documents
Opening of the Mosso institute after restoration, 15th Dec 2007
View of the Istituto Scientifico Mosso at Col d'Olen
The faculty of Agriculture - University of Torino (classrooms building)