Private Natura 2000 sites: Mapping opportunities for a new fruition of (almost) abandoned sites

Abstract

Freed-up spaces, abandoned spaces, are often spaces in transition, impermanent, with no guarantee of continuity. Sometimes abandoned (or almost abandoned) urban or rural spaces are interpreted as decaying and are devalued. Other times, however, it is possible to interpret them in different ways, highlighting peculiarities and characteristics and proposing a new (or more) use. This is the case of the Stellantis - La Mandria site, once an important FIAT test track, where several cars were tested before they were put on the market. About 15 years ago, this area had to change its use, thus ceasing its previous activities. This change was due to the fact that the private area falls within the walls of La Mandria Park (Venaria Reale, Italy), the first regional park in Piedmont. Moreover, La Mandria Park is now an important Special Conservation Area (SAC) and therefore a Natura 2000 site (ZSC IT1110079 La Mandria). However, the needs (of the holding company, but also of the Park Authority, which manages and monitors the public part of the SAC site), the sensitivity to sustainability and environmental issues of the automotive company have changed over time, and Stellantis’ desire to make the site accessible again can be highlighted. To this end, it was necessary to understand what this space contained, by investigating the flora and fauna present and identifying which areas could host new forms of fruition. In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, this contribution proposes an approach aimed at the valorisation of private Natura 2000 sites, in order to allow a new fruition while safeguarding the natural heritage. In particular, the approach includes a mapping of the ecosystem services provided by the private site, through the involvement of experts. These results may be useful for: setting up a project aimed at observing the evolution (mainly flora and fauna) of an abandoned site; planning a new guided fruition of the private site; updating the Area Plan of the “ZSC IT1110079 La Mandria” site. This opens up new future possibilities, which will see the transit and/or establishment of (new) plant and animal species, including humans.