Italy: Po river basin, a new lease on life

Its back to basics for the Po basin. Following years of pressure and bureaucratic procedures the River Basin Authority has finally allowed the basin regulation to take off. What will this mean? That Italy?s most important river will be restored to its natural state, that is to say that its hydro-geological safety and environmental balance will finally be safeguarded.

?The regulation represents a real turning point? declares Andrea Agapito Ludovici, responsible for Water issues for WWF Italy. Many consider the Po to be Northern Italy?s sink has been the object of serious speculation in the past and it is still vulnerable to dangerously bizarre projects – like the recent proposal to allow navigation for the transport of goods – that could compromise the equilibrium of the basin. Such projects often have serious environmental consequences and do not bring with them finacial advantages, nor do they coontribute to reducing the problems connected to floods or the ongoing summer water crisis.

The river will only become healthy again if the regulatory plan is carried out, as it is the only way to guarantee that environmental balances are respected.

But what will the plan entail? Reopening old abandoned or degraded tributaries, requalifying areas of natural overflow, reforesting river banks. But also conserving natural species and controlling alien species and removing obstacles like dams, gates and cross beams.