Fondazione Santagata has been commissioned to update the Management Plan for the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Portovenere, Cinque Terre and the Islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto”, one of the Mediterranean’s most outstanding cultural landscapes and an exceptional example of the centuries-long balance between human activity and the natural environment.

Context

Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997 under criteria (ii), (iv) and (v), the property includes the town of Portovenere, the five villages of the Cinque Terre, and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. Its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) is closely linked to its historic terraced landscape, traditional agricultural systems, and the enduring relationship between cultural heritage, the environment, and local communities.

In recent years, the site has faced increasingly complex challenges, including the impacts of climate change, hydrogeological vulnerability, growing tourism pressures, and socio-economic transformations affecting historic settlements and traditional livelihoods. In this context, updating the site’s management framework is a crucial step towards strengthening its capacity to address these challenges through an integrated and sustainable approach.

Objectives

The project aims to develop a new Management Plan aligned with the latest UNESCO guidance and international best practices for the management of World Heritage properties.

The work builds upon existing knowledge of the site, consolidating previous studies while integrating new research and extensive consultation with local stakeholders. The updated Plan will establish a shared strategy for safeguarding the site’s Outstanding Universal Value by defining objectives, priority actions, governance mechanisms, and a monitoring system capable of assessing progress over time.

Particular attention is given to integrating heritage conservation with climate resilience, risk management, the enhancement of traditional agricultural and productive activities, sustainable tourism management, and the active participation of local communities.

Expected Results and Impact

The preparation of the Management Plan is structured around three main operational outcomes:

  • Developing a comprehensive knowledge base through territorial, socio-economic, environmental and tourism analyses, the assessment of the current Management Plan, stakeholder mapping, and the review of existing planning instruments and ongoing initiatives.
  • Engaging institutions, local communities, businesses, associations and schools through interviews, thematic working groups, and participatory activities to ensure an inclusive planning process.
  • Defining a strategic framework, together with a portfolio of actions and a technical and economic feasibility framework supported by economic, social, cultural and environmental indicators, enabling the long-term evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of the proposed actions.

Partner

  • UNESCO Site Office – Portovenere, Cinque Terre and the Islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto