Gli ecomusei per la valorizzazione multifunzionale del paesaggio

If we consider the landscape as a complex system, that provides a wide range of territorial functions and services (ecological, economic and social), the ecomuseum institutions appear an ideal tool for enabling a local sustainable development. An ecomuseum, indeed, can be defined as the expression of a community that regains possession of own territory and undertakes to take care of it, by identifying key elements of identity through a participatory experience aiming at enhancing cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, as a contribution to local sustainable development (Chart of Catania, 2007). These premises highlight links between the ecomuseum and the landscape for integrating conservation and local development, as the European Landscape Convention claims in considering the landscape as heritage and resource at the same time. Despite wide heterogenity of the international experiences, an ecomuseum's general model has some essential ideal features: 1) a unique link with the territory; 2) an interpretation of the territory and the heritage in their broadest sense by adopting scientific and empirical approaches in a dynamic and diachronic perspective; and, 3) the direct involvement of the population not only as final user or study subject, but also as player who, supported by a team of experts, is called on to express own needs, expectations and values. The idea to setting up an ecomuseum often comes from team of experts and local authorities, that have to communicate, share and agree the project and related activities with inhabitants. Building an ecomuseum is a process that leads to the re-discovery, enhancement and shared management of the heritage of a community through an integrated development projectthat envisages strategic activities ranging from research and training until social initiatives and economic diversification, for instance via the recovery of traditional crafts (e.g paper craft) or the development of new activities (e.g. sustainable tourism). Regional and national laws on ecomuseums have an important role in order to give to stakeholders a general framework about rules and financial supports.