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  Quality of life of a tourism site : how does Capri protect the beauty of its scenery ?

Salvatore CIUCCIO - Environment Assessor Representative, Capri, Italy

 

 

Initiative Overview

The international law that governs the requirements to implement an Environment Management System, including the ISO 14001 standard, was drawn in 1996. In 1997, – or a year later – CGSS srl, a leader in the environmental consulting industry, suggested to make this system a reality for Capri’s municipality.

At that time, the environment certification was still unknown – as opposed to the quality certification. But strategically, the Municipality, after careful evaluation, considered the system as a powerful tool to improve Capri’s environment performance, apply the community principle of a “sustainable tourism”, and above all, conserve Capri’s natural resources – the only real asset that helps the tourism industry. For that reason, we asked CGSS to design and implement an environment management system in order to receive the ISO 14001 certification, and from then on, CGSS helped us and continues to assist us in resolving environmental issues.

At first, when implementing the system, we had no knowledge of the impact of this tool on the city’s activities and local culture.

The Environment Management System has brought to our attention many new environment related aspects.

These aspects have been under close scrutiny; related issues have been taken into account – although not yet resolved – and linked to relevant action plans.

This system has allowed us to better grasp resource and territory management. With the system, we were able not only to detect possible lacks and find solutions, but also to continually enhance performance, and improve processes.

This philosophy, which exactly fits the program guidelines identified by the Municipality, has been made formal with the drawing of the Environmental Policy of Capri.

But the most significant change lies in the awareness of Capri’s citizens and tourists with respect to the environment: this change of mentality has brought numerous benefits in terms of waste reduction (water) and waste management improvement.

Embracing the environmental policy, and the individuation of set environmental objectives, has given Capri a new working method, an operating mode that has allowed the staff, involved in the system, to be fully aware of their responsibilities and duties. A virtuous circle, which has extended to several activities of the Municipality by emulation events (plan – implement – control – extend)..But we understood the significance of the system only when the certification organization has granted us the environment certification, and we’ve found out that this document contains important urges for changes that are already a reality in Capri, for instance :

• Diversified collect of wastes ;
• Improvement of water treatment systems ;
• Limiting the use of spark-ignition engines (mopeds) and promoting the use of electrical engines (4 electrical cabs) ;
• Continuous awareness of environment themes in schools ;
• Making residents and tourists aware of the Environmental Policy and the helpful instructions used to apply it, through a distribution in all hotels and public structures.

Other projects are planned, for instance :

• A survey on the ability to find renewable energy sources to improve emission into the atmosphere (this survey is conducted by the Ministry of Environment).

The use of an Environment Management System has proven to be beneficial to us; the most significant benefits include the following :

1. Improving the environment aspects in terms of: reduction of waste production ; improved management of diversified collect; improved water quality on all beaches (using purifiers).
2. Cultural changes: the region is not seen as a resource, but as an asset to be kept for future use.
3. Reduction of wastes, and conservation of natural resources.
4. Continuous and relevant adjustment to all applicable laws.
5. A consolidation of the tourism market by valorizing environment results.

I hope that what I’ve told you can contribute – even though only for a small part – to the efforts from other local governments to manage its natural resources asset by promoting an increasingly sustainable tourism growth.

I will now leave the description of the initiative to M. Silvano Coletti, Engineer & President of CGSS srl.

On behalf of Mr. Silvano Coletti – Chief Executive Officier of CGSS

The Mediterranean Basin represents 35% of the international tourist trade and the holds first place as the a tourist region on the entire planet. With the United Nations environmental program (UNEP) as reference, tourists in the Mediterranean, who were 55 million in 1984 and registering an increase to almost a 100 million in 1990, one can imagine an increment reaching to an amount of 380- 760 million for the year 2025, all in direct correlation to a calculation of real economical growth. Sustainable tourism, or as it is often called in its various forms, “eco-tourism”, “responsible tourism” or “environmental-friendly tourism”, has been at the center of numerous debates over the last years.

According to an important document “Caring for the Earth”, that stems from the IUCN (International Union for Nature Conservation), WWF and the UNEP (United Nations Environment program) and was formulated in 1991, sustainable tourism is described as a “type of development that allows for a true betterment of the quality of human life, and yet, at the same time, preserves the vitality and the diversity of the Earth”.

These principles were once again taken up into consideration in 1992 during the “Follow up” in Rio de Janeiro and were included in the “ Biological Diversity Convention ”.

After the adoption, and the rendering effective, of the “ Biological Diversity Convention ” the subject matter of “sustainable tourism and bio-diversity” once again finds itself the center of numerous discussions. These are the moments when this particular and special kind of tourism is recognized as the efficient means of using the various components of biological diversity, through the enactment of the three fundamental objectives contained in the Convention and recalled in Art. 1 :

1. the conservation of biological diversity ;
2. the sustainable use of its inherent components ;
3. the guarantee of equal- distribution of benefits obtained through the use of its genetic resources.

This introduction is to help understand how the ISO 14001 certification is not only and solely a point of arrival for a township, but also a key instrument in realizing a new environmental strategy, which in turn is indispensable for the sustainable use of natural resources, and consequentially sustainable tourism.

In 1997, the mayor of Capri commissioned us, as has been mentioned by vice-mayor Dr.Ciuccio, to put together an environmental management system in conformation to the ISO 14001 regulations, as well as to single out, in the meanwhile, a new environmental strategy capable of safeguarding the natural resources of the island, which are in direct contact with an ever constant and pressing tourism. We were obliged, however, to point out to the head of administration that the simple adhesion to methods condoned by the certification were not sufficient to resolve the problematic surrounding all the necessities of an ever increasing tourism. It would also be necessary to formulate a strategy aimed at bettering the environmental quality of an island considered one of the jewels of the Mediterranean sea, bringing it constantly to the international eye in merit of its unquestionable fame.

Therefore, an integrated management of the environment was necessary, to involve both economic aspects (tourism, fishing, sailing, ports, etc.), and natural aspects (marine ecosystems, coasts, protected areas). And this needed an effort for the acquisition of deeper knowledge instruments.

Research for a strategy of responsible tourism then became necessary. The ISO 14001 certification ended up as only a small part, for however important, of a mosaic simply illustrating the beginning of this process.

In order to reach a sustainable tourism, it was necessary to identify initiatives capable of facing the negative effects of anthropic activities caused by irresponsible tourism.

This was exactly the main objective of the management system for Capri. In the CGSS project Capri has been able to single out an integrated model capable of uniting environment , tourism, and the preservation of nature and its bio-diversity in its entirety.

The initiatives singled out in the given model have been accurately compared with the territory’s necessities along side with the various priorities of the Capri township administration. These initiatives have been retained as significant and strategically positive for the solidifying of long lasting development, establishment and familiarizing with the territory through these direct measures. In this manner, with global objectives in mind, one arrives upon local initiatives that united are able to conceive sustainable tourism in a balanced effort.

The project is launched in two phases :

ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION

a) Administration services are ameliorated through the implementation of the normative ISO 14001 as a guide for a new environmental strategy.

ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE TOWN ADMINISTRATION

a) The identifying and development of initiatives inspired by the objectives of the XXI Agenda which would contrast the negative effects of controversial anthropic activities created under the pressure of precedent necessity.

 

Environmental system for Capri

 

 

1. WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ?

The environmental management system, and not only the one created for Capri, but also in general, is an environmental management instrument that any organization spontaneously volunteers, in order to insure a system of check and control in the different aspects of the environment surrounding one’s own activities. This system is naturally in accordance with international standards issued by ISO (International Organization for Standardization), headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The ISO 14000 series’ object is environmental management systems and prescribes what is necessary to carry out the correct management of any environmental impact inherent in any determined activity.

The ISO 14000 series is of a voluntary nature, with the liberty of adhesion founded in the willingness of each and every single entity which intends to demonstrate their individual responsiveness to their surroundings and their private commitment towards safeguarding the environment.

The study and realization of an environmental management system entails collaboration with a highly qualified and specialized consultant. This is necessary because the specific requests and knowledge in this particular sector are incredibly diversified. For example :

• Waste waters (urban and industrial), pollution and protection of the waters.
• Atmospheric Emissions, the effects of pollution. Criteria and indexes regarding air quality.
• Collection, storage, management and disposal of waste
• Soil pollution and its environmental effects
• Management of dangerous substances
• Territorial acoustic pollution (criteria for evaluation and remediation)
• Evaluation of environmental impact
• Management of special landscapes and protected area
• The use of natural resources and Energy
• Well founded and up to date material regarding environmental legislation, with particular knowledge of the implications between UE community, domestic and local legislation.

The implementation of an environmental management system, in synthesis, requires :

• a preliminary territory analysis
• the definition of pursued targets for amelioration
• definition of steps of procedure and the means of reducing any environmental impact
• introduction of any eventual corrective measures
• acquisition of system certification released by an accredited bureau, the periodical re-examination of the system to introduce continuous system amelioration.

2. WHY REALIZE AN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ?

Because public organizations, inherent in their role as administrators, have the responsibility of foreseeing of and planning for any business activities initiated in their particular territory. No less is their duty of steady activity to increase awareness and incentives for the social entities working in the territory, creating motivation towards the betterment of the environmental quality around each activity.

Moreover :

• BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT IS ALWAYS OF AN EVER MORE PRECIOUS VALUE.
• BECAUSE OUR RESOURCES ARE NOT INFINITE AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE SAFEGUARDED.
• BECAUSE THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.

The realization of an environmental management system for Capri township has been an invaluable instrument for :

• the monitoring of polluting factors,
• the definition of various sectors necessitating intervention,
• the reduction of water, atmospheric and acoustic pollution,
• a sound evaluation of the effects of tourism,

environmental impact factors reflect negatively on the quality of life and on the surrounding artistic, historic and natural beauties and wonders.

The project’s objectives are to better the overall image and quality of life and services for all those who operate in the territory, including tourists and the citizens themselves. This can only be seen as an extension of an amelioration in the Capri town management and planning.

This choice has created the necessary conditions for further value growth adjunct to the commercial activities and the growth of tourism in the area.

3. OPERATIVE FORMALITIES FOR SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION

The realization of an environmental management system passes through a logical sequence of activities, each of which represents a natural sequence of events the activities can be summarized as the following :

• Preliminary environmental analysis
• Definition of the environmental aspects and of the consequential impact connected to the proposed activity.
• Definition of the environmental strategy and identification of the objects and goals.
• The composition of a manual describing the general lines of SGA
• The establishment of the operative procedures and their respective set of printed forms
• Document of a verification Audit released by a certification bureau
• Personnel training and a program of internal verification (tied in with system progression)
• An SGA pre- audit enacted by a certification bureau
• Corrective actions
• Final certification audit

From the beginning of the project the management organization will have nominated a director of the environmental management system, who rests independent from all other directive functions, answering directly to the head director.

4. ACTIVITY FLOW DIAGRAM

5. ADVANTAGES

To whomever has adopted and realized the actualization of an environmental management system and environmental audit there are noteworthy advantages, in suc:

• Allows for the appreciation, the planning and the protection of the natural resources and relative landscape, while clearly demonstrating a sound commitment towards environmental safekeeping.
• Public opinion, national as much as international, receives an enhanced outward image of the managing organization. This can only bring positive consequences for tourism.
• Permits the definition of potential savings through emissions reduction in the environment, guided use of energy and natural resources and the waste production management.
• Creates a noteworthy value appreciation for the conducting organization and in itself the project is a new and valuable environmental resource. A resource and value that contains and protects any and all others.

The fact that the project’s actualization is a voluntary action, can be seen as opening new forms of competition (ex. Potential tourism in the territory). Any investment and expense incurred upon adopting the normative should be recompensed by an increased competitiveness and an enhanced imagine towards public opinion. It is quite possible that the main reason for ISO regulation’s success at an international level lies in its non-obligatory nature.

In the end, it must be highlighted that territories highly devoted to tourism, together with the advantages of their existing well earned fame, could also consider themselves as a "natural paradise" that desires enacting a "certified" strategy for the safekeeping and betterment of their environmental theater. This leaves open the possibility to create events that would be able to periodically attract the public eye and attention the to area.

6. THE ADVANTAGES OBTAINED FOR CAPRI

The realization of an environmental management and auditing system has brought a remarkable series of advantages with it :

• Capri is indicated as a township with intuition for having been the first in applying ISO regulations, which were originally conceived for industry, to their administration.
• The continuous amelioration within administration management and of the environmental strategy.
• Greater support for the propagation of electric transport together with the forbidding of scooters in certain zones at certain times of the year. A novelty for next year will be the licensing of four electric taxis..- The realization of an integrated project regarding renewable energy resources (solare, rooftop sun panels, aeolian) which is already approved by the Ministry of Environment and covered by the lesser isles financial plan.

And more in detail, the interventions are finalized towards the reaching of the following general objectives :

• TO MOVE ON TO A SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTION OF ENERGY AND HEATING FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES
• THE OVERALL LOWERING OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BY 30% (lower emissions of smoke/noise/residue and a decrease in combustible fuel transport, raising of security levels in facilities, lowering of risks for the residential and touristic community, higher safety during procedures of supply…….)
• A STRONG AWARENESS OF THE ISLAND AND ITS CONCERN TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AS IT HAS BECOME A SAMPLE CASE OF A POSSIBLE SYNERGY BETWEEN SUSTAINABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT.
• AN EVER INCREASING AWARENESS AMONG THE ISLAND’S CITIZENS ABOUT GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AS WELL AS LOCAL.
• A NOTICEABLE AMELIORATION IN THE QUALITY OF LIVING FOR RESIDENTS AS WELL AS TOURISTS.
• AN INTEGRATION BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE, TECHNICAL, POLITICAL, ASPECTS WITH THE NECESSITIES FROM WITHIN THE PROJECT.
• THE FUTURE LAUNCHING OF A MORE COMPLEX AND AMBITIOUS PROJECT AIMING TOWARDS 100% COVERAGE OF THE ENERGETIC NEEDS OF THE ISLAND, OF WHICH THIS PRESENT PROJECT IS ONLY THE FIRST PART.

All the following are foreseen in the near future; the installation of solar panels for integrated supplying of the lighting systems in schools, hot water production plants, and a partial illumination of the famous little square, marine buoys as indicators for watercraft, water purifying systems, and the pumping of drinkable water in arrival from mainland conduits . The installation of battery solar panels will be used for the recharging of electric motorcycles and cars. All this will allow for a noticeable reduction of the fuel oil consumption that would destined for the production of electric energy.