Nature park establishment and environmental conflicts in coastal areas: The case of the Costa Teatina National Park in central Italy

The Costa Teatina National Park was legally instituted to protect the natural environment of a section of the southern coast of Italy's Abruzzo region that is characterized by a relatively low degree of urbanization. The law instituting the park was passed in 2001, but due to difficulties in defining its spatial boundaries, the process of actually setting the park up has still not been completed. The underlying cause of this delay is a type of environmental conflict involving a variety of different players, from institutional bodies to interest groups and pressure groups. Our study identifies and documents the complex, dynamic relationships that exist between the various stakeholders, and discusses the reasons behind the difficulty in coming to an agreement on the park boundaries, a necessary step before the park can be properly established. The example of the Costa Teatina National Park is illustrative of a common set of problems that are likely to be encountered when attempting to institute a nature park in a coastal area with existing human activity and habitation. However, it should also be considered that in each situation, there are unique features that can influence the way the local population reacts to the creation of a park. In the case of the Costa Teatina National Park, there appear to be two main factors contributing to the conflicts: 1) a lack of consensus, locally, as to the need for environmental protection and a sustainable economy, and 2) the absence of an overwhelming, pressing need for the park that would override potential conflict and opposition.