THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE BAGNOLI-COROGLIO AREA IS ENDURRING THE BALANCE OF THE SUBMERGED GAIOLA PARK, ONE OF THE MARINE TREASURES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. THE SEWERAGE NETWORK RECONFIGURATION PROJECT HAS RAISED ALARMS BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW OVERFLOW NEAR THE PROTECTED SEA FOOD. WWF ITALY WARNS OF POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
The Bagnoli project: between redevelopment and environmental doubts
Il Environmental redevelopment and urban renewal plan of the Bagnoli-Coroglio SINa neighborhood of Naples overlooking the gulf, was created with the aim of healing the deep wounds left by years of abandonment and the disposal of the industrial area of the former Italsider (historical steel complex active until the 1990s). The initiative aims to return to the city an area of strategic importance, fundamental for the economic, social and environmental relaunch of the western part of the Neapolitan capital.
The recovery plan includes interventions to reclaim contaminated land, the creation of large green areas and the incorporation of advanced infrastructure, rethinking access and use of the coastline from an ecological and sustainable perspective.
However, of the planned infrastructure works, one of the most controversial interventions concerns the expansion of the sewer collector, with the construction of a second spillway (a construction that allows part of the waste or rainwater to be drained to prevent overload) near the Special protection area (ZSC) Gaiola-Nisida, one of the most valuable marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean. Let’s try to understand it better.
A marine treasure that must be preserved: the Gaiola Submerged Park
Il Gaiola underwater parkimmersed in the clear waters of the Gulf of Naples, is one of the most precious marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean. This naturalistic gem is part of the Natura 2000 network, the European Union’s main instrument for the conservation of biodiversity and habitat protection.
The park is designated as a Special Conservation Area (SAC) and is home to an extraordinary variety of marine life. The sunken caves, coral walls and the numerous fish species that take refuge among the rocky ravines represent a unique biodiversity heritage in the Mediterranean.
Are prairies of Posidonia oceanicaConsidered authentic lungs of the sea, they are home to a large number of marine organisms. This contributes to maintaining the ecological balance of the area.
Over the years, the Submerged Park has been the subject of numerous interventions aimed at preserving its integrity, through scientific research projects, environmental education initiatives and the promotion of sustainable and responsible tourism.
However, this delicate balance is in danger of being jeopardized by the introduction of a second spillway near the protected seabeds of Gaiola and Nisida. According to numerous experts and environmental associations, the work could undermine years of efforts, exposing the area to pollution risks that would endanger marine fauna and flora.
A Pyrrhic Victory: MASE Approval and the Future of the Park
Despite two negative technical reports from the Gaiola Submerged Park Authority, the opposing motion was unanimously approved by the Council of Campania region and the “NO” from numerous scientific and cultural associations, the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) decided to approve the project.
WWF Italy responded decisively, denouncing the risk that the plan, instead of solving existing problems, would ultimately exacerbate them. The association underlined that the redevelopment of the area should have been an opportunity to eliminate the spillway currently in use, thus avoiding the addition of a new one and thus reducing the risk of marine pollution.
One of the main criticisms of the World Wild Found for Nature concerns the lack of sustainable alternatives that have been explored to solve the sewage problem. According to the European Union’s Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC), other options that result in the lowest possible impact on the environment must be evaluated before intervening in a protected area.
No more sewers in the sea: the call from WWF
In response to the project’s approval last April, the WWF organized a public demonstration along one of the most evocative parts of the Neapolitan coast. The event has acquired the value of a symbol of environmental protection. Hundreds of citizens, environmentalists and researchers took part in the event to firmly express the need for a change of course.
The mobilization was not just a protest. He launched a concrete call to protect the Gaiola Underwater Park. The urgency of preserving this marine ecosystem, a natural heritage of great value, was underlined.
The hope is that the civil society protest can convince the institutions to review the project and focus on solutions that protect the sea, while respecting the ecological and cultural value of one of the most precious jewels of the Mediterranean.