Tuscany’s Rural Development Programme (PSR: Programma di sviluppo rurale) has set aside more than 3 million euro to finance special projects from public and private enterprises in the area covering the Garfagnana, Lunigiana, the Mid-Serchio Valley and the Pistoiese Apennines. The decision was announced by Marco Remaschi, the Tuscan Region’s assessor for agriculture, when the regional committee sat on Monday 25 May 2020.

Promotional and public information activities, driven by associations of producers, will be financed, as will projects to support investment in necessary infrastructure where access to forest and agriculture areas is concerned. Conservation and landscape clean-up projects will be funded; so too will anything that safeguards and promotes biodiversity. Money will also go towards preventative measures aimed at natural disasters, atmospheric problems and damage done to woodland through fires and other natural calamities; to projects that aim to promote the preciousness of the woodland ecosystems, and help create, develop and support short production lines and local markets.

“This is an important decision,” Remaschi commented, “for economic development in Tuscany’s northern, Apennine area. It presents organisations, businesses and all citizens with the opportunity to work together to help realise their great potential. It is also a unique opportunity to try to halt the progressive demographic decline and depopulation of this area, which must become stronger and more competitive if it is to assure its inhabitants of work and economic growth.” 

In order to qualify for the funds made available by the grant (3,103,000 euro) the projects presented by public and private organisations must fall entirely within one or more of the 38 municipalities in the Garfagnana, Lunigiana, Mid-Serchio Valley and the Pistoiese Apennines: Camporgiano, Careggine, Fabbriche di Vergemoli, Fosciandora, Gallicano, Minucciano, Molazzana, Piazza al Serchio, Pieve Fosciana, San Romano in Garfagnana, Sillano Giuncugnano, Villa Collemandina, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Castiglione di Garfagnana, Casola in Lunigiana, Comano, Fivizzano, Zeri, Aulla, Bagnone, Filattiera, Fosdinovo, Licciana Nardi, Mulazzo, Podenzana, Tresana, Villafranca Lunigiana, Bagni di Lucca, Barga, Borgo a Mozzano, Coreglia Antelminelli, Pescaglia, Abetone-Cutigliano, Sambuca Pistoiese, San Marcello-Piteglio, Vagli Sotto, Marliana, Pontremoli.