The aims of the Parco Geominerario, it will soon be the heritage of the Unesco

The Historical and Environmental Parco Geominerario of Sardinia was instituted a few years ago, thank to an agreement protocol between the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and the E.M.S.A. (the Sardinian mining authority), and it has had a difficult birth from the political-administrative point of view. The Parco Geominerario, recognized in 1998 by the Unesco, was born with the triple requirement of protecting the Sardinian territory from the point of view of the environment and of the landscape, of preserving the historical and cultural inheritance beside that technological and scientific, and of finding a concrete solution to the unemployment problem.

The disused mines constitute an heritage of uncommon beauty and they are an extraordinary magnet for tourists from all over the world. They tell about the extraction activity, which has involved a large part of the territory since remote ages (the Punics and the Romans, but the Pisans and the other rulers as well, sensed the huge economical potential which hid under the earth) and about the social reality which followed. Towns like Iglesias (at that time Villa di Chiesa), Carbonia and Bugerru, only to mention the most famous, were born during different periods and just after the settlement of the miners and their families in the wealthiest and most exploited areas.

In the so-called “Carta of Cagliari” (Cagliari Paper), signed in the capital of the island by the most important representatives of the Unesco, of the Italian Government, of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia and of the E.M.S.A (1998), it is written that “it has been recognized that the territories destined to Parks, are considered areas of considerable international, regional and local interest, since they are carriers of general values. The different realities in the territories of the park must be preserved and enhanced, in order to promote the economical, social and cultural progress of the populations interested and to guarantee their transmission to the future generations. In the areas of the park must be assured a new model of progress, which must be compatible with the values to protect and to preserve”.

In view of the complexity of the territory, which spreads out for about 38.000 hectares, eight different areas have been distinguished according to their peculiarities (that of the Sulcis-Iglesiente, extended to the area of Guspini, is by far, the most representative for its strong connotation): 

• Area 1 - Monte Arci: 270 sq km (7%).
• Area 2 - Orani: 130 sq km (3,5%).
• Area 3 - Funtana Raminosa: 145 sq km (3,85%).
• Area 4 - Gallura: not delimited for its strong tourist characterization.
• Area 5 - Argentiera-Nurra: 61 sq km (2%).
• Area 6 - Guzzurra-Sos Enattos: 133 sq km (3,5%).
• Area 7 - Sarrabus Gerrei: 575 sq km (15%).
• Area 8 - Sulcis-Iglesiente-Guspinese: 2.455 sq km (65%).