Enjoyment system in Protected areas. Planning and management in Italy

In Italy, unlike other international experiences such as the National Park Service in the United States and the Parks Nationaux in France, there is a total absence of a national system for protected areas and a clear separation between the competences of the planning tools of protected natural areas and the entire territory. Therefore, there is a need to develop new references and tools for the planning and management of protected natural areas that can answer to contemporary challenges while ensuring the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. The aim of the contribution is to identify new models, strategic and operational references for the planning and management of the system of the “enjoyment system” in protected areas, which can guarantee on the one hand, the conservation of nature and habitats and, on the other, to ensure adequate and sustainable uses of protected areas, to initiate prospects for socio-economic and cultural development. To do this, the 16 Regional Natural Parks of the Lazio region, in Italy, are selected as case studies, and the strategies, planning tools and management models of the enjoyment system of these protected areas are analyzed.