Scientific Committee

The Committee has been set up with the Decision n. 5824 of 26/03/2025 (PDF - 133.4 KB) “Establishment of the scientific Committee of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Evaporitic “Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines””.

The committee is the scientific reference body with a consultative and proactive role, made up of scholars and experts in values related to geological/speleological heritage and associated values (environmental, ecological and cultural) considered to be significant for the conservation, management and enhancement of the property.

It is composed of 7 members, including:

1. Monica Miari for the Archaeological Superintendency of Fine Arts and Landscape for the metropolitan city of Bologna and the provinces of Modena, Reggio Emilia and Ferrara (Ministry of Culture);
2. Giuseppe Vignali (full member) and Alessandra Curotti (alternate) for the National Park of the Tosco-Emiliano Apennines;
3. Stefano Lugli for the University of Modena and Reggio-Emilia;
4. Jo Hilaire Agnes De Waele for the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna;
5. Luca Pisani for the Regional Speleological Federation;
6. Monica Palazzini (Protected areas, forests and mountain development sector) for the Emilia-Romagna Region;
7. Marco Pizziolo (Territorial defence sector) for the Emilia-Romagna Region;

The Committee is convened periodically to activate its expertise of specialist support with the following tasks:

• •  to provide advice on the GSC, on the management plan for the visit experience, and on the communication plan of the universal and associated values of the property;
• to provide criteria and guidelines for scientific research activities, for investigation activities on associated values (environmental, ecological and cultural) and for scientific dissemination activities;
• provide technical and scientific advice on matters and issues related to the management and conservation of the property;
• to provide advice on relevant issues requested by WH EKCNA focal point and by the Institutional Committee;
• to provide advice on the methods and monitoring activities of the state of conservation of the property.

To support the candidacy of the property, instead, a scientific technical Working Group was established that contributed with the documentation for the application file by developing scientific aspects, which represent the core of the documentation.