Valeria Lingua

Dal Patto per l’Arno ai Contratti di fiume degli affluenti: esperienze e prospettive nell’area metropolitana fiorentina

Introduction

Dal patto per l’arno ai contratti di fiume degli affluenti: esperienze e prospettive nell’area metropolitana fiorentina. Esplora i Contratti di fiume come strumenti di governance collaborativa nell'area metropolitana fiorentina. Analizza esperienze dai bacini Elsa e Greve, affrontando sfide climatiche e pianificazione territoriale.

Abstract

This contribuIon highlights the role of river contracts as so[ governance tools designed to acIvate wide-area collaboraIve dynamics that transcend insItuIonal boundaries and faces contemporary challenges, from climate change to ecological transiIon. By retracing some acIon-research experiences conducted by the Department of Architecture (DIDA) of the University of Florence in the last five years, we analyse the experiences neighbouring the Pesa valley (Elsa and Greve basins), conceived as processes for implemenIng both the Arno “contract of contracts” and the regional and metropolitan planning instruments (Strategic and Territorial Plan) of the FlorenIne context. Common themes and peculiariIes emerge, with respect to a wide and varied landscape and territorial context, but also in relaIon to the interests and forms of governance to be acIvated or already in place, as well as for the role played by the University in assisIng the processes in these contexts.

Review

This contribution provides a timely and relevant exploration of river contracts as crucial soft governance tools for fostering wide-area collaborative dynamics in river basin management. Focusing on the Florentine metropolitan area, the paper traces the evolution from the "Patto per l’Arno" to specific river contracts in the Pesa, Elsa, and Greve basins. It effectively positions these initiatives within the broader context of contemporary challenges such as climate change and ecological transition, highlighting their role in implementing both regional and metropolitan planning instruments. The paper is strengthened by its foundation in action-research experiences conducted by the Department of Architecture (DIDA) of the University of Florence, offering a valuable academic perspective on these practical governance processes. While the abstract promises to reveal "common themes and peculiarities" across diverse landscape and territorial contexts, the full paper would benefit from a more explicit and detailed articulation of these findings. A deeper comparative analysis of the specific interests and forms of governance activated or already existing within each basin, and how they interact with the river contract framework, would significantly enhance the paper's analytical rigor. Furthermore, while the University's role in assisting these processes is highlighted, a critical reflection on the specific mechanisms of this assistance, its challenges, and its measurable impacts on governance outcomes would add valuable insights for other academic institutions engaged in similar initiatives. The methodological framework of the "action-research experiences" could also be further elaborated to demonstrate the robustness of the derived insights. Overall, this paper presents a highly pertinent case study that contributes significantly to the literature on environmental governance, collaborative planning, and the practical application of soft law instruments in complex territorial contexts. Its exploration of the interplay between top-down planning and bottom-up engagement in addressing critical environmental issues is particularly commendable. The findings will be of considerable interest to academics, practitioners, and policymakers engaged in water resource management, urban and regional planning, and the study of multi-level governance. The paper effectively bridges the gap between theoretical concepts of collaborative governance and their real-world implementation, offering valuable lessons for the ongoing ecological transition.

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