We spoke with Ivano Scotti (University of Molise) about the work on vulnerability analysis carried out in the MOVING’s project.
What role does the University of Molise play in the project?
UNIMOL (University of Molise) is one of the MOVING project partners. It coordinates the Mountain Reference Region (MRR) of Central Apennines (Italy).
The region rolls-out its research activities and actions engaging relevant stakeholders through a Multi-Actor Platform (MAP). The Central Apennines MAP involves five mountain municipalities: Agnone, which is the larger town (almost 4,900 inhabitants), Capracotta, Carovilli, Pescolanciaano and Vastogirardi (municipalities of between 650 and 1300 inhabitants).
What is the value chain selected in your region?
In the MRR Central Apennines, the value chain selected refers to the dairy sector, one of the main sectors in the area. At least, two main types of actors are involved in this value chain. Firstly, local livestock farmers and breeders who adopt different management systems and sustainable production processes. Secondly, local cheesemakers who produce traditional cheeses – such as Caciocavallo cheese – and national cheeses, such as mozzarella cheese, which use mainly high quality local milk.
The Multi-Actor Platform, coordinated by UNIMOL, is analysing the vulnerability of the dairy value chain to climate change and other socio-economic and environmental challenges that the system is facing.
What work have you done so far on vulnerability analysis?
On 18 July 2021 in Agnone we organised (in collaboration with the Mayor of Agnone) a first meeting with local relevant actors related to the value chain. On that occasion UNIMOL presented the MOVING project and collected information of the MAP members.
According to the project methodology framework, in October 2021 UNIMOL conducted 12 face-to-face interviews with local livestock farmers, cheesemakers, researchers, land managers and advisors identified in the previous meeting.
The interviews focused on identifying the main reference variable (e.g. a specific natural resource for the selected value chain) and the drivers of change that could affect the reference variable.
In addition, the objective of the interviews was to determine the components of the drivers of change, how they changed in the past and how the MAP members believe they will change in the near future.
The interviews allowed the MAP’s coordinator to gather information on possible adaptation and resilience strategies to cope with climate change and other challenges.
After analysing the results of the interviews, UNIMOL prepared a questionnaire that will be shared in the first part of November. It will be useful to define the content of the next workshop to be held in Agnone on 4 December 2021.
What is the aim of the next meeting?
At the December 2021 meeting, the MAP will conduct participatory activities on land systems vulnerability analysis. The main objective of this research phase of the project is to assess the vulnerability of the land use system based on what emerged in the pre-workshop interviews and questionnaires. In addition, the MAP members are required to provide answers on the reliability of data related to the critical socio-environmental drivers of change for the value chain reference variable in the reference region.
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