Green ears 2024, 75 municipalities awarded for sustainable rural development

Piedmont is the Italian region that boasts the largest number of green ears rural municipalities with a strong focus on sustainability.

Municipalities announced Green ears of 2024:they enter the program this year Senigallia, Gavi, Nardò, Ragusa, Gambassi Terme And Trevi, while Sellia, Fiesole and Greve in Chianti leave the list of virtuous municipalities.There are 75 in total and they can boast good practices and care in the sustainable development of their rural territory.Many describe the Green Ears as the rural version of the Blue Flags.

What are green ears?

Green ears is a program for sustainable rural development thought by Foundation for environmental education – Italy in 2016.It is aimed at Italian municipalities interested in enhancing and investing in their rural heritage, improving the good environmental practices.Of great importance in the evaluation is theagriculture seen as an activity that acts to defend the landscape, protect biodiversity and produce quality food.To obtain certification and the Spiga Verde brand, municipalities must self-nominate following a protocol which provides for compliance with criteria - there are 67 - contained in different thematic areas (water, energy, agriculture, waste, urban planning, landscape protection, etc. .).The application is voluntary and free and is evaluated by a national evaluation commission which brings together experts from various public and private bodies.

The ranking by region of the 2024 edition

The region with the most green ears is Piedmont with 13 municipalities, followed by Marche with 9.However, there are no municipalities in Sardinia, Molise, Valle d'Aosta, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino Alto Adige.

• Piedmont Alba, Bra, Canelli, Centallo, Castiglione Falletto, Cherasco, Gamalero, Gavi, Guarene, Monforte d'Alba, Pralormo, Santo Stefano Belbo and Volpedo;
• Marche Esanatoglia, Grottammare, Matelica, Mondolfo, Montecassiano, Montelupone, Numana, Senigallia, Sirolo;
• Tuscany Bibbona, Castellina in Chianti, Castiglione della Pescaia, Castagneto Carducci, Gambassi Terme, Grosseto, Massa Marittima, Orbetello;
• Umbria they are Acquasparta, Deruta, Montecastrilli, Montefalco, Norcia, Scheggino, Todi, Trevi;

• Calabria Belcastro, Crosia, Miglierina, Montegiordano, Roseto Capo Spulico, Santa Maria del Cedro, Trebisacce;
• Puglia Andria, Bisceglie, Castellaneta, Carovigno, Maruggio, Nardò, Ostuni, Troia;
• Campania Agropoli, Ascea, Capaccio-Paestum, Foiano di Val Fortore, Massa Lubrense, Positano;
• Lazio Canale Monterano, Gaeta, Pontinia, Rivodutri, Sabaudia;
• Veneto Montagnana and Porto Tolle;
• Liguria Lavagna and Sanremo;
• Lombardy Ome and Sant'Alessio with Vialone;
• Emilia-Romagna Parma
• Abruzzo Gioia dei Marsi and Tortoreto
• Basilicata Nova Siri
• Sicily Ragusa