Consapevolezza territoriale e sviluppo locale. Un progetto per l'Alta Valle dell'Aniene

This work regards the Aniene Valley and in particular it aims to focus on the Upper Aniene Valley. This latter is a territory having uncertain boundaries and situated in the eastern edge of the Metropolitan City of Rome. The study area presents remarkable problems: demographic aging and decline, economic marginality and sadly poor knowledge of the territory by local communities despite the presence of an important environmental and cultural heritage. Starting from an idea of development based on the peculiarity, uniqueness and self-sustainability of local heritage (Magnaghi, 2010) and on the active participation of local communities in the social production of wealth, this thesis intends to formulate a project aimed at encouraging the growth of territorial awareness among local people living or working in the villages of the Upper Aniene Valley. Expected result would be that of stimulating active citizenship in the management, protection and enhancement of the local territory. The theoretical reflection profits from the existing links between territorial identity and local development, region/regionalization and territory/territorialization, active territoriality, from digital technologies with territorial awareness. By means of bibliographic research (including institutional websites and social networks), and fieldwork it was possible to specify distinctive features, peculiarities and limits of the area of investigation and finally to propose an informational tool (a dedicated website) aimed at involving local communities actively. This aim appears necessary inasmuch it is the first step towards a more complete territorial project, aimed at enhancing the potential for development of the considered territory, finally with the contribution of everyone.