Land development support in marginal areas: an opportunity of environmental quality implementation

Most of the European territory cannot be understood as simply places with specific and defined spatial, functional and perceptive features. In this general view, marginal lands, "territories in between" (TiB), “less favoured areas” (LFA), are recognized as areas in transformation, in which particular attention should be paid in order to a coordinated development of whole territory. The aim of the study is to deepened knowledge these marginal in order to further a range of development opportunities starting from specific features. In Italian context, Molise Region has an important amount of internal, less-favoured areas, in order to its morphological structure and its historical and economic development. In this paper a comparison between LFAs and TiBs was developed, starting from their allocation and from OECD and European Commission definitions. Then, the Ecosystem Services (ES) were assessed through economic approach, comparing regional average with site-specific values. Results show general high ES values at regional level, compared to other Italian context. Al local level, ES assessment shows critical conditions within the TiB inside LFAs, with high ES values and economic disadvantage. The analysis shows, therefore, the importance of these areas as support to landscapes and habitats preservation; they are (and have to been considered) important parts of cultural and environmental heritage. Quantitative indices and parameters are useful tools to highlight, through objective and numerical terms, land criticisms but also opportunities. These aspects can involve public opinion and support decision-maker on conservation policies.