Description
With regard to the various UNESCO programmes, given the presence in the Trentino region of several recognised sites and elements, as well as the organisations responsible for promoting or managing them, the Autonomous Province of Trento has identified the need to facilitate a forum for discussion and reflection, to enable the exchange of views and reflection on individual experiences, the development of common strategies, and the potential development of joint projects.
By Provincial Council Resolution No. 1060/2023, the Co-ordination Body for UNESCO-recognised sites and elements in the Province of Trento was therefore established with a view to ensuring efficient collaboration within the Provincial Administration and fostering synergy with the various bodies and institutions involved, in dialogue with the relevant institutions at national and international level.
The Coordination Committee, chaired by the councillor responsible for the ‘Dolomites – UNESCO World Heritage Site’ project or, by delegation, by the Director-General of the relevant Department, is composed of representatives of the bodies responsible for managing the sites and elements within the Province of Trento that have been recognised under UNESCO programmes. This coordination body may be supplemented by the participation of applicants regarding applications for recognition under UNESCO programmes that concern the provincial territory.
The Sustainable Development and Protected Areas Service acts as the secretariat for this coordination in collaboration with TSM’s STEP – School of Territory and Landscape.
UNESCO Recognitions in Trentino
The extraordinary natural and cultural heritage of the province of Trento, which bears witness to the deep bond between humankind and the environment, is also recognised internationally. A number of initiatives have been promoted under the auspices of UNESCO — the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
Four sites are inscribed on the World Heritage List: the Dolomites, a Natural World Heritage Site; the Prehistoric Pile-Dwelling Sites in the Alpine Arc; the Adamello Brenta Geopark; and the Alpi Ledrensi and Judicaria Biosphere Reserve – from the Dolomites to Lake Garda.
These are complemented by other important initiatives:the Art of Dry-Stone Walling and Mountaineering, both recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage; the Chair in Engineering for Human and Sustainable Development at the University of Trento; ‘La Terrazza delle Stelle’, a UNESCO site ‘connected to the sky’; the partnership with the World Network of Water Museums; and the UNESCO Club of Trento.
Some of these designations are shared with other regions or countries: the Dolomites, for example, are shared with the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia; whilst the pile-dwelling sites form part of a network of similar monuments found in various areas of northern Italy and Europe. Mountaineering and the art of dry-stone walling are also heritage elements shared at an international level.
Taken together, these initiatives reflect the Trentino region’s commitment to the protection and promotion of a heritage that integrates nature, culture and knowledge, striking a harmonious balance between continuity and sustainability.
To support the numerous initiatives across the region and to encourage the exchange and development of joint projects, the Autonomous Province of Trento has established the Coordination Committee for UNESCO-recognised sites and elements.
The UNESCO Value in Trentino: survey on the perception of UNESCO awards
The survey on the perceived value of UNESCO awards aims to go beyond a reading centred on individual sites or awards, adopting a systemic perspective. The objective is to understand how the different designations are perceived by the different publics (whether as separate entities or as components of a unified system), and to what extent they contribute in an integrated manner to the enhancement of the natural, cultural and social heritage of the provincial territory.
23/04/2026