#Workshop
SETIN supported the Regione Lazio in the implementation of a comprehensive training programme aimed at strengthening technical capacities for the application of the Appropriate Environmental Assessment procedure, known in Italy as VINCA (Valutazione di Incidenza Ambientale), useful for the protection of the Natura 2000 network.
The initiative was addressed to public officials and park rangers involved in the management of protected natural areas and in the assessment of plans, projects and interventions that may affect sites of ecological importance. Through this service, SETIN contributed to reinforcing the technical and operational skills required to ensure a consistent and effective application of the VINCA procedure across different managing authorities.
The training programme was delivered across 12 Protected Areas, each managing different Natura 2000 Sites, and involved a total of 133 officials and park rangers, for an overall 1,000 hours of training. The activities were structured into classroom sessions, in-depth technical modules and practical workshops focused on case studies, procedural steps and operational tools.
A key objective of the intervention was to support participants in understanding and applying the different phases of the VINCA process, from screening to assessment, in line with the applicable regulatory framework. The training also addressed the use of environmental databases, assessment methodologies and technical criteria relevant to the evaluation of potential effects on protected habitats and species.
Particular attention was given to the practical implementation of the procedure, with training sessions tailored to the specific characteristics and operational needs of each Protected Area. This territorial approach allowed the programme to respond to different management contexts and to provide participants with tools and examples directly applicable to their daily work.
The service was delivered by SETIN’s technical team, composed of Alessandro Piazzi, who delivered the lectures, and Matteo Serlupi Crescenzi, who provided technical support throughout the course. Their combined expertise ensured a structured, practical and implementation-oriented training programme, supporting public administrations in strengthening environmental governance and the management of protected areas.
Through this assignment, SETIN reaffirmed its commitment to supporting public authorities in the effective implementation of environmental assessment procedures, capacity-building initiatives and nature conservation policies.
By enhancing technical knowledge and promoting a more harmonised application of VINCA procedures, the training programme contributed to improving the protection and management of Natura 2000 Sites in the Lazio Region.
