EMAS Certification of coastal municipalities: a valuable tool of efficient environmental management

EMAS certification initially designed for private enterprises and sites has been extended to all organizations including also public institutions and, among them, municipalities. The coastal territory of Emilia Romagna is subjected to a considerable environmental pressure due to seasonal intensive tourism and other anthropic activities developed along the seashore, such as industries and commercial and leisure ports. Public institutions, such as Regions, Provinces and Municipalities have responsibilities in accomplishing a sustainable management of coastal areas where a strong counterposition between human activities and the fragile coastal ecosystem is existing. This article describes the activities carried on within Cervia municipality to get the Environmental Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification as a final result.