'Legumi&Legumi': the Park is looking for young people to defend biodiversity
(Assergi, 01 Jun 16) The Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park, after the encouraging results obtained by the Cerere, Demetra, Persefone and Feronia projects, that made it possible to register and spread a great local plant variety and to create a network of guardian farmers, intends to continue the awareness campaign to safeguard the agricultural biodiversity.
With the slogan "Semi nutrienti per un futuro sostenibile" (Nutritious seeds for a sustainable future), the General Assembly of the United Nations has declared the 2016 as the International Year of Pulses, in order to raise the awareness about pulses' many benefits, increase their production and trade, foster new and cleverer ways to use them in the whole food chain.
On this basis, and starting from the fact that the guardian farmers of the Park kept a great number of plant varieties alive, and that the lacking job opportunities led young people to embark on the high-quality agricultural production, the Park Authority launches the initiative entitled Legumi&Legumi (Pulses&Pulses), with the aim to foster the convergence and the alternation between those who have the agricultural knowledges and techniques, and those who want to learn them.
The project aims to spread the farming tradition and knowledge, boosting the cultivation of pulses carried out by young people guided by guardian farmers willing to perform this task. To implement the project, the Park Authority intends to look for/select up to 27 young persons who will commit themselves to cultivate at least a part of their land with pulses (about 622 square meters) and up to 27 guardian farmers who will train the new farmers.
In order to facilitate and allow the access to the young people without a job, a reimbursement is provided for the beneficiaries which amounts to a maximum of 600.00 Euros, to be used for the expanses connected with the start of the pulses cultivation; such as the purchase of the tools, the expandable items, the enclosures, the land cultivation, etc.
The selected young people will also receive an amount of local pulses useful to cultivate the established plot of land. To this purpose, a notice has been published along with the related expression of interest - 
PDF downloadable from this site - explaining the goals of the initiative, the requirements to participate and the obtainable benefits.
The expressions of interest must be received by the Park Authority no later than 22nd March 2016 by fax, no. +39 0862.606675 or by e-mail with scanned signature to the address lucaschillaci@gransassolagapark.it, or by mail to the following address: Ente Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga - Via del Convento - 67100 - Assergi - L'Aquila.
The person in charge for the procedure is Dr. Silvia De Paulis. For any other information contact Dr. Luca Schillaci, +39 0862.6052227.
