Trapani salt pans nominated for UNESCO MAB: authorities ask for in-depth assessment

The nomination of the Trapani salt pans for UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme was discussed in Palermo at the offices of the Western Sicily Sea Port Authority on 18 May 2026. Institutional representatives and economic operators examined potential effects on the territory and port activities.

Annalisa Tardino, president of the port authority, stressed the need for sufficient time to scrutinise the proposal and to verify whether the nomination could impose operational or regulatory constraints on the port and affect employment.

• Concerns: Tardino requested detailed evaluations before any final decisions, noting that the authority's involvement is recent compared with the original 2023 proposal.
• Technical solution proposed: Pino Pace, the Chamber of Commerce's extraordinary commissioner, suggested excluding the port and the industrial area from the nominated zone to protect jobs and port functions.
• Social impact: Assiterminal president Gaspare Panfalone highlighted workers' concerns and the need to safeguard the port's economic ecosystem.

The promoter committee was convened for 19 May 2026 to consider the proposed redefinition of the nomination boundaries and to seek a balance between environmental enhancement and protection of productive activities.

Practical next steps for residents and local stakeholders:

• Await the outcome of the promoter committee meeting scheduled on 19 May 2026.
• Follow technical documents that will clarify the nomination perimeter and any related constraints.
• Take part in public consultations or institutional meetings to raise concerns about jobs and local development.

The debate highlights the challenge of reconciling environmental and cultural protection with the continuity and competitiveness of Trapani's port activities.