The valorization of Italian public territorial assets in a state of abandonment: an investigation into the perceived value and emotional connection of Venetian citizens on the island of Poveglia.

The United nations 2030 Agenda has three of the goals that deal with the intervention strategies necessary for the valorization of territories aiming at: (9) developing qualitative and inclusive infrastructures and a sustainable urbanization, (11) protecting public cultural and natural heritage, and (15) reducing the degradation of natural environments (United Nations, 2015). In Italy the redevelopment of public spaces from a historical, cultural and environmental point of view often translates into complex and unsatisfactory paths. The research reported here centers on a case study on the Poveglia island in the Venetian lagoon. The study investigates citizens' perception on the valorization of this asset managed by the State Property Agency (Italian authority responsible for real estate assets). The data collected will be fundamental to understand the current perception of the island, necessary for a subsequent redevelopment intervention. Thanks to the overview that will emerge from the data, we will use a participatory process involving citizens to redevelop the green section of the island. We will have a multidisciplinary pool of experts from the fields of environmental psychology, psychometrics, agro-forestry sciences and arts administration, education and policy. Now we are defining the investigation methodology, after which a consultative process will involve stakeholders in the process. We have already identified four measures to study: perceived restorativeness, place attachment, connection with nature, and perception of the state of abandonment of public goods. The final goal fits the needs of the European framework on reduction of degraded contexts and on sustainable development of territories. Specifically, it will, for the recognition of valuable spaces in a state of abandonment, highlight objective data on the perceived value and emotional connection of local citizenship to their territory, promoting the definition and use of innovative, inclusive and sustainable strategies, from a social, cultural, economic and environmental point of view.