Politics · Italy · 1 hr ago
New cable car planned for Italy’s Monte Bove raises environmental concerns
A new 2-kilometre cable car is being built on Monte Bove, in Italy’s Sibillini Mountains.
The project was promoted by the municipality of Ussita and approved by the Province of Macerata and the Marche region.
It is intended to modernise existing ski facilities and support tourism, using about 11.5 million euros in funds from Italy’s recovery plan.
The works partly cross two Natura 2000 protected sites, and the project includes removing three old lifts.
Environmental assessments say a local group of Apennine chamois could be vulnerable, including because two females gave birth less than 500 metres from the planned upper station in 2024.
The new lift could carry 1,800 people an hour, while the park authority’s figures put summer visits at around 100 people a day.
The assessment says visitor access around the Cornaccione refuge and the land above it will need to be regulated.
A new 2-kilometre cable car is planned between Arboreti and Malghe del Cornaccione on Monte Bove in Italy.
The project was promoted by the Municipality of Ussita and authorized by the Province of Macerata and the Marche Region.
The €11.5 million project includes removing three old lifts and is intended to support tourism and extend its season.
Construction affects parts of two Natura 2000 protected sites, raising concerns about environmental impacts.
An environmental assessment says the cable car could affect an Apennine chamois herd and warns that increased visitor numbers may require controls.
- Who
- The Municipality of Ussita promoted the project, with authorization from the Province of Macerata and the Marche Region.
- What
- A 2-kilometre cable car is planned, with the removal of three existing lifts.
- When
- The Municipality issued a construction-area access ban in July 2025, lasting until January 31, 2026.
- Where
- Monte Bove, in the municipality of Ussita, within parts of two Natura 2000 sites.
- Why
- The project is intended to upgrade existing tourist facilities and support tourism throughout more of the year.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
the herd that regularly frequents, in all seasons, the area of M.te Bicco-M.te Bove Sud-Passo Cattivo appears, for spatial reasons, to be the most vulnerable to the realization of the project, both during construction and during operation
the potential “mass” tourist use resulting from the ease of reaching the summit areas that the cable car provides can nevertheless cause significant impacts
An EU LIFE project began reintroducing Apennine chamois in the Sibillini Mountains National Park.
Two female chamois gave birth near the summit of Monte Bicco, less than 500 metres from the planned upper station, according to the environmental assessment.
The Municipality of Ussita issued an order banning vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians from the work area until January 31, 2026.
An activist entered the construction area, took photographs and contacted the Carabinieri, then received a criminal complaint and a €206 fine for violating the municipal order.
- Cable car length
- 2 kilometres
- Lower station
- 1,350 metres above sea level
- Upper station
- 1,969 metres above sea level
- Project cost
- About €11.5 million in PNRR funding
- Planned capacity
- 1,800 people per hour
- Chamois population
- More than 400 estimated in the park, in at least four herds
Sources
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