:. .:( _____ [INVENTORY OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION] ____

IPOGEA'S CURRICULUM

Sassi of Matera (Italy)

IPOGEA was established in Matera in 1993, at the same time the initiative for the inscription of the Sassi of Matera on the UNESCO World Heritage List were undertaken.

Setting of Ipogea

IPOGEA is situated in a monumental complex located in the Sassi. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage and the Ministry of Finance granted this complex in order to carry out activities for the enhancement of the cultural heritage and for promoting the international role of the Sassi as a result of the inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Architect Pietro Laureano, director and coordinator of IPOGEA, was the author of the inscription of the Sassi on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

IPOGEA is recognized by European Union as the body par excellence for the safeguard and the enhancement of European Cultural Heritage. Furthermore, it is an associate member of the ICCROM (International Centre for Research on the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), governmental organisation set in Rome and founded by UNESCO in 1956.

In accordance with the Italian parliamentary law n. 426 of 9th December 1998, IPOGEA coordinates and runs the Italian Research Centre on Local and Traditional Knowledge set up in Matera by the Ministry of Environment and the Region Basilicata. The Centre takes part in the actions promoted by the Italian Government within the framework of the mandate granted by the United Nations to Combat Desertification.



ONGOING ACTIVITIES
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FOGGARA

IPOGEA is the scientific coordinator of the INCO-MED project Foggara. Inventory, analysis and valorisation of traditional water techniques of European and Saharan drainage tunnels.

Project funded by
the European Commission General Direction Research,
in the framework of the 5th Framework Programme.

The countries involved are: 
Italy, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Spain. 



EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DG Research INCO-MED Programme

THE CASBAH OF ALGIERS

IPOGEA directs the Initiative of formation for the recovering and the enhancement of the Casbah of Algiers, according to the traditional techniques and their innovative usage.

Project funded by
the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

SHADUF

IPOGEA is the scientific coordinator of the INCO-MED project
Shaduf. Traditional Water Techniques: Cultural Heritage
for a Sustainable Future.

Project funded by
the European Commission General Direction Research,
in the framework of the 6th Framework Programme.

The countries involved are:
Italy, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, Greece and Syria.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DG Research INCO-MED Programme

 IPOGEA is  the scientific coordinator of the
" Traditional techniques to combat desertification: a contribution to the euro-Mediterranean safety "

Project funded by 
 NATO


NATO-OTAN

Consolidation and conservation works on the dinosaurs' tracks trails at Altamura

committed by

Archaeological Property Bureau of Apulia region

Entrenched village

Hypothesis of water systems

Study on the relationship of territory, knowledge and traditional techniques for the use of natural resources and climatic-environmental occurrences all over a large area situated between the regions of Apulia and Basilicata to carry out a programme of desertification phenomena lessening in Italy in the framework of the Riade project - Integrated Research for the Application of technologies and innovative processes to combat Desertification (National Operational Projects of MIUR)

committed by 

New Technologies, Energy and Environment Board



MAIN PROJECTS CARRIED OUT
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'LIFE' PROJECT OF PALAGIANELLO

'Project of rehabilitation, revitalization and re-naturalization of the Gravina of Palagianello in its overall organization of rock settlement and rural and landscape system of agricultural terraces for a sustainable development'

promoted by
the European Commission DGXI - Environment, nuclear safety and civil protection
In the framework of the LIFE Programme (1997-1999)

Planning of consolidation, for falling rocks, of the Pertusillo pipe and of environmental safeguard.

URBAN PARK OF THE GRAVINA OF FULLONESE

Feasible project for the recovering of the Gravina del Fullonese for the implementation of Urban Park (1999).

Committed by: 
Comune of Grottaglie (Apulia) - Italy

PONTE DI NONA - ROME

Project for the recovering and the arrangement of green areas for the safeguard and the enhancement both of the historical and archaeological sites and of the landscape features of the Ponte di Nona in Rome.