Careers and stakeholders

The graduate in valorization and sustainable development of mountain areas is a specialist in the enhancement and sustainable development of mountain areas.

Function in a work context:
Graduates in Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas work for the valorization and sustainable development of mountain areas using innovative and specific scientific and technological methodologies and approaches with particular reference to:
- the analysis, monitoring, conservation, management and valorization of natural and agro-forestry resources (e.g. analysis and monitoring of mountain ecosystems, planning of forestry and silvicultural restoration interventions with conservation, protection and production functions; collaboration in the definition of natural resource management plans, valorization of agrobiodiversity, etc.);
- collaboration in the planning, implementation and promotion of products and/or services of economic and/or social value deriving from the environmental and agroforestry resources of mountain areas (e.g. planning and coordinating interdisciplinary interventions for the use, including tourism-recreational and educational, of the territory; enhancing and promoting the use of energy from renewable sources, with specific reference to local sources and the forest-wood-energy supply chain; collaborating in the definition of processes for the valorization of traditional and innovative agro-forestry production for the development of the circular economy and the bioeconomy, as well as contributing to sustainable management to implement ecosystem services in the mountain environment);
- the identification of strategies for the valorization of resources as regards specific policies and regulations for the governance and development of mountain areas;
- participation in the project management of projects for the valorization and development of mountain areas within local, regional, national, European and international cooperation programmes;
- the application of digital technologies and communication methods to networking and to the strategic valorization of environmental resources and products and services of mountain territories, as well as to the scientific dissemination of the results of projects and studies.
All these skills are linked to the ability to identify and interpret the specific legal, administrative, socio-economic and cultural framework of these territories, to the phenomena of ongoing climate and demographic change, and in the context of planning intervention for transition phases towards the definition of new models of sustainable development.

Skills associated with the function:
Graduates of the Master's Degree in Valorization and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas are able to:
- recognize and evaluate the specific environmental, natural and agro-forestry resources of the mountains and the ecosystem services connected to them (production, protection, cultural services);
- evaluate the evolution and effects of climate and anthropogenic factors and changes on the natural and agro-forestry mountain environment, the main impacts generated and prevention, adaptation and/or mitigation strategies also through nature-based solutions.
- recognize and safeguard biodiversity heritage with specific intervention programmes, including educational-didactic ones, with particular reference to agro-biodiversity and forest biodiversity;
- apply scientific, technological and economic knowledge to promote valorization processes of traditional and/or innovative products from raw materials (e.g. bio-resources and agrobiodiversity) originating from natural and mountain agro-forestry ecosystems, interacting with specialists from different sectors in multidisciplinary work groups;
- identify calls for regional, national and European funding programmes for the development of mountain areas and collaborate in the planning and management of systemic intervention for valorization and development;
- use territorial information systems and the most innovative technological tools, advanced IT tools and remote sensing techniques, for territorial monitoring, management and planning, also for the purposes of land use (tourism, for example), the valorization of resources and of agricultural and forestry production, also in the field of renewable energy;
- apply specific knowledge regarding the economic and cultural environment in which companies and public and private entities operate, identifying appropriate strategies for the valorization of resources (bioeconomy, circular economy) also to support decision-making processes in governance, in the planning of intervention for the development of the territory and the valorization of products/services;
- apply specific knowledge regarding the legal-legislative framework from which policies, strategies, programs and regulations relating to the sustainable development of mountain areas derive, in planning sustainable development intervention and providing technical support to the management of the complexity of these areas;
- work in interdisciplinary and international groups;
- apply economic and marketing knowledge to promotion processes for territorial development (territorial marketing);
- apply specific technical knowledge to collaborate with professionals from sectors specialized in promoting the use of energy from local renewable sources, combining methods of economic sustainability assessment with methods of environmental impact quantification; apply knowledge related to the use of digital technologies and communication techniques for networking and effective interaction with service and innovation centers, valorization and strategic territorial marketing and technical-scientific training and dissemination.

Career opportunities:
Career opportunities include coordination roles and high responsibility in strategic sectors for sustainable development, environmental protection and valorization of mountain areas, in the fields of research, innovation, development, planning and management of complex environmental and agro-forestry systems. Graduates will be able to undertake freelance and consultancy activities, entrepreneurial activities, or work as employees in private or public, national or international companies at:
- technical-professional firms and forestry and environmental services and consultancy companies
- planning companies for territorial valorization and development;
- forestry consortia and companies;
- local action groups - GAL;
- consortia for the promotion of the territory and sustainable and environmental tourism;
- agro-forestry companies;
- consortia of agro-forestry producers;
- trade associations;
- parks and protected areas;
- municipalities, consortia of municipalities, provinces, regions, ministries;
- development agencies;
- foundations and NGOs;
- training and dissemination institutions and companies;
- forestry and environmental research and development bodies;
Master's degree graduates can work as freelancers as Doctors of Agronomy and Forestry, after passing the state exam and registering in the Register. They can access competitions for the recruitment of officers of the former State Forestry Corps and other Environmental Police Forces and for research doctorates in Italy (after passing the relevant competitions) or abroad (by passing specific selection procedures), or for a second-level master's degree.