Hazard Zone Plans

In South Tyrol, building areas are very small and often threatened by floods, landslides and avalanches. Spatial planning and building activity must therefore be carried out in compliance with natural phenomena, in order to contribute to the reduction of hydrogeological risk.On the basis of this principle, the Province of Bolzano provided in 2007 that the municipalities draw up the plans of the Dangerous Zones (PZP). This planning tool identifies areas subject to hydrogeological hazards (landslides, floods, debris flows and avalanches), which are incumbent on settlements and infrastructures, identifying their size and geographical extent.PZP is mandatory and prevails over municipal urban planning instruments, which must therefore comply with the requirements. In fact, the land use rules contained in a specific Implementing Regulation apply to danger zones.The PZP is also a fundamental tool for the planning of interventions of accommodation against hydrogeological instability and for the development of citizens’ awareness of natural hazards.