Le riserve della biosfera Unesco italiane e un (eco)turismo di prossimità: quali criticità e possibilità?

During the pandemic, outdoor recreational prac-tices received particular attention and saw an increase in the number of users, especially in areas close to everyday life, as it was considered acces-sible, safe and “natural”. However, tourism negatively affects the climate and environment, highlighting the complex relationship between humans and nature in the Anthropocene. Reducing travel distances or using envi-ronmentally friendly transportation is not enough. Despite greater integra-tion of nature and culture, the idea of unspoilt nature that must be pre-served persists, encouraging the commodification of nature. UNESCO Biosphere Reserves seek to overcome this dichotomy by promoting con-servation alongside sustainable development and involving local commu-nities. By analyzing three Italian reserves, we assess the proximity tourism that occurs there, how these dichotomies are addressed, and whether they can mitigate the negative impacts of tourism. The research shows that suc-cess depends on the actors involved, community participation, and more explicit management of tourism by the MAB reserves