The CityLake network, led by the Municipality of Borgomanero (Italy) and funded by the European URBACT IV program, seeks to transfer knowledge and improve the sustainable management of lakes, using the experience of Lake Orta as a reference. The meeting in Silla allowed European delegations to visit key areas of the municipality such as the port and the Green Filter, as well as the tourism office and the Archaeological Museum, to understand the town's relationship with the Albufera Natural Park.
One of the central focuses of the day was the meeting with local associations and agents from various fields (nature conservation, fishing, agriculture, traditional navigation, rowing, tourism, and local businesses). Their contributions offered diverse perspectives on the challenges facing the Albufera environment. Local participation is a fundamental pillar of CityLake, which promotes the creation of Local URBACT Groups (ULG) to involve sectors from each territory in designing solutions adapted to their reality.
During the meeting, participating municipalities exchanged experiences on how to strengthen these groups, facilitate collaboration among agents, and incorporate their input into each city's projects. The program continued with working sessions focused on the network's next steps and the development of Local Transfer Plans, analyzing how to adapt the principles of the Cusio Lake Contract, the sustainable management model linked to the experience of Lake Orta, to each territory.
The study visit to the Albufera complemented the meeting with an overview of the characteristics and challenges of this ecosystem. The exchange between cities allowed for the sharing of experiences and the exploration of potential actions applicable to different local contexts. The Silla meeting is part of CityLake's journey, which began in Borgomanero in February 2026 and will extend over 30 months to transfer the experience of Lake Orta to other European territories.
