The results of the research conducted on the subject of regeneration of areas of land suffering degradation were presented, studied and analyzed to establish “families” of causes and effects, to forecast lines of action commensurate with the reversibility of the damage. The area in question is the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria covering the entire territory of the former province and including the Aspromonte National Park. The methods of direct observation and critical interpretation of the phenomena, in terms of extension and incidence, are aimed at advancing a protocol of interventions for the definition, evaluation and implementation of regeneration prospects through experimental pilot laboratories for University-Region coordination. Of particular interest was the role of prevention for areas that are used improperly with the consequent loss of habitat quality, limitations of the effectiveness of ecosystem services, for those environments that express values integrated from a cultural, naturalistic point of view, identity and are subject to risks of fragmentation that endanger ecological connectivity.

The characteristics of the Calabrian landscapes are of such consistency as to form a supporting, structural system for any future configuration of the territory. These are landscapes resulting from traditions and cultural values such as woods, lakes and mountain, offering significant spaces still uncontaminated or in a phase of growth, where lack of vigilance or an incorrect planning policy could create serious consequences. They constitute a living laboratory from which we can draw all the necessary applications for human health and where some prominent places represent the cornerstones of land planning. Moreover, the natural elements of attraction are an incentive and a stimulus for a quality tourism, with all the resulting benefits for the local community. To develop a different model of development based on sustainability of interventions and heritage preservation, a good management strategy (maintenance) is needed that combines land development and environmental protection correctly. The target to pursue is one of triggering strategic processes of transformation together with a proper maintenance policy which, relying on the integrity of the landscapes, will attract conscious tourists able to appreciate the cultural offer and to practice activities compatible with the territory.

The paper takes its cue from the Grant Research "The productive heritage: research into the memories left on the territory" carried out for the university project called "The importance of business in the development of society: how to read and value the cultural heritage inherited from productive activities". The interpretative reading carried out in case-studies within the national territory, has made it possible to investigate processes of re-signification. These are conceived within complex dynamics of innovation and promotion of the context and joined by the intent of stemming the erosion of the productive heritage and to enhance the potential of urban spaces, which are also associated with a value of identity. These are processes that treat the legacies deriving from the productive heritage as "new archaeologies" according to a logic that understands urban archaeology, not only as a way to make the stratified historical values evident, but as a possibility to generate new urban qualities which are relevant to the recovery of physical space, accessibility to tangible and intangible heritage, and to the well-being of the community. Therefore, consideration should be given to the possibility of assigning a renewed quality understood as the ability to generate safe spaces for everyday life into a wide area, previously affected by productive processes and now fragile patrimonies and to guarantee places, a salient element of living space, for new work communities, culture and welfare.

An inclusive metropolitan city can be considered as a urban system that changes by designing social, economic, and environmental innovative responses which enable it to withstand social change in the long term.It is a city that produces significant economic opportunities taking advantages of the political trend, or particularly following the adoption of Law Delrio, of the policies of composition of metropolitan cities which cause expectations and priorities at all policy levels. Precisely, once established, metropolitan cities will be able to carry out essential purposes and build a more integrated urban policy and a ethical urban development planning.The constitution of inclusive policies should be part of the process of implementation of metropolitan city since the beginning, both in the chief town, and beyond.