Conservation actions for Apennines beech forest with Taxus and Ilex, and Ursus arctos marsicanus improvement

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The yew (taxus baccata) is a relict species that is in decline throughout Europe mainly as a result of past exploitation of high-grade timber. The yew's very slow growth rate doesn't lend itself to intensive foresty practices, and it has been replaced in many areas by beech. Entire forest areas, where yews once proliferated, have now been converted into stands of beech. As a result, the yew has been listed as priority in the Habitats Directive.

The yew forest with the greatest concentration of individual trees In the central Apennines,is located inside the Zompo lo Schioppo reserve. It covers about 60 ha and is surrounded by 3,500 ha of beech, only part of which is in a natural state.

Itis the largest yew population in Italy and in recent years it has become the home of bears. These bears have come from the Abruzzo national park in order to take advantage of the suitable foraging grounds in the ecological corridors in the central Apennines, and in particular the Morino forest.

OBJECTIVES

The project's general aim was to protect the yew forests, encourage their expansion, and indirectly improve the habitat's ability to meet the brown bear's foraging and shelter needs.

To increase the area occupied by yews, a one hectare nursery was planned in which 60,000 indigenous yew seedlings would be planted. Only those seedlings that proved to be the fittest would be transplanted in an area of 120 ha that had been cleared of beeches. A dense yew forest of 180 ha was planned with the original stand. Simultaneously, some of the planned measures (such as clearing beech and creating a diverse range of vegetation by planting fruit-bearing species such as wild pears, apples and roses) would result in ecological improvements that are particularly favourable for bears.

RESULTS

The Apennine Region project, the first ever management of a yew forest, has been well coordinated and has given good results even though a complete assessment will only be possible in 4-5 years, given the slow growth rate of the plants. The forestry interventions, the main aspect of the project, have been carried out on the basis of a sound technical and scientific methodology. The taxus cuttings seem to have taken root, and the species often found in a beech forest are re-colonising the clearings created by the beneficiary. The project was carried out on the basis of a technical blueprint elaborated in collaboration with the National Forestry Corp, on the basis of the scientific study carried out by CISDAM (National fir trees research centre) According to the study, local ecotype of Taxusis less poisonous and more palatable to fauna than expected. Consequently, livestock grazing, mostly by cattle, is considered a real threat for the young yews to be planted. The main results of the project were:

40 ha of Fagus woods (899 plants cut) were thinned and 30 clearings of about 300-400 m2 in area were created on a total surface of 30 ha. These measures were aimed to increase biodiversity in the beech forest (through the increase of the associated species and the structural differentiation of the beech wood) and at the natural renovation of taxus. The cut wood was removed using mules in order to minimise impact.

1,200 plants of rosaceae and rhamnaceae, such as malus sylvestris, pyrus pyraster, sorbus aria, sorbus aucuparia and rhamnus alpina, obtained from a local nursery, have been placed in 15 groups of 50 m2 each. The planting has been concentrated along the ecotone zone of the beech forest in order to avoid any impact on the wood.

Planting of taxus specimens has been carried out in two different locations: in the newly created clearings (23 ha) and in other areas inside the beech forest where no other interventions were carried out (24 ha). These two locations were chosen in order to determine which gives better results. Each group of 50 plants has been ringfenced in both locations to protect them from any interference of livestock farming. Only plants derived from cuttings have been used due to the low germinability of the seeds.

The Morino municipality closed the road leading to the main area for the period of the project to reduce its impact on the trees.

A nursery for taxus of 1 ha was developed, producing 14,100 plants.

A fence 3.1 km long has been erected to protect the core area of the priority habitat against the grazing of livestock. It consists of chestnut wooden poles and barbed wire and has three gates. A total of 7,100 m of fencing was also erected around 282 groups of newly plants trees, and 400 m of fencing was erected around the fruit trees.

Two people was placed in charge of surveillance of the nursery and the sites of intervention. Some problems were found and solved such as illegal cutting, damages to structures, uncontrolled grazing and small waste dumps.

A tele-control system was set up in order to monitor the access road to the beech wood of EU interest. During the surveys, traces (for example, hairs, footprints and faeces) of the presence of the *ursus arctos marsicanus and lynx lynx were found. One dead bear was found near the borderline of the park.

During an awareness campaign, it was discovered that the local population was very interested in the conservation of its natural heritage. Consequently, the mayor of the Morino municipality decided to sell 49% of the shares of the "Consortium for the management of the Zompo lo Schioppo natural reserve" to the public. These shares were so popular (all were sold in a day) that another percentage of shares will be offered to locals. The local population is now actively involved in the management of the reserve and, consequently, of one part of the pSCI.

During the year 2000, an eco-museum has been opened to the public. It also contains scientific information on the beech forest with taxus and ilex and the exhibition produced with the LIFE funds. The museum, which is proving to be very popular, is an indirect result of the LIFE project.

The Forestry consortium of the Valle del Roveto is continuing to manage the nursery and produce taxus seedlings, and The La Romitana Association is continuing to support the monitoring of LIFE-funded operations. Other ongoing activities include the checking of the transplantation of the yew seedlings, a survey of the natural regeneration of the yew, surveillance and ordinary management of the fenced areas and control of the grazing in the area of natural regeneration of yew.

In 2002 a second phase of the LIFE Nature project was accepted and co-funded by the Commission. The aims of the new LIFE project (Preservation of taxus and ilex Central Apennine beech wood - LIFE03 NAT/IT/000160) are the conservation of the beech forest with taxus and ilex, the extension of the intervention sites and the involvement of the neighbouring municipalities responsible for the management of the pSCI.