Protection of the priority habitats and species within the SCI areas in Southern Italy

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The Persano nature reserve in the Monti Picentini ranges of south-central Campania lies in a floodplain deposited by the Sele, a river which winds its way through reedbeds and gallery woods. Not far away, across the Autostrada del Sole motorway, is the Monte Polveracchio nature park with its steep slopes falling into gorges, caves and springs.

These two proposed Sites of Community Importance host habitats such as Apennine beech forests with Taxus and Ilex, Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines and pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals, as well as the wolf and the beetle Rosalia alpina. Both nature reserves were added to WWF Italy's network of protected areas in the 1980s, yet are still theatened by various human activities. The most serious of these are illicit cutting of trees, collection of plants like Ilex aquifolium and poaching.

OBJECTIVES

Among the objectives foreseen there was the elaboration of a pilot project on management in accordance with Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, to find a strategy which would allow the conservation status of the habitats and priority species present in the pSCIs to be maintained and improved. The project focused entirely on implementing effective actions to preserve and manage the natural heritage in these areas. It aimed at protecting the priority habitats and species (notably Canis lupus), the natural and semi-natural habitats of Community interest and the rare or threatened species occurring in the two pSCIs.

The principal objective was the conservation of the forest biotopes and places where vegetation ecotypes occured as well as maintaining the ecological value and the preservation of biodiversity at genetic level. A system of surveillance was to be set up to limit the threats emanating from illicit tree cutting in the forests, from poaching and from collecting plants which were ecologically significant. A major information and awareness campaign on the Birds and Habitats Directives and on the need for specific management of the two pSCIs would have been undertaken.

RESULTS

All actions have been carried out and the objectives reached, contributing to a more sustainable management of the two proposed Sites of Community Importance where the project took place, in particular the priority habitats "*Apennine beech forests with Taxus and Ilex" and "*Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines". The general study, elaborated contributes to the increase of the knowledge of the pSCIs and on the habitats/species present (Canis lupus, Lutra lutra). The project started the study of the evolution of the habitats of EU interest present in the two pSCIs. The presence of the permanent areas and the meteorological stations would permit to continue the study after the end of the LIFE project. The project's main outcomes and the actions carried out consist in the following:

The elaboration of a management plan for the two pSCIs involved in the project.

Localisation of 10 permanent areas (of 200 m2 each) with priority habitats to study dynamics and assess impact of modifications. The areas have been selected on the basis of the presence of priority habitats (such as "Galleries with Salix alba and Populus alba) and absence of anthropic disturbance.

Installation of 3 meteorological measurement devices. A specific form for meteorological data collection has been elaborated.

The optimisation of the trail network to limit human disturbance caused by uncontrolled tourism.

A botanical garden of 100 m2 (in Polveracchio) has been realised in the Valle dei Tassi. According to the beneficiary, the botanical garden will have both educational and tourist functions and will also favour the research and the conservation and protection of the species.

The beneficiary has convinced a local nursery to cultivate Pinus nigra. The measure gave a good contribution to the realisation of a long-term protection of the priority habitat Pinus nigra Mediterranean pinewoods.

Positive effects on the priority habitat "*Beech forest with Taxus and Ilex" have been obtained by preventing illegal woodcutting, and on *Canis lupus through anti-poaching surveillance.

The project contributed also to increase local employment, with 3 new jobs. Moreover, local inhabitants were for the first time involved in the protection of their naturalistic heritage through Pinus nigra cultivation and surveillance, thanks to an agreement with a local nursery.

All actions have been carried out and the objectives reached, contributing to a more sustainable management of the two proposed Sites of Community Importance where the project took place, in particular the priority habitats "*Apennine beech forests with Taxus and Ilex" and "*Mediterranean pine forests with endemic black pines". The general study, elaborated contributes to the increase of the knowledge of the pSCIs and on the habitats/species present (Canis lupus, Lutra lutra). The project started the study of the evolution of the habitats of EU interest present in the two pSCIs. The presence of the permanent areas and the meteorological stations would permit to continue the study after the end of the LIFE project. The project's main outcomes and the actions carried out consist in the following:

The elaboration of a management plan for the two pSCIs involved in the project.

Localisation of 10 permanent areas (of 200 m2 each) with priority habitats to study dynamics and assess impact of modifications. The areas have been selected on the basis of the presence of priority habitats (such as "Galleries with Salix alba and Populus alba) and absence of anthropic disturbance.

Installation of 3 meteorological measurement devices. A specific form for meteorological data collection has been elaborated.

The optimisation of the trail network to limit human disturbance caused by uncontrolled tourism.

A botanical garden of 100 m2 (in Polveracchio) has been realised in the Valle dei Tassi. According to the beneficiary, the botanical garden will have both educational and tourist functions and will also favour the research and the conservation and protection of the species.

The beneficiary has convinced a local nursery to cultivate Pinus nigra. The measure gave a good contribution to the realisation of a long-term protection of the priority habitat Pinus nigra Mediterranean pinewoods.

Positive effects on the priority habitat "*Beech forest with Taxus and Ilex" have been obtained by preventing illegal woodcutting, and on *Canis lupus through anti-poaching surveillance.

The project contributed also to increase local employment, with 3 new jobs. Moreover, local inhabitants were for the first time involved in the protection of their naturalistic heritage through Pinus nigra cultivation and surveillance, thanks to an agreement with a local nursery.