PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Within the Regional Park Sirente- Velino, in Central Italy there are three canyons, characterised by chasmophytic vegetation (priority habitat). Two of those canyons are interested by this project and there, animal priority species are present (Brown bear and Wolf).
The area is a strategic part of their habitat and represents an important ecological corridor, connecting all three national parks present in the region (Abruzzo, Maiella and Gran Sasso- Laga). The lack of efficient ecological corridors would result in genetic isolation of the nuclei of the important species present in those parks. This would greatly increase the chances of extinction, particularly for the Marsican Brown Bear.
OBJECTIVES
Despite the formal protection (Nature Regional Park), habitats and species present in the area are seriously threatened and need immediate and effective protection measures. The main objectives of this project were to stop the causes of the threat and to implement a number of short and long-time conservation measures.
Habitat improvement, compensations, fencing, patrolling were some of the measures foreseen to counter habitat loss, poaching, intensive livestock grazing, forest felling, harassment by tourists and montane agriculture. An awareness raising campaign, addressed at local people and tourists was included in order to support the actions to be carried out.
RESULTS
The project achieved all the foreseen objectives.
The main outcomes of this project were:
It contributed to establishment of real forms of protection within an area of strategic ecological importance (ecological corridor). It evidenced that the project area is one of the most important in the EU for a priority habitat (Limestone pavements), which was not even reported for Italy in the Habitat Interpretation Manual published by the Commission. It gave a major contribution to the operative transformation of a “paper” park into a real one. It created local consensus and awareness on the importance of the site and new job opportunities in a poorly developed area. In particular the project managed to:
Inventories and surveys: Several large-scale studies were carried out by consulting scientists. A botanical survey of the Chasmophytic vegetation concluded that Celano is one of the most important sites in Europe for this habitat type. A geological survey of the gorge revealed that the Celano gorge was vulnerable to slumps and landslides and recommended further assessments of this risk. An ornithological inventory of the Annex I species present was undertaken and recommendations were made for the protection of the ones present in the site. Surveillance : 6 wardens were employed with contracts of limited duration. Their main tasks were the surveillance of the most critical areas within the park and the monitoring of species on the Habitats and Birds directives. Observations were collected into a data bank. Eliminating rubbish dumps : The park carried out a survey of illegal waste dumps and a local contractor was hired to clean up a number of dumps, while at the beneficiary’s request, military engineers cleared up old material from a former military training area. Controlling access : The beneficiary set up barriers to the gorge, in order to limit access to local farmers, landowners and herdsmen. Improving foraging for bears : The beneficiary planted 4200 fruit trees on 30-40 sites, all located along probable routes of passage of bears. While waiting for the trees to mature, 80 feeding plots of maize and carrots, totalling 1 ha, were planted. Restoring forests and pastures : The park rented 14 pasture or woodland areas, totalling 157ha, to set aside for a period of 20 years. Information dissemination : A series of didactic publications were produced to increase awareness of the challenges facing the park, while signposts and information notices were put up at various strategic spots. The project achieved all the foreseen objectives. The main outcomes of this project were:
It contributed to establishment of real forms of protection within an area of strategic ecological importance (ecological corridor). It evidenced that the project area is one of the most important in the EU for a priority habitat (Limestone pavements), which was not even reported for Italy in the Habitat Interpretation Manual published by the Commission. It gave a major contribution to the operative transformation of a “paper” park into a real one. It created local consensus and awareness on the importance of the site and new job opportunities in a poorly developed area. In particular the project managed to:
Inventories and surveys: Several large-scale studies were carried out by consulting scientists. A botanical survey of the Chasmophytic vegetation concluded that Celano is one of the most important sites in Europe for this habitat type. A geological survey of the gorge revealed that the Celano gorge was vulnerable to slumps and landslides and recommended further assessments of this risk. An ornithological inventory of the Annex I species present was undertaken and recommendations were made for the protection of the ones present in the site. Surveillance : 6 wardens were employed with contracts of limited duration. Their main tasks were the surveillance of the most critical areas within the park and the monitoring of species on the Habitats and Birds directives. Observations were collected into a data bank. Eliminating rubbish dumps : The park carried out a survey of illegal waste dumps and a local contractor was hired to clean up a number of dumps, while at the beneficiary’s request, military engineers cleared up old material from a former military training area. Controlling access : The beneficiary set up barriers to the gorge, in order to limit access to local farmers, landowners and herdsmen. Improving foraging for bears : The beneficiary planted 4200 fruit trees on 30-40 sites, all located along probable routes of passage of bears. While waiting for the trees to mature, 80 feeding plots of maize and carrots, totalling 1 ha, were planted. Restoring forests and pastures : The park rented 14 pasture or woodland areas, totalling 157ha, to set aside for a period of 20 years. Information dissemination : A series of didactic publications were produced to increase awareness of the challenges facing the park, while signposts and information notices were put up at various strategic spots.
