PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Multiple environmental stressors threaten the Natura 2000 site Medio Corso del Fiume Brenta (Medio-Brenta), which extends over an area of 70 km2, including the territories of 16 municipalities. Among these are: a lack of integrated governance due to the number of local authorities involved; agricultural run-off and water contamination; hydrological alterations linked to gravel mining; freshwater exploitation (for irrigation purposes and as drinking water); and ecological fragmentation of the riparian habitats. As a result, Medio-Brenta is subject to a high level of land-use conflicts, affecting biodiversity.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE Brenta 2030 project aims to support implementation of the river Brentas river basin management plan (2015-2021) and of approved conservation measures for the Veneto regions Natura 2000 sites. This is in line with the EUs Habitats and Birds directives as well as the Water Framework Directive.
Specifically, the project aims to:
promote good local governance through planning, participation and implementation of innovative mechanisms for financing water and biodiversity conservation; increase the surface, the quality and the ecological services provided by the riparian ecosystems (biodiversity, water quality, retention and replenishment of the groundwater) by restoring former quarries, wetlands, wet meadows and mesophilous woodlands. The target is to improve the conservation status of some riparian habitats - humid meadows and alluvial forests - and species the great bittern (Botaurus stellaris), black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), little egret (Egretta garzetta), Italian agile frog (Rana latastei) and Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex); and mitigate the human impact and improve the sites ecological connectivity through active participation of the private sector (farmers, associations, companies, etc.) via education and information (e.g. training institutes, universities, technicians, policy-makers) and through environmental surveillance.
RESULTS
Expected results:
close to 20 ha of wetland habitats created (humid meadows and alluvial forests); 100 ha of riparian ecosystem restored (water quality improved for 9 million m3, around 900 000 m3/ha/year of water retention guaranteed, almost 160 tonnes of CO2 fixed); decreased risk of contamination of 60 million m3 of water per year and increased water retention capacity of nearly 24 000 ha of riparianhabitats; 40 ha of agricultural surface converted to nature conservation purposes, and around 300 000 mobilised from the EU rural development programme and other funds; an integrated management plan for the site; 80 local stakeholders and 200 technicians and policy-makers involved in three pilot replication case studies; and increased environmental awareness among some 52 000 people.
