Habitat restoration actions in the SCI "Ofanto Valley - Lake Capacciotti"

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The “Valle Ofanto – lago di Capacciotti” Natura 2000 network (Puglia Region, southeast Italy), includes many animal and plant species, as well as wetland habitats of high environmental interest. It is located near the sea and represents an ecological corridor between the mouth of the River Ofanto and the Apennines. It plays therefore a pivotal role in the wetland ecological framework, which also includes the Natura 2000 sites “Zone umide della Capitanata” and “Paludi press il Golfo di Manfredonia”. This is the second largest wetland area in Italy and the area that is richest in terms of biodiversity. Moreover, the project area is located near international key sites for the globally threatened species, the slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) and the near threatened ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca).

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the project is to restore two Annex I-listed priority habitats ‘Coastal lagoons’ (*1150) and ‘Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.’ (*2250), within the Natura 2000 network site “Fiume Ofanto - Lago di Capacciotti", along the Apulia coast. The core actions consist of restoring silted lagoons through the excavation of channels, placing of embankments and planting of native species.The project also aims to raise public awareness in order to protect and enlarge wetland areas and the priority habitats. Through ecological improvement, this project will also enlarge the habitat and population size of several protected bird species. Habitats *1150 and *1510, which are targeted by the project, represent the most frequently used sites for these species during migration and wintering (and for the ferruginous duck also during breeding).

Expected results

The main expected results are:

Restoration of 40 ha of 1150* - Coastal lagoons habitat;

Restoration of 1.2 km of 2250* - Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp. Habitat;

Raising of public awareness and dissemination of the importance of habitat and wetland conservation; and

An increase in the population of several bird species: Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Botaurus stellaris, Aythya nyroca, Falco biarmicus, Falco vespertinus and Falco naumanni .