PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Several European countries have published national guidelines for the monitoring of insect species contained in annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive. Italy, however, lacks monitoring standards to estimate changes in population sizes, threat levels and conservation status. The 2nd Italian National Report on the implementation of the Habitats Directive, which covered the period 2001-2006, contains an evaluation sheet on the conservation status of species included in the annexes of the Habitats Directive. But without standard monitoring procedures it will be impossible to evaluate the future development of the conservation status of the known populations. There are no monitoring standards for the target insect species (*Osmoderma eremita s.l., Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo, *Rosalia alpina, Morimus funereus) found in four reserves included in the 'MIPP' project.
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the project are:
To develop an official protocol, approved by the region of Lombardy, based on the methods that have been implemented to monitor populations of insects listed in annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive (*Osmoderma eremita s.l., Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo, *Rosalia alpina and Morimus funereus). Such a protocol is the only reliable standard for estimating population size, threat level and conservation status; To implement a web-based survey system for the collection of data on insect species (Lucanus cervus, *Rosalia alpina, Cerambyx cerdo, *Osmoderma eremita, Lopinga achine, Parnassius apollo, Saga pedo and Zerynthia polyxena) that are included in the annexes of the Habitats Directive; and To inform and educate the general public on different issues, such as the Natura 2000 network, the Habitats Directive, monitoring and saproxylic (dead wood) insects. Expected results
The main quantifiable expected results include:
Drafting of a protocol, with a standard monitoring system for target insect populations (*Osmoderma eremita s.l., Lucanus cervus, Cerambyx cerdo, *Rosalia alpina, and Morimus funereus); Approval and inclusion of the protocol in the Regional Directives; Creation of a website (www.cnbfvr.life-insectmonitor.eu) for the collection of data on eight target species of insects included in the annexes of the Habitats Directive; Drafting of monitoring guidelines; and Publication in international scientific journals of results of data analyses.
