PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
To ensure the conservation objectives and ecological coherence of the Natura 2000 network, the Lombardy region recognised the need to develop a regional strategy for the period 2015-2020, together with an integrated, unified, coordinated and participatory management strategy. This integrated project benefitted the regional Natura 2000 network by implementing measures foreseen in this strategy, the regional Priority Action Framework (PAF) of Lombardy, addressing the most urgent critical issues and creating the know-how of the relevant N2000 managing institutions.
OBJECTIVES
LIFE IP GESTIRE 2020 aimed to create an integrated management structure that would ensure full achievement of the conservation objectives set out in the Habitats and Birds directives, taking into account economic viability and technical sustainability. This would be achieved by developing policies and management strategies for the Natura 2000 regional network that include, among many instances, active management of habitats and species, ensuring coherence between the regional Natura 2000 network and external territories (including ecological connectivity), monitoring of the results of actions, supervision of activities interfering with Natura 2000 sites and training of professionals in management strategies for the regional network.
In addition to the integrated project budget, the project aimed to facilitate the coordinated use of complementary funding from the CARIPLO tenders on ‘ecological networks’ and ‘capacity building’ mobilizing approximately EUR 4.5 million through projects. The project also sought to facilitate the coordinated use of complementary funding from European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), European Social Fund (ESF) and other public institutions.
RESULTS
LIFE IP GESTIRE 2020 supported the implementation of the regional Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAFs) for Natura 2000 for the periods 2015-2020 and 2021-2027 in the Lombardy region.
The main results can be summarized as follows:
- the project implemented the PAF and achieved the strategic objectives, by using LIFE funds and mobilized complementary funding deriving from EAFRD, regional funds, ESF, national funds and other private funds.
- capacity building was strengthened with the organisation of 13 training courses for public and private personnel whose activities impacted the management of N2000 sites. This action involved 64 thematic training modules benefitting almost 3,000 individuals. The complementary actions carried out with ESF funds enabled the training of more than 800 Public Administration employees of Managing Authorities, Municipalities, Mountain Communities, Provinces, Region, Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA), Regional Entity for Services in Agriculture and Forestry (ERSAF), Lake Basin Authority. Surveillance was substantially reinforced in all the 245 Natura 2000 Sites of the Region.
- as to ecological connectivity, 41 Areas for Priority Interventions (APIs) were identified and were officially included in the Regional Territorial Plan (PTR).
- concerning the maintenance and improvement of the conservation status of habitats of Community interest, 10 grazing plans aimed at reducing impact on bogs and mires were drafted and adopted. Guidelines for the management of English oak stands were prepared and applied in 8 project areas (covering approximately 35 hectares) to improve composition and structures of oak stands habitats 91F0, 91L0, 9190, 9160, 91H0. Guidelines on silvicultural management were created in order to enhance the Carpaneta Forest and its seed production, so as to support its value and strengthen its potential as seed forest and biogenetic reserve. Best practice protocols to enhance composition, structures and faunistic suitability in forest habitats 9110, 91K0, 9180, 9410 were drafted and implemented on at least 150 ha.
- the Regional Action plan for threatened plant species was prepared and adopted by Lombardy region, including several cultivation protocols.
- flora conservation measures included the ex situ conservation of seeds (least one lot for each target species, for a total amount of almost 191 478 seeds) in the Germplasm Bank of Lombardy and of 8-10 specimens of Isoetes malinverniana in the Botanical Garden of Città Studi of Milan. In situ conservation measures through planting involved almost 980 plants of, for example, P. glaucescens, Isoetes malinverniana, M. triandra, Dicranum viride, Eleocharis carniolica and Marsilea quadrifolia.
- fauna conservation measures included:
- For Colonial herons, 10.5 hectares of habitat for aquatic birds were recovered;
- For Lentic Wetland birds, 40 hectares of heronry habitat were recovered;
- For River birds, 51 hectares of habitat for terns and other birds of riverbeds were recovered;
- For Eurasian eagle owl, black kite and black grouse, about 20 km of power lines were secured, reducing the electrocution in 11 territories of Eagle Owl;
- For Bats, a regional Action Plan for bats was drafted and several projects implemented to improve environmental suitability and reduction of disturbance;
- For Amphibians and reptiles, 36 concrete interventions for the creation of habitats for amphibians were undertaken, with 3 reintroductions to increase genetic variability and establish new populations of the target species;
- For Austropotamobius pallipes, the preparation of guidelines on IAS crayfishes and the implementation of projects targeting the species (e.g. breeding, sowings of young crayfishes etc.).
- an IAS regional taskforce was established with the aim to manage the monitoring of the spread of IAS and to perform rapid eradication activities. Some of the IAS targeted are Trachemys scripta and alien Sciuridae. The project also established the integrated garrison for the control of luggage of passengers coming from non-European countries at the Orio al Serio airport, with an average of 2 thorough checks per month resulting in almost 2,000 kg of confiscated food.
- a wide range of communication activities for information, awareness raising and capacity building purposes were carried out, targeting all possible stakeholders related to the project the project's scope.
