PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The project targets a range of fauna species found in Ticino Park - 15 species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive and Annex II, IV and V of the Habitats Directive. The park acts as a source of biodiversity for the whole Padana Plain, hosting most of the species of conservation interest related to this geographic area. Currently, it is the main ecological corridor connecting the Apennines and the Alps, amplifying its role as a source area of biodiversity. Many species, however, are threatened by the loss or degradation of their habitats, especially areas suitable for reproduction and feeding activities.
Intensification of agriculture has played a significant role in the decline of typical species found in open habitats. Of particular concern are the loss and degradation of wetlands and the degradation of streams, springs and secondary water courses. In the past few years, the ‘dry’ cultivation of rice, which creates unsuitable habitats for foraging, has become a major threat. A further threat is the introduction of invasive alien species (IAS).
OBJECTIVES
The main aim of the LifeTicinoBiosource project was to preserve and increase the biodiversity heritage of Ticino Park. The project would target more than 15 species for which the park hosts the most important known populations or is even the only site where they are found. These include the Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii), whose only naturally breeding population occurs in the River Ticino, and Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), whose breeding population in the park is one of the most numerous in Italy.
The project would carry out the following species and habitat conservation actions:
- Designation of a new Natura 2000 network site to protect the only known spawning area for the Adriatic sturgeon;
- Active defence of this spawning area by establishing and training a task force of stakeholders;
- Reintroduction of European sturgeon (Huso huso) in the River Ticino (and therefore in the Po basin);
- Ecological restoration of springs and little streams for the conservation of fish species of Community interest typical of these habitats;
- Restoration and creation of wetland habitats for breeding, migratory and wintering birds at Motta Visconti and Bernate Ticino;
- Establishment of rafts with marsh vegetation for creating new sites for breeding, migrating and wintering birds;
- Management of lowland wet meadows habitats in favour of birds and butterflies; and
- Actions for the conservation of riparian forest habitats included in Annex I of Habitat Directive at Motta Visconti and Bernate Ticino.
The project also aimed to increase awareness about the project actions and its aims among the local population, creating nature trails, school packages and informative leaflets.
RESULTS
The LifeTicinoBiosource project was implemented in six sites of the Natura 2000 network and contiguous areas in the Lombardia Region of Italy, located along the course of the Ticino River, the most important ecological corridor between the Alps and the Apennines. Through the implementation of different actions, the project restored or created five different habitats and improved the conservation of 17 species belonging to different fauna groups, from insects (Lepidoptera) to vertebrates (fish, birds and amphibians).
The project created a new Special Area of Conservation to protect the “Spawning area of Acipenser naccarii” (233 ha), and carried out activities to defend this sturgeon species from poaching with the involvement of 10 fishermen volunteers trained by the project. A total of 68 volunteer fishers were involved in the containment of wels catfish (Silurus glanis) through 42 electrofishing campaigns, with a total average yield of about 3.3 tons of catfish removed.
A total of 891 European sturgeon (Huso huso) were reintroduced in the Ticino River, 50 years after it disappeared from the Po basin. Some specimens, followed with telemetry, revealed a strong instinct to head towards the sea (46 individuals recorded in 230 km of monitored rivers). The project team installed 808 rafts in the Arno stream (of total surface area around 4 000 m2) to favour nesting and migrating aquatic birds (Aythya nyroca, Himantopus himantopus, Aythya ferina, Aythya fuligula, Fulica atra atra, Anas strepera).
The project team carried out habitat restoration and created new habitats:
- 12 ha of riparian mixed forest (habitat 91F0) in the I Geraci site (SAC IT2080002 and SPA IT2080301) and 12 ha in Bernate Ticino (SAC IT2010014);
- 3 ha of habitat 91E0* in I Geraci and 4 ha in Bernate Ticino;
- 6 500 m2 of wetlands (habitat 3150) in Bernate Ticino and 6 500 m2 of new ponds (habitat 3150), 7 400 m2 of new reedbeds and 8 600 m2 of new wetland for bird species in I Geraci;
- 2 ha of dry meadows (habitat 6210) in I Geraci;
- 5.7 ha of natural water habitats for target fish species in three sites.
A total of 178 birds of Community interest were monitored. The number of species recorded was more than doubled thanks to the project. Project staff recorded 85 large copper (Lycaena dispar) individuals, and 50 other butterfly species. In all intervention sites the target amphibian species (Rana latestei, Hyla arborea) were detected after the project’s work. Thanks to the involvement of 43 farmers, the project restored a traditional agricultural practice that enables flooding of meadows in winter, autumn and spring, favouring the stopover of both target hibernating and migratory birds.
The project’s campaign of environmental education involved local primary and secondary schools (more than 10 000 students), fishers’ associations (through the establishment of a taskforce of volunteers), farmers (through training courses for the management of lowland meadows), and bird-watching and butterfly-watching enthusiasts (through training courses and citizen science activities for the publication of the Butterfly Atlas). The project produced many relevant products for awareness raising and for replication purposes.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report (see "Read more" section).
