PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The area of the Palù del Quartier del Piave in the Veneto region of Italy is criss-crossed by creeks coming from the peri-Alpine foothills. In the past, this intricate and extended hydrological network has been used for traditional agriculture based on a mosaic of small meadows. Each of these was bordered by hedges, allowing for the presence of numerous species of conservation important. Nowadays, habitat degradation and a general loss of biodiversity in the area is evident, caused by afforestation, natural reforestation following the abandonment of agricultural land, a lack of maintenance of the extensive network of canals, and an increase in intensive agriculture causing an increase in fertilisers and pesticides in the soil and water.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the LIFE PALU QdP project was to conserve characteristic habitats and species of the ‘Palù del Quartier del Piave’ Natura 2000 site in the Veneto region of Italy (Site of Community Interest IT3240015), by reintroducing sustainable agroforestry and traditional meadow management practices.
The project aimed to:
- strengthen the presence of amphibian, reptile and butterfly species of conservation relevance, particularly Triturus carnifex and Rana latastei, two amphibians listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive, and the butterfly Hesperia comma;
- increase population levels of the plant species Iris sibirica, Gentiana pneumonanthe, Succisa pratensis, Stellaria palustris and Carex brizoides;
- develop and demonstrate agroforestry management models able to foster economic sustainability in the traditional Palù plots and, at the same time, protect habitats, particularly ‘Lowland hay meadows’ and ‘Molinia meadows’ listed in the Habitats Directive, and their associated species;
- demonstrate the efficacy of a participatory approach, based on ‘river contracts’ for the conservation of ecosystems;
- promote communications about the site’s natural and cultural heritage, and increase awareness of the Palù area and the Natura 2000 network.
RESULTS
The project only partially achieved the expected results.
The preparatory actions allowed the completion and the update of knowledge on habitats and species in the sites of community interest (SCI) of the Palù area, including the survey of the entire hydrographic network, the urban water drainage system, and the definition of the socio-economic conditions:
- the ichthyofauna survey found 11 species of fishes, 3 of which (Telestes muticellus, Cobitis bilineata, Barbus plebejus) are listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive but not listed in the SCI standard data form.
- the socio-economic analysis highlighted a large fragmentation of the property: a total of 2 200 cadastral parcels with 3 897 entitled persons was recorded on the 692 ha of Palù area, which increased the need to identify innovative forms of aggregation of properties.
- the analysis of the structure of the perimetre hedges showed how the abandonment of their recurring management affects the species composition of the grassland habitats causing the disappearance of the light-demanding botanical species.
The Municipalities of Sernaglia della Battaglia (COM-SE) and Moriago della Battaglia (COM-MO) respectively purchased a total of 2.3ha and a total of 2.6ha for the purpose of restoration of the habitat 6510. The entry in the land register of these sites includes a guarantee that the land is assigned definitively to nature conservation purposes. A total of 37 519 herbaceous and woody species seedlings were produced to be able implement various actions. The project improved the conditions of the habitat 6510 over a total of 10.7ha, reactivated 3 430 metres of canals, and planted 7 150 herbaceous plants and 1 200 young trees.
The participatory process has activated contacts and synergies among stakeholders that were not in place before the project and which favoured the signature of the Palù Contract. The approved 5-year action plan covers the period 2022-2027, after the project’s end, and focusses on 4 main aims:
- the establishment of a Landowners’ Association;
- the preparation of a common rural police regulation among the 4 municipalities in which the Palù is located;
- a sustainable exploitation of the Palù, through the organisation of a permanent information desk, the implementation of information initiatives, training, and dissemination of best practices among landowners and citizens;
- valorisation of the products of the Palù, promoting the network between producers and consumers.
Finally, the project carried out various communication activities including: informative material (leaflet, brochure) was printed and distributed during the participatory meetings; information panels and a totem which were installed along the main trails crossing the Palù area and in the headquarters of the beneficiaries and of stakeholders in the Palù contract; and 9 short technical videos and 1 final video were shot.
