PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The LIFE NatConnect 2030 project involves four Italian Regions (Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna) and the Autonomous Province of Trento located in Northern and central Italy. In total, the area is about 100 000 Km2 hosting 843 Natura 2000 sites, five National Parks, and several other protected areas at regional and local level included in the Official List of Protected areas (EUAP) of the Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica (MASE). The project area covers 65% of the alpine and 70% of the continental biogeographic regions of Italy.
All the regions and the Autonomous Province of Trento have adopted their Priority Action Frameworks (PAFs) covering the period 2021 – 2027. The baseline data for habitats and species indicate that the conservation status of most of the habitats and species targeted by the project is not favorable and the trend is not increasing.
OBJECTIVES
The main aim of the LIFE NatConnect 2030 project is to set the basis for the full implementation of the 5 PAFs through the establishment of a process to mobilise complementary funds, the consolidation of an integrated management system of the N2000 network to guarantee the achievement of the conservation objectives of the Habitats and Birds Directives, the improvement of the coherence of the N2000 network in a trans-regional context, the reinforcement of the effectiveness of the interventions, and the development of a solid and expert governance.
The project foresees the implementation of the most urgent actions of the five PAFs using LIFE and complementary funds: 60% of the PAF Lombardia, 52% of the PAF Emilia-Romagna, 75% of the PAF Piemonte, 53% of the PAF Veneto, and 70% of the PAF Provincia Autonoma Trento.
This main objective will be achieved with the implementation of a set of actions targeting the following strategic themes:
- restoration of habitats and species
- reinforcement of ecological corridors along the Po River
- increase of the resilience of key ecosystems for the adaptation to climate change
- creation of a coordinated system of early detection, management, and control of invasive alien species
- multi-target and multi-level communication activities.
The project is an important contributor to the 2030 targets of the EU Biodiversity strategy and sectoral initiatives, e.g., Pollinators and Green Infrastructures), on Forests, the Farm to Fork Strategy, on Climate adaptation efforts and other EU legislations (e.g., Water Framework Directive, Invasive Alien Species Regulation, Directive on Pesticides).
RESULTS
The LIFE NATConnect 2030 project is fully focused on actions aimed at the implementation of the five PAFs with the following impacts:
1. Set the bases for the full implementation of the 5 PAFs within 3-5 years after the project end
2. Significant contribution to the favourable conservation status of natural habitats and species of EU importance maintained and/or restored as per measures identified in PAF
- increase of the nesting couples of Casmerodius albus by 10% in Regione Lombardia;
- increase of the population of Ardeola ralloides by 10% in Regione Lombardia;
- improve the conditions of cane thicket on 500 ha to stop the negative trend of the waterbird populations;
- interventions on 8 ha of the habitat 9410 to favor capercaillie in Regione Veneto;
- restoration of 185 ha of habitats inside N2000 sites and population reinforcement / reintroduction in 8 sites to stop the negative trend of the amphibian and reptile populations;
- restoration of 16ha of bogs and diversification of 14 ha cane thicket for amphibians;
- increase safety measures for caves in 21 sites, creation of habitat trees in 21 sites and installation of 920 bat boxes for bats, reinforcement of the effectiveness of two Centres for the recovery of the wild animals (CRAS);
- 5 interventions for habitat restoration and population reinforcement / reintroduction in 5 sites with 8 000 individuals of Austropotamobius pallipes;
- restoration of 8 ha of fluvial habitats and interventions on river morphology in 3 sites to improve the habitat conditions for Alcedo atthis;
- improvement of habitat conditions in 10 sites for Graphoderus bilineatus, Coenagrion mercuriale and Acipenser naccarii;
- restoration interventions on the threatened habitats 5110, 4030, 7210, 7150, 6210, 7140, and 7210*, as well as on dune and coastal habitats, in particular on 100 ha of 1150*;
- improvement of habitat conditions on 40 ha and plantation of 14 ha of hedges for pollinators in Regione Lombardia;
- increase of the biological agricultural area by 5% in Regione Lombardia and application of specific guidelines for the reduction of the phytosanitary products on 10 demo-farms;
- complete the Regional Ecological Network in Regione Piemonte; improvement of the connectivity among the ecological networks of the four regions and of the province of Trento; implementation of 50 interventions on wet areas as stepping stones;
- interventions on 558 ha of forest habitats to improve their suitability for biodiversity;
- increase of the resilience of 1 000 ha of high-altitude habitats of Community interests; preparation and implementation of 12 grazing plans;
- control and eradication of zoological and botanical IAS species on 2 718 ha (complementary funds); establishment of 5 task forces (one in each region + Province of Trento) for the Early warning and response system.
3. Improvement of the ecological condition of the hydrographic network of the Po River
- improvement of the management of 120 km of riparian areas;
- ecological restoration of 56 areas along the Po River;
- reduction of the artificiality of the riverbeds on 37 km (with complementary funds).
4. Improvement on the long-term capacity to monitor and assess the status of species and habitats of EU importance (art 11 and 17 of the Habitats Directive)
- increase and improvement of the territorial network for field data collection;
- improvement of the interoperability of the databanks of the four regions + Province of Trento.