PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Adige and Brenta rivers in northern Italy's autonomous province of Trento flow down two valleys that are right on the north-south axis of the main migrating routes used by birds crossing the Alps. In the past, the two valleys were an ideal nesting and breeding area for numerous bird species, many of which (more than 30) are listed in Annex I of Birds Directive. However, over the past decades human activities have brought changes to the environment, in particular that of the river valleys, which have led to a dramatic decline in the scale and quality of the biotopes needed for the survival and reproduction of the avifauna. Agriculture in particular, is responsible for the loss of significant proportions of the natural habitats. For this reason, private lands located in important areas for the birds are to be bought up and restored to their previously natural condition.
OBJECTIVES
The project’s overall objective was to implement a series of measures in seven wetlands that constitute some of the last refuges in the Trento province where birds can rest and forage during their strenuous migration.
The sites targeted were: Palu di Borghetto, Taio, Avisio, Rupe, S. Cristoforo, Inghiaie and Roncegno. Four of them were already included on the Italian national list of protected areas and the three others were expected to be added shortly. All seven were already provincial nature reserves.
This project was the first stage of a broader programme – to involve other regions, in Italy and in Austria – located along this migration route. Specifically, this project aimed to carry out a series of measures aimed at making the seven targeted wetlands into a network of biotopes that could act as refuges for migrating birds. Sites would be secured through (1) land purchases and (2) improved as bird habitats by laying out ponds, restoring hedges and expanding the area covered by riparian vegetation.
RESULTS
The project successfully implemented a number of conservation measures – such as the acquisition of land, opening of water expanses, reconstruction of hedges and widening of riparian forest – in seven wetland sites situated along bird migratory routes:
1. The project had planned to purchase a total of c. 32 ha in small sections across the various sites. However, the actual total of land purchase was lower than planned (c. 26 ha). This was due to reluctance of some landowners to sell. Although the size of the individual plots was small, taken together with the other project actions (see next paragraphs), the land purchases were considered to have significantly contributed to the biodiversity conservation in the area.
2. Various practical conservation measures were carried out such as the opening of existing and new water pools, planting of trees and hedges, hydraulic works, creation of new wetlands, removal of waste dumps, opening of canals and creation of a plant nursery.
Palù di Borghetto: Works on this site consisted of opening a water pool and removing waste deposits. Approx. 5 300 m3 of material were removed and resulted in the opening up a water pool of 2 000 m2;
Taio: Works focused on creating a wetland, entailing the flooding of a plot adjacent to the Adige river to undo land reclamation works that had been implemented at the start of the century. The opening of canals and planting of trees (poplars, alders and willow trees) was also carried out. In total, c. 8 000 m3 of soil were removed and 3 000 m2 of water canals were opened up;
Foci dell’Avisio: Works included the creation of new wetlands (at the mouth of the Avisio stream that had been almost completely covered up through land reclamation) and the planting of hedges;
La Rupe: Actions at this site included the planting of 10 000 new plants and creation of a natural water depuration system (e.g., by using the ‘lagooning’ method - filtering the polluted water through a series of basins, until the polluting agents decay);
Canneti di S. Cristoforo: A segment of a canal (200 m) - that had been enclosed in a cement structure - was removed (to allow water to flow more naturally) and vegetation was planted along the banks of this canal;
Inghiaie: Three new ponds were created and hedges were restored;.
Palù di Roncegno: Two water pools were created.
According to the beneficiary, the project’s actions led to an almost immediate increase in the presence of species in the wetlands. In the Palù di Roncegno site, for example, the bird species grey heron (Ardea cinerea), was observed after the conervation works, as was an amphibian species (Triturus alpestris, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria). Similarly, in the Inghiaie site, bird species sited after the works were the Grey heron (Ardea cinerea), the Black kite (Milvus migrans) and the Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). Among the amphibian species the Alpine newt (Triturus alpestris), the Edible frog (Rana esculenta) and the Common European frog (Rana temporaria).
Finally, the beneficiary also indicated an intention to continue actions started under the LIFE project, both through further land acquisitions and through management of the 7 biotopes. Note that after the conclusion of this project, two other LIFE projects were approved in the same area (in the Bozen and Trento provinces). The project successfully implemented a number of conservation measures – such as the acquisition of land, opening of water expanses, reconstruction of hedges and widening of riparian forest – in seven wetland sites situated along bird migratory routes:
1. The project had planned to purchase a total of c. 32 ha in small sections across the various sites. However, the actual total of land purchase was lower than planned (c. 26 ha). This was due to reluctance of some landowners to sell. Although the size of the individual plots was small, taken together with the other project actions (see next paragraphs), the land purchases were considered to have significantly contributed to the biodiversity conservation in the area.
2. Various practical conservation measures were carried out such as the opening of existing and new water pools, planting of trees and hedges, hydraulic works, creation of new wetlands, removal of waste dumps, opening of canals and creation of a plant nursery.
Palù di Borghetto: Works on this site consisted of opening a water pool and removing waste deposits. Approx. 5 300 m3 of material were removed and resulted in the opening up a water pool of 2 000 m2;
Taio: Works focused on creating a wetland, entailing the flooding of a plot adjacent to the Adige river to undo land reclamation works that had been implemented at the start of the century. The opening of canals and planting of trees (poplars, alders and willow trees) was also carried out. In total, c. 8 000 m3 of soil were removed and 3 000 m2 of water canals were opened up;
Foci dell’Avisio: Works included the creation of new wetlands (at the mouth of the Avisio stream that had been almost completely covered up through land reclamation) and the planting of hedges;
La Rupe: Actions at this site included the planting of 10 000 new plants and creation of a natural water depuration system (e.g., by using the ‘lagooning’ method - filtering the polluted water through a series of basins, until the polluting agents decay);
Canneti di S. Cristoforo: A segment of a canal (200 m) - that had been enclosed in a cement structure - was removed (to allow water to flow more naturally) and vegetation was planted along the banks of this canal;
Inghiaie: Three new ponds were created and hedges were restored;.
Palù di Roncegno: Two water pools were created.
According to the beneficiary, the project’s actions led to an almost immediate increase in the presence of species in the wetlands. In the Palù di Roncegno site, for example, the bird species grey heron (Ardea cinerea), was observed after the conervation works, as was an amphibian species (Triturus alpestris, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria). Similarly, in the Inghiaie site, bird species sited after the works were the Grey heron (Ardea cinerea), the Black kite (Milvus migrans) and the Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis). Among the amphibian species the Alpine newt (Triturus alpestris), the Edible frog (Rana esculenta) and the Common European frog (Rana temporaria).
Finally, the beneficiary also indicated an intention to continue actions started under the LIFE project, both through further land acquisitions and through management of the 7 biotopes. Note that after the conclusion of this project, two other LIFE projects were approved in the same area (in the Bozen and Trento provinces).