PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The project aimed at implementing an innovative methodology to restore the tree and shrub vegetation in areas where the green cover had been destroyed by fire. The project considered as its main justification the problem of forest fires and successive restoration, a problem present throughout Europe, and particularly in the Mediterranean regions. The methodology consisted of: collection of local species seeds; treatment and storage of seeds; preparation of mixes of seeds with nutrients, fertilisers, and glue-like matters; spreading of the mix on the test areas by helicopter or, near the roads, by tractor-mounted pump; manual sowing of heavy seeds (oak) monitoring of the actions; organisation of high-level scientific conferences and production of CD, technical manual and dépliants to disseminate the methodology and its results The innovative aspects consisted mainly of: 1. using seeds of tree and shrub species instead of herbaceous species (commonly used in hydro-sowing); 2. using locally collected seeds. The action was successfully carried out in two areas, and a special section of the technical report and manual thoroughly shows the positive balance of the cost-benefit ratio, both in economical and environmental terms.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective was to prevent hydrogeological upheavaling of fire, passed soils, by means of improving and experimenting with innovative and advanced biotechnologies of reforestation. In particular the technologies to be improved are intended to restore vegetation in very steep slopes, within a time up to 10 times shorter, an improved costs-benefits ratio and no negative environmental impact, defending the previous biodiversity. Operative records and experimentation phases are described shortly: Damage study; Territorial study; Native flora study in the near areas (phytosociological surveys to provide a detailed view on the pre-existing flora); Area reclamation; Vegetal material collection (seeds and rhizomes); Vegetal material treatment with advanced and innovative biotechnologies in laboratories and mobile seeds banks; Material preparation and mixture pre-treatment which will be used in the hydroseeding; Optimized hydroseeding on the base of flora phases also by means of selected rhizomes; Monitoring about intermediate results; Monitoring and settlement of detail interventions also over smallest scale to optimize the ecology of species used for the final objective.
RESULTS
The technical solution adopted by the project – hydro-seeding with indigenous species after ad-hoc pre-treatment - was highly innovative in that tree and shrub species were used in place of the usual herbaceous ones. Another innovative element was the exclusive use of locally collected seeds, thus rendering the activity more eco-compatible and eliminating the risk of genetic contamination. Finally, this technique was used for the first time in areas damaged by forest fires. The hydro-seeding was carried out in two areas (about 120 hectares in total) characterised by high visibility and heavy tourism to emphasise and effectively publicise the project action. The monitoring of results carried out a few months after the intervention showed a good growth of the species used for reforestation (see photo below). The species used for hydro-seeding were: Arbutus unedo, Calicotome villosa, Ceratonia siliqua, Cistus incanus, Cistus monspeliensis, Cistus salvifolius, Erica arborea, Myrtus communis, Pinus halepensis, Pistacia lentiscus, Rosmarinus officinalis, An additional post monitoring visit was carried out in November 2002 and confirmed the good growth. There were no major technical difficulties in the implementation of the planned activities as the partner “Codra Mediterranea” possesses both the technical expertise as well as the necessary equipment. The project is in compliance with the recent Italian legislation on reforestation after fires (Law 353/2000) and with the Italian law 394/91 which forbids the introduction of non-indigenous species in protected areas. Moreover, the adopted technology complies with the Italian law (R.D. 3267/1923) regulating soil preparation and ploughing in steep slope areas. The project produced a detailed analysis if the cost/benefits ratio which illustrates the advantages of the adopted technique. In particular a set of parameters were taken into account to assess which one among three different options (present status, traditional reforestation, CILENTO LIFE method) offers the best cost/benefits ratio, and the project methodology proved the most preferable of the three. The potential for transferability is very high, as the methodology was applied in “extreme” conditions (very steep slopes) whereas forest fires often occur on easier terrain. The community interest is high, as confirmed by the quantity and quality of the participants in the public meetings organised by the project. The technical solution adopted by the project – hydro-seeding with indigenous species after ad-hoc pre-treatment - was highly innovative in that tree and shrub species were used in place of the usual herbaceous ones. Another innovative element was the exclusive use of locally collected seeds, thus rendering the activity more eco-compatible and eliminating the risk of genetic contamination. Finally, this technique was used for the first time in areas damaged by forest fires. The hydro-seeding was carried out in two areas (about 120 hectares in total) characterised by high visibility and heavy tourism to emphasise and effectively publicise the project action. The monitoring of results carried out a few months after the intervention showed a good growth of the species used for reforestation (see photo below). The species used for hydro-seeding were: Arbutus unedo, Calicotome villosa, Ceratonia siliqua, Cistus incanus, Cistus monspeliensis, Cistus salvifolius, Erica arborea, Myrtus communis, Pinus halepensis, Pistacia lentiscus, Rosmarinus officinalis, An additional post monitoring visit was carried out in November 2002 and confirmed the good growth. There were no major technical difficulties in the implementation of the planned activities as the partner “Codra Mediterranea” possesses both the technical expertise as well as the necessary equipment. The project is in compliance with the recent Italian legislation on reforestation after fires (Law 353/2000) and with the Italian law 394/91 which forbids the introduction of non-indigenous species in protected areas. Moreover, the adopted technology complies with the Italian law (R.D. 3267/1923) regulating soil preparation and ploughing in steep slope areas. The project produced a detailed analysis if the cost/benefits ratio which illustrates the advantages of the adopted technique. In particular a set of parameters were taken into account to assess which one among three different options (present status, traditional reforestation, CILENTO LIFE method) offers the best cost/benefits ratio, and the project methodology proved the most preferable of the three. The potential for transferability is very high, as the methodology was applied in “extreme” conditions (very steep slopes) whereas forest fires often occur on easier terrain. The community interest is high, as confirmed by the quantity and quality of the participants in the public meetings organised by the project.
