Requalification of Taro fluvial habitats vital to avifauna

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The Taro regional River Park in the province of Parma was set up in 1988 to protect an important ecosystem for bird staging and nesting. The Taro river flows across the park over a length of about 20 km, slicing through the sediments blanketing the plains and creating a network of interconnected river channels. The site is located in the middle of an area with a booming economy and a considerable industrial output, yet even so precious remnants of the original alluvial Alnion glutinoso-incanae forest are left, along with 12 other habitats of Community interest. Together they make up the ecological complexity of the site. As a result of sand and gravel extraction and of tapping river water for use in agriculture and industry, the number of channels has declined and in turn this has increased the velocity of the river flow. The erosion engendered by this process is causing a loss of important river gorge habitats, while the riverbed is being shorn of those morphological elements, which are of vital importance for the life cycles of fish, including many species listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. These processes are also reflected in the decline of the habitats suited for the site’s bird life, which has an impact on bird populations.

OBJECTIVES

The LIFE project was a first step under the broader ‘Plan for conservation measures to restore the degraded areas of the park’. Its principal objective was to restore the ecological functions of certain areas by restoring the natural structure of the river ecosystems. To improve hydrodynamics and reverse the erosion processes, selected side channels were to be opened up again to allow gently flowing water to pass through. These measures aimed both at regenerating priority habitats, preserving important bird habitats and improving conditions for the fish. Restoration of the riverbed seepage areas where reeds are prevalent is essential to provide staging and wintering opportunities for the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), a priority bird species occurring in the park. Finally, by acquiring and subsequently improving the quality of the woodland located inside the pSCI, the regional park authority intended to protect the surviving remnant of riparian vegetation, where Egretta garzetta, Nycticorax nycticorax and Ardeola ralloides nest.

RESULTS

The project achieved all the foreseen objectives. The interventions have resulted in concrete improvements of habitats for bird species, ie the creation of new wetland areas along the river, and the establishment of an effective control and safeguard of the Special Protected Area. Local administrations, ie residents, municipalities and water authorities, have become aware of the implications of the SPA, as a result of the public campaign carried out by the Taro regional park. Particular achievements were:

the creation of new wetland areas along the river, about 1,5 ha, a new feeding point for bird species, and in particular herons, along the river, using waters coming from a depuration plant;

the purchase of 18 ha of woods, in which a heronry, one of the largest in the area, is located, which will allow for a correct management of the site;

areas which need increased surveillance to protect bird species have been identified; a bird-watching tower has been installed in order to increase awareness of importance of bird species;

water circulation has been improved through the re-opening of canals, in order to reduce the erosion of river banks;

thousands of new Myricaria germanica plants, grown in nurseries, have been produced and planted and various surveys and studies have been carried out on the wild plants found along the river, which should contribute to the safeguard of this important vegetation community, connected with a habitat of EU interest “Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Myricaria germanica”;

during the project the park continued to monitor the Stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) a species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, in order to obtain an accurate census of the nesting population and increase the knowledge of the species;

the park has obtained greater resources and one more employee in charge of evaluations of incidence;

contribution to the restoration of agro-forestry practices;

building of an upstream ladder to ease movement of fish species, in particular Barbus plebejus, Chondrostoma genei and Leuciscus souffia. The fish fauna ladder was built in such a way as to block the passage of Silurus glanis.

incorporation of techniques developed during the project in the programs for agri-forestry development under the regional rural development plan. An agreement was reached among the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Po River basin authority, the Po Magistrate, the Parma Province and the Taro Park for the creation of a technical group to implement some of the indications that resulted from the first measures of the LIFE Nature project. As a result of the Life project there is undoubtedly a greater protection of the bird species for which the SPA was created. This has resulted not only in a greater maintenance of the heronry and of all the areas of importance for bird species, but also in a more active role by the park in the entire evaluation of impact procedure. The park has employed, after the project, one full time employee responsible for evaluations of incidence. On the other hand the fish ladder has not contributed to the movement of the fishes upstream: apparently the only way to solve the problem in a significant way would imply extensive structural works.