PROJECTS CARRIED OUT

OB. 2 Measure 2.6 b  “Natura 2000 Network”
ENHANCING MINOR FAUNA AND VEGETATION IN FRESH WATER WETLANDS IN LIGURIAN SCIs

The project (2006-2008) was carried out in collaboration with Dip.Te.Ris., University of Genoa as well as the municipal administrations of Calice al Cornoviglio, Pignone, Riccò del Golfo, Sarzana and the Comunità Montana Media e Bassa Val di Vara. It provided for the creation, at the Oratorio della Trinità in Sarzana, of the “Regional Minor Fauna Centre” with aquariums and terraquariums containing species relevant for conserving biodiversity. The centre can be visited with the help of expert nature guides.
Again in Sarzana, in the area of the perifluvial lake in the Pallodola area, special “teaching ponds” were created to observe and conserve amphibians and birds from aquatic environments. Some illustrative panels and a path that flanks the perimeter of the lake facilitate the visit. These activities were accompanied by monitoring studies** of the amphibian population that highlighted their general decline.

WETLANDS PROJECT

The project originated in the context of the Programme Accord of 05/11/2004 on the study and active protection of wetland habitats in the Beigua, Aveto and Montemarcello-Magra Ligurian parks “Wetlands project” sectorally integrated with the Framework Programme Accord for the protection of watercourses and the integrated management of water resources stipulated on 30 December 2002 (art. 5, c.2; art. 11, c. 2 e 3) among the Ministry of the Environment and Territorial Protection, the Liguria Region, Aveto Park, Beigua Park and Montemarcello Magra Park. In the project, a series of thorough enquiries in the sectors of analytical chemistry, biology and flora-fauna and some management actions aimed at obtaining environmental improvement and an enhancement of the Magra wetland were carried out. The wetland being studied, which is man-made, is situated in the Pallodola area of Sarzana, along the left bank of the Magra river. The Fauna Section of the Polizia Provinciale of La Spezia, the Liguria Region – Laboratory of Land Analysis and Vegetation Production and ARPAL were involved in activities. This pilot project concluded with the production of “Practical Guidelines for the Management of Wetlands”, a useful instrument for implementing Park wetland management.

ECOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT ACTIONS AIMED AT RECOVERING FISH POPULATIONS WITHIN THE MAGRA-VARA PARK SCI

The project follows the previous action, “Monitoring cyclostoma populations present in the province of La Spezia*” carried out by the Park (2005-2006) in collaboration with the Province of La Spezia and Dip.Te.Ris., University of Genoa that led to the drafting of an Action Plan aimed at conservation. Monitoring is still ongoing thanks to the collaboration of the Park Guards and sport fishing association volunteers (see graph).
The project (2006-2007) has contributed to improving the environmental conditions of the river and restoring the hydraulic continuity of the watercourses so as to enable fish species, and in general all species present, to recover original distribution areals. Actions to restore hydraulic and biological continuity by putting in place suitable artificial passages for fish in the barriers present along the river, and ecological improvement measures such as building furrows to contain the flow rate of low water and the inclusion of elements for the diversification of habitats, have therefore been put in place. Thus a series of large masses have been placed along the river axis in order to create differentiated habitats, shelter areas from predators, slower current areas to rest if the river is full and sand deposits that constitute suitable habitats for the initial phases of development of ammocetes.

PROJECTS CURRENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED

REDEVELOPMENT OF ALLUVIAL ENVIRONMENTS OF THE VARA RIVER
(Multi-regional biodiversity Programme Agreement)

The action proposes carrying out environmental enhancement measures on the right side of the Vara river in the Mulini area, near Follo. Activities regard monitoring avifauna (which has already been activated through a convention with the Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica), activities carried out; putting in place a floodplain and the re-naturalisation of the area. These actions have been planned using environmental engineering techniques aimed at :
- restoring the ecological “functional nature” of the ecosystem as much as possible;
- reducing or resolving erosion situations and instability of banks and escarpments (by reducing the speed of the current or by consolidation measures using natural engineering techniques);
- optimising the efficacy of works on a hydraulic level, and therefore optimising maintenance phases;
- obtaining an optimum landscape and environmental positioning of existing and future hydraulic operations;
- obtaining sustainable fruition and environmental education outcomes;
- reducing the complexity and maintenance costs of the hydraulic system;
- reducing conflict situations at a social level.

LIFE PROJECT + NATURA: P.A.R.C. “PETROMYZON AND RIVER CONTINUITY

The project, led by the Park, has recently been approved by the European Union after a difficult selection process (26 projects were accepted out of 170 presented). The project partners are the Liguria Region Dip.Te.Ris. of the University of Genoa, the Province of La Spezia, Legambiente and the co-financing private partner, Tirreno Power Spa. The general objective of the Project is the improvement of the state of conservation of fish species at risk such as Petromyzon marinus (sea lamprey), Lampetra planeri (river lamprey), Alosa fallax (Mediterranean shad) and other species, by correcting fluvial and ecological continuity of the Magra and Vara rivers, and by generating awareness among local inhabitants and administrations.

Recent studies*, carried out within the Site of Community Importance (SCI IT1343502) Parco della Magra-Vara, highlighted that the Magra and Vara rivers are the only Italian watercourses in which the presence and reproduction of the sea lamprey has been proved. The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is a primitive fish that was thought to be extinct in the area and its presence is indicative of the good quality of the Vara and Magra rivers.
The sea lamprey is protected by international (Annex II of Directive 92/43 CEE “Habitat”, Annex III of the Berne Convention) and regional measures (L.R. 21/2004) and is considered to be a species in “critical danger” on the Red List of fresh water Italian fish.

ACTIONS TO RECOVER THE POPULATION OF BOMBINA VARIEGATA L

The project, financed by the Liguria Region, comes after monitoring carried out in 2005**, that highlighted a general decline of the population of amphibians and, in particular, the high risk of extinction of the toad (Bombina variegata L.) in the province of La Spezia.
The Park project (2007-2009) has the aim of improving the state of conservation of habitats that ensure the survival of species tied to wetlands such as rural areas, ditches, lakes, wells and small ponds. In particular, actions are concentrated on the Bombina variegata pachypus, a species included in Annex II of Directive 92/43/CEE in the province of La Spezia. Specifically, the actions carried out in collaboration with the Comunità Montana Alta Val di Vara and with the technical-scientific support of Dip.Te.Ris. of the University of Genoa, involve a precise monitoring of the population, as well as the recovery, creation and improvement of natural wells and water collections within the area of the Park and surrounding areas. These actions foster the natural re-colonisation of sites suitable for this species.