DINAMO - Increasing endangered biodiversity in agricultural and semi-natural areas: a demonstrative management model LIFE08 NAT/IT/000324

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1 DINAMO - Increasing endangered biodiversity in agricultural and semi-natural areas: a demonstrative management model LIFE08 NAT/IT/ Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more Contact details: Project Manager: Davide MARINO Tel: Fax: dmarino@unimol.it Project description: Background The Basso Molise area of southern Italy supports a range of endangered species and is home to several priority habitats including: Salix alba and Populus alba galleries, riparian mixed forests, Quercus pubescens forests, and Pannonian Balkanic turkey oak sessile oak forests. Strong links exist between the area s varied agricultural land use systems and the conservation status of its rich biodiversity. Conservation measures such as, improving wildlife corridors, maintaining mosaic patterns of low impact farming systems, and sustaining water flows contribute to the long-term viability of endangered species in the Basso Molise area. Objectives The main objective of the DINAMO project was to introduce a co-ordinated programme of integrated conservation actions to halt biodiversity loss in Basso Molise. The programme would involve engaging public and private sector stakeholders in efforts to implement a territorial resource management model capable of conserving those agricultural and semi natural habitats that support the following priority species: red kite (Milvus milvus), Eurasian hobby (Falco Subbuteo), European roller (Coracias garrulus), calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra), greater short-toed lark (Calandrella brachydactyla), long-eared owl

2 (Asio otus), tawny pipit (Anthus campestris), European pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis), Apennine yellow-bellied toad (Bombina pachypus), Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex) and Herman s tortoise (Eurotestudo hermanni); as well as the habitats Salix alba and Populus alba galleries, Riparian mixed forests, Quercus pubescens forests, Pannonian Balkanic turkey oak sessile oak forests. All of these target species and habitats have strong links with agricultural systems and the related territorial management model was expected to have great demonstration value for other European areas involved in sustaining high nature value farm land. Results The DINAMO developed an effective and replicable resource management model for halting the loss of biodiversity outside the Natura 2000 sites in Basso Molise, south Italy. The integrated territorial resource management model involves public and private stakeholders 17 farmers and two municipalities were engaged by the project in the promotion of conservation of endangered species populations and their habitats in agricultural and semi-natural areas. The project carried out direct interventions that not only improve the population of target species but also demonstrate that conservation measures do not necessarily affect the productivity of land. Conservation can be financially advantageous for landowners. Eight concrete conservation actions were carried out to preserve the target species populations and habitats on public and private land. However, delays to the start of some activities have affected the results. For example, the foreseen number of artificial nests for red kite and European roller were installed but they were still unoccupied at the end of the project. Colonisation by red kite is expected in the next 2-3 years, while the European roller colonises only nests already used by other species. Furthermore, the project planned to fix bars on tractors that reduce the nesting mortality of calandra lark and tawny pipit. This action experienced delays due to the difficulty in adapting the flushing bars to different tractors and to the different morphological conditions of cereal crop fields. Three troughs were restored in areas abandoned by the agricultural practices to increase the availability of suitable habitats for the Appennine yellow-bellied toad and the Italian crested newt. One of them (Fonte di Nallo) was colonised by the crested newt while another one (Fonte di Fonticillo) was shown to be suitable for the reintroduced population of yellow bellied toad. Additionally, native vegetation recovery in marginal areas and along farm boundaries was undertaken in a larger area than foreseen (7.39 ha instead of 5 ha), increasing the area of the target habitats. Ex-situ conservation and propagation of native shrubs and tree ecotypes included the propagation of seedlings and the collection of more than seeds of 50 species. Planting with native trees and shrubs was carried out on an area of 8.02 ha, but a fire occurred in an area oak forest restored by the project in June 2012, damaging more than 60% of the planted seedlings. Around 90% of the restored area was burnt. Finally, the project created an Agriforum and an AgriNet to link these

3 conservation actions to an increase of income for farmers. Such a link ensures that farmers will support the continuation of these activities through direct actions. Meetings of the Agriforum also led to the creation of the Trademark DINAMO - Farmers Guardians of Biodiversity, which is granted in recognition of farming practices that respect local biodiversity. Several farmers participating in the Agriforum have already expressed interest in adopting the trademark, which will give added value to their produce and potentially increase revenues. Furthermore, during the final year of the project, the University of Molise established contact among farmers participating in the forum and the university s Employees' Recreational Club in order to encourage the creation of a fair trade group. The farmers presented gift baskets to the university club at Christmas 2012, thus helping publicise the results of the project. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section). Environmental issues addressed: Themes Species - Birds Biodiversity issues - High Nature Value farmland Habitats - Grasslands Keywords environmental impact of agriculture endangered species agricultural method biodiversity management plan Target EU Legislation Nature protection and Biodiversity Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora- Habitats Directiv... Directive 2009/147 - Conservation of wild birds - Birds Directive (codified version of Directive... COM(2011) 244 final Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to COM(2013) 249 final Communication from the Commission on Green Infrastructure (GI) - Enhancing E... Target species

4 Anthus campestris Bombina variegata Calandrella brachydactyla Coracias garrulus Emys orbicularis Melanocorypha calandra Milvus milvus Testudo hermanni Triturus carnifex Target Habitat types 91F0 - "Riparian mixed forests of Quercus robur, Ulmus laevis and Ulmus minor, Fraxinus excelsior or Fraxinus angustifolia, along the great rivers (Ulmenion minoris)" 92A0 - Salix alba and Populus alba galleries 91M0 - Pannonian-Balkanic turkey oak-sessile oak forests 91AA - Eastern white oak woods Natura 2000 sites Not applicable Beneficiaries: Coordinator Type of organisation Description Partners University of Molise University The University of Molise has developed specialist applied research functions in fields such as biodiversity and ecology, landscape ecology and economy, protected areas, and sustainable agriculture. Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori (CIA)-Province of Campobasso, Italy ENEA, Italy IGEAM srl, Italy Administrative data: Project reference LIFE08 NAT/IT/ Duration 01-JAN-2010 to 31-DEC Total budget 1,692, EU contribution 836, Project location Molise(Italia)

5 Read more: Project web site Project's website Publication: After-LIFE Title: After-LIFE Conservation Plan Year: 2013 Conservation Plan No of pages: 17 Publication: Layman report Title: Layman report No of pages: 12 Publication: Technical report Title: Project's Final technical report Year: 2012 Editor: Università degli Studi del Molise No of pages: 122 Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more