ACTION C.14 Protection of species: safeguarding populations of corncrake

LIFE+ TEN project: species protection demonstration action - safeguarding populations of corncrake

The species

The corncrake(Crex crex) is a species of Community interest linked to grasslands and threatened with extinction in most of Europe. In Trentino in particular, this bird is linked to medium and low mountain grassland environments.

The problem

The sharp decline of the corncrake is mainly due to the considerable reduction in grassland areas, but also to the mechanisation of mowing operations and the change in their calendar. In fact, mowing takes place in a short time, thanks to the use of operating machines working at high speed, and coincides with the breeding season of the species, thus causing the death of adults and nestlings.

Objective of the action

The objective is to protect two important areas of presence of the species

• the Tesino Plateau, in eastern Trentino
• the upper Val di Non, in western Trentino.

In each area a 'pact for the protection of the corncrake' will be stipulated with the meadow owners to meet the biological needs of the species, also thanks to the resources of the R.S.P..
In addition, a tourism development project will be created focusing on the promotion of the 'meadow landscape' to promote its preservation, also through the creation of an agricultural nature park.

Expected results:

• Long-term protection and numerical increase of two of the most important populations of corncrake in Trentino, through integrated agricultural and tourism management policies of the territory.

Documentation

• Information notice board - Alta Val di Non
• Notice board - Tesino
• Alta Val di Non - Territorial collective environmental project "Corncrake" - RDP 2014-2020 - operation 16.5.1
• Alta Val di Non - Collective territorial project for environmental purposes "King of quails" - RDP 2014-2020 - operation 16.5.1 - Annex "Management plans of grassland areas managed by the implementing subjects
• Tesino - Project "Non-productive interventions for ecological connectivity and recovery of Natura 2000 and agricultural habitats of naturalistic value - RDP 2014-2020 - operation 4.4.3