Description
The European project NatConnect2030 will engage the Province of Trento together with many other partners in the next 9 years on the theme of biodiversity protection.
Below is a summary of the activities planned in Trentino, while on this page we give an update on current activities.
Rehabilitation of peat bogs and wetlands
What kind of environment are they?
A peat bog is a particular wetland, typical of areas with a cold climate, in which peat, a special dark-coloured soil, is formed. Peat is derived from the remains of plants, especially mosses and sphagnum mosses, which die and accumulate above the water table as there is no oxygen in these environments, and with it all the microorganisms that usually decompose organic material. This process, which lasts thousands of years, can lead to the formation of peat accumulations several metres thick. Wetlands are all those water bodies of modest depth such as marshes, ponds, river mouths and lake shores.
Why are they important?
The peat bog is a true inheritance that has come down to us since the last ice age ended 12,000 years ago; it is typical of cold environments, in fact it is common in northern Europe, but at our latitudes it is a rare environment. The peat bog is a very special and fragile environment and is a treasure trove of biodiversity, because it is home to rare and endangered species such as some species of carnivorous plants, insects and amphibians of various kinds.
In addition, this environment plays a fundamental role as a carbon store; this is very important because from the moment a peat bog is destroyed, all the accumulated carbon is released into the atmosphere in the form of CO2, thus exacerbating ongoing climate change.
Wetlands play a very important role in regulating the surface flow of water, mitigating the effects of floods and drought periods; they are also a very important environment for biodiversity, in particular for amphibians, freshwater fish and water birds, both sedentary and migratory, as these areas act as resting places where birds feed and take refuge during their migrations.
What do we do in Trentino?
These delicate environments need help to maintain the conditions necessary for their conservation. In particular, the main threat is the encroachment of tree and shrub species such as the marsh reed, the frangula, willows, but also spruces and pines. Periodic mowing will therefore be carried out with the aim of creating a mixed 'mosaic' environmental situation to promote biodiversity. Particular attention will be paid to the reed areas, which are of fundamental importance for the reproduction of certain species of water birds, but which tend to "close" the stretch of water by drying out the soil: these areas will be the subject of periodic partial mowing, carried out during the winter period to limit disturbance to the fauna present as much as possible.
Protection, renaturalisation and improvement of the connectivity of watercourses
What type of environment are they?
We are talking about very different types of environments: mountain torrents with a very high gradient, torrents on the valley floor, rivers, drainage ditches in agricultural areas... all united by the presence of water, the source of life. Aquatic environments are of great importance both for fauna and flora and for man and his activities, but they are also the source of potential dangers such as flooding and hydrogeological disruption.
Why are they important?
Watercourses are an invaluable element for the territory in which we live. They are very delicate habitats that are home to rare and valuable species; these include the marble trout, the freshwater crayfish and the kingfisher. In addition, the vegetation we find on the edges, which makes up the riparian strip, has several extremely important functions:
- they protect the soil from erosive phenomena of the river;
- they form a 'buffer strip' against the nitrogen coming from the nitrogen fertilisers used in agriculture by limiting its arrival in the water;
- they are real ecological corridors that allow animals to move, even in heavily man-made environments such as the valley floor.
What will we do in Trentino?
We will try to restore a more 'natural' situation of the watercourses, compatibly with hydrogeological safety; this is why the work will be carried out in collaboration with the Servizio Bacini Montani. Vegetation typical of riparian strips, such as willows, poplars and alders, will be planted. In addition, restoration activities will be carried out directly in the river bed, such as the opening of side branches, the replacement of artificial banks, and the creation of areas with different depths; all this is aimed at diversifying and renaturalising this type of environment. A final type of work will be on weirs, artificial transversal works that are important for the hydrogeological risk, but which constitute an insurmountable barrier for those fish that swim up rivers, such as the marble trout; these structures will be equipped with "comeback ladders", a sort of stairway with small pools that allow fish to overcome this obstacle. All work will be carried out away from the fish spawning periods so as not to disturb them.
Measures to improve the conservation status of the crayfish and its habitat
The crayfish (scientific name Austropotamobius pallipes) is an indigenous crustacean that is very sensitive to habitat quality, and is in fact an excellent indicator of the level of naturalness of watercourses. Once widespread, it has suffered a drastic decline in recent years. Threats are the degradation of aquatic habitats and their artificialisation, and the spread of alien species (i.e. introduced into the environment by man), such as the American crayfish(Faxonius limosus) and the Louisiana red crayfish(Procamburus clarkii), which in turn are the spreading agent of the 'crayfish plague' fungus.
What are we going to do in Trentino?
In continuity with what has already been done in the Life+TEN project, we will continue the collaboration with the Edmund Mach Foundation, a specialist in the sector, to continue all the activities in favour of crayfish conservation envisaged by the "Crayfish management plan in Trentino":
- monitoring of known crayfish populations to check their state of health;
- surveys on areas that have not yet been investigated to verify the presence of the crayfish or to assess their suitability for future repopulation;
- control and eradication of alien species.
- Dissemination and awareness-raising of fishermen and people involved.
Actions for the protection and conservation of bats
Bats, or chiroptera, are very delicate animals that are quickly affected by environmental changes. In Trentino there are as many as 27 species, some of which are particularly protected. The main threat to these animals is the loss of suitable breeding and wintering sites: in particular caves and old buildings such as castles and churches. The problems are linked to over-visitation in sensitive periods for the former, and renovation work for the latter.
What will we do in Trentino?
We will proceed with the identification and conservation of 9 breeding or wintering sites frequented by species of conservation importance. In the case of natural cavities, in order to prevent improper frequentation, the entrances will be closed by means of gates with suitable features that allow animals to pass through. In the case of old buildings, on the other hand, the sites will be cleaned and secured, and a protocol for the restoration of these structures compatible with the animals' stay will be drawn up.
Fighting alien species
Alien species are non-native species, which have been introduced more or less consciously by man, and which have adapted to their new environment to the detriment of species already present; they are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss.
It is a problem that affects both plant and animal species, and which mainly affects low-lying valley environments, particularly along watercourses.
What are we going to do?
Some problematic species have been identified for the Trentino context, against which capture and containment actions will be taken.
Animal species:
- The American marsh tortoise(Trachemis scripta ssp), present in Italy with 3 subspecies, is the typical tortoise that is purchased as a pet. It has become extremely common due to escapes from captivity and voluntary releases by people no longer interested in keeping them. In the wild it disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems, being a great devourer of fish, amphibians, insects and eggs.
- American mink(Neogale vison), a species present in lower Valsugana, where there was a breeding farm for furs until 2018; it is not clear how many specimens there are, but there is certainly a population that is recolonising the Brenta river by preying on fish and waterfowl nests.
In terms of plant species, four particularly critical species have been identified, three of which are widespread: black locust(Robinia pseudoacacia) and ailanthus(Ailanthus altissima) as tree species, and buddleja(Buddleja davidii), a bushy plant with characteristic lilac inflorescences. These species are now widespread, especially along watercourses. A final species is the Mantegazza panacea(Heracleum mantegazzianum), a herbaceous plant of Caucasian origin, recognisable by its large leaves (1-3 metres). This species is still very localised, so eradication actions are of paramount importance.
