Laymans report LIFE10/NAT/IT/000256

Transcription

1 Laymans report E N V I R O N M E N TA L M A N A G E M E N T A N D C O N S E R VAT I O N I N M E D I T E R R A N E A N S A LT W O R K S A N D C O A S TA L L A G O O N S LIFE10/NAT/IT/000256

2 Partner Ente di Gestione per i Parchi e la Biodiversità Delta del Po Coordinating beneficiary Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius-Saline Associated beneficiary Parc naturel régional de Camargue Associated beneficiary Green Balkans NGO Associated beneficiary Compagnie des Salins du Midi et des Salines de l'est Associated beneficiary Tour du Valat Associated beneficiary Cervia Municipality Co-financier

3 Summary The project... 1 Threats... 2 Objectives... 3 Results... 4

4 LIFE10NAT/IT/ Website:

5 The project The project has been implemented inside the Natura 2000 Network in three Member States: Italy; France; Bulgaria. Natura 2000 stretches over the European Union on about 18 % of land area and almost 6 % of its marine territory. The project The Network includes sites of Bird Directive and Habitat Directive which can overlap each other. 1 The project has been implemented inside 9 Natura 2000 sites listed in the Member State Beneficiary SITE NAME SITE CODE Ente di Gestione per i Parchi e la Salina di cervia IT Biodiversità- Delta del Po ITALY Parco naturale regionale Molentargius- Saline di Molentargius ITB Saline Stagno di molentargius e ITB territori limitrofi Parc naturel régional de Camargue Camargue FR FRANCE Tour du Valat FR Compagnie des Salins du Midi et des Petite Camargue FR Salines de l'est Petite camargue laguno-marine FR BULGARIA Green Balkans NGO Pomorie lake BG Pomorie BG

6 Threats 2 Threats The most common threat faced by the project was reduction of the hydraulic circulation, although to various degrees of severity in different sites as well as degradation of nesting sites. Disturbance of nesting sites by the Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis; In two sites birds were threatened by collision with aerial powerlines Bulgarian Habitats were depredated due to invasive alien species (IAS) plant.

7 Objetives 3 Objectives The project goals were the conservation of habitats and species in the Natura 2000 project s sites. All the sites are salt works still productive or abandoned. The most widespread habitat is the priority habitat Coastal lagoon. Cygnus olor; Gelochelidon nilotica; Himantopus himantopus; Larus genei; Larus melanocephalus; Larus ridibundus ; Phoenicopterus roseus ; Podiceps cristatus ; Recurvirostra avosetta; Sterna albifrons; Sterna hirundo; Sterna sandvicensis; Tadorna tadorna. The habitats target were: 1150* Coastal lagoon; 1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand; 1410 Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi), 1420 Mediterranean halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornetea fruticosi); 92D0 Southern riparian galleries and thickets (Nerio- Tamaricetea and Securinegion tinctoriae); 2120 Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenariae. The bird species target were: Aythya nyroca; Charadrius alexandrinus; Charadrius dubius; The fish target were Aphanius fasciatus, Knipowitschia panizzae, Pomatoschistus canestrinii. The secondary objectives of the project were the elaboration of a management model for salt works; the elaboration of Guidelines for Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis disturbance mitigation.

8 4 Results In Cervia salt works the restoration of hydraulic circulation greatly improved the quality of the lagoon with an expansion of seagrass meadow with Ruppia. The quality improvement induced also an increase in the fish community in particular of the protected species such as Aphanius fasciatus. Fourteen nesting islets have been built inside the saltworks. Half of the nesting islets were protected by the predation from Yellowlegged Gull Larus michahellis with a specific net. The target species colonized and nested on the islets quite effectively.

9 5 Nesting islets protected by the net proved not to be tolerated from all species. Only Common Tern colonized an islet with net. Five hundred meters of aerial powerline were buried, removing the threat of collision with birds. A new bird watching tower, beside notice boards improved the site visit experience.

10 6 In Molentargius site the hydraulic circulation was restored trough the excavation of the channel communicating with the sea and with new embankments. Also two nesting islets have been built, but also the embankments have been colonized with a spectacular colony of flamingos. The water circulation greatly improved Coastal lagoon habitat, which has been colonized by macrobenthos, target fish fauna such as Aphanius fasciatus and macroalgae which were previously totally absent.

11 7 The Molentargius site is embraced by the city of Cagliari and widely visited by students and general public. Two birdwatching tower were built, one of which can be used by people with impaired mobility Dissemination was implemented with notice boards and various materials such as calendars, brochure, map of the site and specific booklet.

12 8 In Aigues-Morte 3.5 Km of aerial powerline were buried removing completely the threat of collision with birds A new nesting islets have been built and an existin nesting site have been protected by the disturbance from Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis with the use of an inflatable scarey-man. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis colonize the area in early spring, before the other species. The use of inflatable scarey-man in early spring avoid the colonization and leave the area free for other species Hydraulic circulation was restored into the saltwort thanks to a series of new sluices among the different basins.

13 9 The site is visited by many tourist every years and three different birdwatching sheds were built. Tr To inform about the project and flora and fauna 17 notice boards have been installed inside the sheds as well as along the visit path. New sheds will allow a better visit and avoid disturbance.

14 10 In Camargue the hydraulic circulation involved a specific study to reconnect the lagoon with the sea. As result about 14,200 hectares of lagoon were recolonized by seagrass meadows and also migratory fish were observed. Habitat restoration was testified by spectacular extension of Salicornia and other annuals species. (photo credit: M. Thibault / Tour du Valat) Two nesting islets were built, one for Flamingoes and one for mixed colonies. The Flamingoes only attempt to use the islets but different terns colonized the second islets.

15 11 An abandoned nesting site of Little tern has been protected from disturbance with a wide fence embracing 8 hectares. All the area has monitoring signals and on the sea have been used floating buoys. Little tern nested all the years but with very limited success, anyhow it is the first nesting after several years. Dissemination of the project objectives took place trough specific issues of the local newsletter Visage the Camargue, but also meeting with local stakeholders. Specific poster were produce to inform about flora and fauna of the site.

16 12 In Pomorie site new nesting sites have been built in different forms, platforms, nesting islets, rafts and nesting boxes, each specific for the nesting of different species. Nesting occurred on the new surfaces, furthermore migratory birds used the platforms also for staging. The removal of Invasive Alien plant species was performed with the aid of volunteers.

17 13 Some problematic invasive species such as Amorpha need the implementation of a specific technique, but it was successfully eradicated as well For a better visit experience of the site new bicycles have been acquired and they are available to the public. Along the site three notice boards have been installed, with information about the project and the site.

18 LIFE10/NAT/IT/ Environmental Management and Conservation in Mediterranean salt works and coastal lagoons With the contribution of the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union. The project received a financial contribution of 50%

19 LIFE10/NAT/IT/ Laymans report Life + MC-SALT Environmental Management and Conservation in Mediterranean saltworks and coastal lagoons