Progetto Life - Natura 2003 - 2007 “Salviamo l’Orso” NATURA 2000 Progetto Life Natura 2003-2007 “Salviamo l’Orso” Preservation of the brown bear in the Sirente Velino Park

Premises and finalities. Origins and bear; menaces. Objective species. • to increase the compatibility between the The project is included in the ambit of the na- tutelage of the bear individuals and the tional and European actions for the safeguard practise of the anthropic activities (breed- and the protection of the brown marsican ing) inside the sensitive areas mostly at- bear species (Ursus arctos marsicanus), spe- tended by the bear (core areas) ; cies included as prioritarian in the EEC 92/43 • to implement the data base of bear pres- Directive and in the Annex I. It is in line with ence in order to obtain a more complete the strategy of preservation of the bear that is degree of scientifi c knowledge necessary been adopted up to now by the authority with to a greater specifi city of the interventions the previous projects “Life” and the regional project “Ponte”. The aims of this project, looking at the results and the experiences, were centralized in order to have lasting results and long-term objec- tives for the bear preservation. Unfortunately, facts and adverse dynamics of the population of the brown bear in , attested that the preservation of the species was still threatened by large elements of risk, as: • a short ecologic-structural capacity of some areas in the passages towards the external and the interior of the Park; • clashes with breeders; • the necessity of a deeper knowledge of the specifi c caracteristics of the group of bears living in the Park and the necessity to localize other prominent areas relevant to the biology and ecology of the species; • the present and potential trouble in the “core areas”, in the hibernating areas and in the reproduction areas located; • an incomplete awareness of the value of the bear and of its natural habitat among of conservation to carry out on the terri- the local populations. tory; • to reduce the anthropic disturbance in the Aims of the project: general and specific. area of major attendance and in the hi- The aims of the project were: berning and reproduction site; • to extend the natural habitats used by the • to inform, to sensitize and to communicate species and to improve the environmental the importance and the value of a rare and condition of the ecological passages of the menaced species like the bear and to in- Funded from contributions made by the European Community LIFE financial deed “Progetto LIFE 03 NAT/IT/000151” http://www.parcosirentevelino.it pag. 2 Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” e i te ne I f h EC 24 Direc- 92/43 tive. EEC the of I Annex the in see ence of various kinds of habitat, which pres- you can the notice to important it’s Park the In (14.68 %)andurbanareas(0.95%). areas agricultural %), (1.4 areas rupestrian by composed is %, 17 about part, remaining The pine. black with re-afforestation by % 1.1 last the for and Manna-ash and Hornbeam Oaks, with %) (15.19 Hardwood of woods mixed (7.44 %), beech of woods pure by forest composed is The woods. by covered is % 24 about while territory, the of 59% about pasture- cover land, mostly areas, open the Park the In Sirente (2348m). Mount the to attention greater a with tares, hec- 50.500 for extends that Sirente-Velino, has Park Regional the project of territory whole the the been of intervention of area The Sites involved. Park. conservation and tutelage promoted by the them contribute consciously to activities of volve the local population in order to make RESULTS ACHIEVED • • • • • • The actionsforeseenbytheprojectwere: The mainactionsexpected. ecie blw ae en culy carried actually been have below described intervention the all almost that say must We

and tocontrolstraydogs. poisons the combat to campaigns specific in the territory; continuously results and of dissemination awareness campaigns, information on accesses intheareassensitivetobears; restrictions and surveillance territory tion; the most significant areas for its preserva- of and bear the of monitoring naturalistic ture-land; pas- altitude in livestock be- and bear overlap tween spatial of fences), management and (electrified of systems entrusting dogs, prevention stray the of control and outwardly; park the of areas connection the in and lar popu- the in improvements environmental Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” area. aged to reach and settle in the Sirente – Velino encour- be will animal, reserved and bashful bear, the reforestation, of work the to Thanks undertaken. was cover forest without areas in trees 6,700 of planting the by moves bear the which habitat through corridor the ecological the of along improvement the Therefore • • conservation oftheBearspecies: of terms in result double a achieve to tried we cover vegetation the of enhancement the With has affected reforestation autoctonee fruit-bearing of species. work the vegetation; tree of essary to extend and recreate a series of strips nec- become has it therefore attendance, or / and corridor the of areas the in species ursina shrub and tree cover increase situations of of vulnerability of the extentions reduced The plantation of autoctonespecies Enhancement of theforestry cover - cess ofpoliticsenvironmentaltutelage. local population is always decisive for the suc- the of involvement the that taught has project ture. Furthermore , the experience of the other na- of conservation the to destined resources the district so as to integrate their income with of inhabitants the for entry, economic nificant sig a also created therefore has Project Life The Park. the of breeders and farmers by out raig rdcin f ml wl fut that fruits wild small of production creasing in- of time over persistence the and increase the of speed the been have results direct The been revived after the previous Life experience. simple action has been highly effective and has of fruits well appreciated by the bear. The very production the stimulate to Life projects ous pruning has been often used also in the previ- tigrade was also made; this activity of the wild necessary to the mainly vegetarian diet of plan- fruit trees like pear, apple tree, cherry 1500 and sorb of pruning the support trophic the For Pruning of wildfruit-bearing trees

tions ofman. ac- the by operated impoverishment the of because also weak qualitatively also are mented and therefore quantitatively scarce, beingfrag wellas as fact, in latter, the by frequented areas bear; for interest trophic to increase the availability of tree species of of greater attendanceinecologicalcorridors; lines the along shelter provide and to protection able be should which contiguos forests less or more creating etation, veg existing of strips some reconnect to - - -

pag. 3 pag. 4 Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” plants and of the composition of the forests, the of composition the of and plants of groups of differentiation structural greater pursuing reversed, been has realities local the by use an of concept basic find the habitat, adequate can bears where Park, the the of in woods conditions optimal create to solutions order In compensation propose space. and time in limited and re- costly resulting than natural rath- extend a to er example of an is use that source” “sustainable proc- a of initiate ess to preferred we Ultimately people. the by requested wood) of revenues (modest “by-product” a to lead may bear, as al- such species sensitive but a to according introduced, though were ecosystem forest the of management integrated of models Life through cuts; forestry normal the of share suspension not do wood of uses civic for and habits consolidated both for governments populations and local that understandable is It needs. shelter and trophic satisfy to bear the by sites favourite represent areas) ecotonal ed biodiversity (many trophic chains and expand- degree of structural complexity, a high level of high a by connotated forests Indeed park. the grade along the existing ecological corridors in planti- of frequency and protection the to tal quality and quantity point of view is fundamen- In general, the presence of forest areas from a Sustainable forestry management tected faunaand,ofcourse,thebears. pro- the for sustaining food as essential are

specific diversification. and stratification greater towards tend which coppice and irregular woods in upper aged grounds, of hectares 40 about transform to ered infull consid- we nature, of laws and the of awareness cuts, drawings specific selective with working silvicultural these Through areas. above the between connection of dors corri- ecological the of woods sub-mountain Sirente, in the area of Piani cerned some beech of the northern side of the di Pezza, in hardwood development. rela- The and forestry and naturalistic competition role interventions cutting have of the con- on tionships as characteristics plants, worst the morphological on much so not done is plants of selection The sibly continuousovertime. proposing selective and detailed cuts and pos- t mrvn te ult o te atrs . pastures the of quality the improving at poaching. aimed action of an launched we reason acts this For in resulting of episodes intolerance, toeliminate try con- to often too also flicting, relation, this to given been has attention considerable project, whole hu- the Within the farmers. and particularly lives population, he man which in context the with consider establishes animal also the that relations must the we but species, the surround- ing environment the not describe can simply we bears of habitat the improve To reduction of contrasts withthebreeders Improvement of pasture-land and

Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” the importance of the species and its conser- its and species the of importance the about awareness public raise as well as use, controlled and guided a promote to order In the areas where there is the presence of in bears. disturbance the reduce to help can routes predefined along flows touristic of nalization ca- the and regulation The unregulated. now to up hiking; winter and summer a both calls re- Sirente Mount of altitudes high to Access Implementation of aexcursionistic path to fountainsusedbylivestock. without being forced to approach dangerously need they water the oth- find can and animals wild er bears intervention made. this were to lts, Thanks 30.000 of capacity total a of wildlife, for points watering two bear, the for resources water of bear. supply the the increase To for poaching of risk the reduce to and habitat the improve to help can sources re- water alternative of offer an contrary, the On bear. the for vulnerability of led conditions to wildlife of and livestock point between the watering at promiscuity the and spring fountainas, the at bears of sighting re- of ports numerous the resources, water rarefied makes which territory, the of nature karst The fauna Implementation of watering pointsfor ) andsurroundings. (-- Maria Santa Prati and Cerro di Prati of area the in located pasture, of tares hec- 25 about wereof improvement the by ed affect- areas The scything. natural the sowing the by species, weed and unwanted of elimination by enhanced therefore was pasture The

otold nr, hc alw acs t the top oftheMountSirente. to access allows which entry, controlled a presumes trail guided The made. been has vation, a thematic path, approximately 8.5 km, the main tracks of service to areas of pasture of areas to service of tracks main the constitute which Monacesca, – Faito - Arzano tracks: one in two the on place out Prati carried S. were Maria interventions Valle-Valle ticular par- In species. to given protection of degree the increase and disturbance anthropic duce presence of bears was verified, allowed to re- stable the where areas, to access Controlling tion, aimed at the conservation of the species. bears has represented an important interven- of presence the of areas the in activities man hu- by caused disturbance of reduction The tracks andlimitationof accesses Accommodation of agro-silvan-pastoral

pag. 5 pag. 6 Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” itiuin ra i te eta Appennine, central the in areal distribution its of sectors various in form coordinated a in bears of monitoring at aimed Corps, Forestry State the and Authority Park Velino - Sirente spe- between a Understanding of of Memorandum cific 2002 August in signing the After and theirgeneticanalysis samples monitoring throughdrawing of hair Honeybees distribution andbear tude havebeencleanedup. alti- high a at areas grazing of hectares 100 About firms. specialized to landfills thorized entrusting transportation and discharge at au- and farmers the to entrusted been has titude, highal- in areas pasture the in present waste, wooden and iron of removal the regard this In ers in the management choices of the Authority. would have improved pastures altitude the of conditions environmental collaborations of farm of improvement the that defined has park The Cleaning pasture areas inaltitude - Pagliare ofFontecchio-PagliarediTione. Terranera towns the in that interven- is made, was tion some which on track, second The ing areas at high altitude has been eliminated. graz- in transits uncontrolled and improved fixed been and the has regulation of meteoric road-bed waters has been the these In road. dirt of km 30 about of circle a in areas upper closed through a mobile bar that preserves the been has Sirente Mount the of side southern the to trail access the particular In altitude. in -

in thebalancesofecosystem. and environment the of quality in value high a richness, floral high a infact keeps action tion within the Park. working The increase of bees beekeepers for their pollina- the by prepared been have honeybees of systems spread Five present. bears individual of census at aimed to analysis genetic order for samples in hair any trap” analyze “hair of fence function wire the barbed with attrac- with up equipped set sites were inventory bears tive and of group monitoring the of the support To out. carried been have bear brown of samples biological of drawing non-invasive of systems

Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” laboration with the Institute for Applied Ecol- Applied for Institute the with laboration monitoring program of wandering dogs in col- a with together out carried was operation The scale. local a on information of campaign allel stray par- a by of accompanied was action This phenomenon dogs. the of control the on effects positive with register birth dog the of dogs. laboration of stray the owners contribut- of dogs to functioning of opinion on the start- management problem and has to increase the the col- the public mobilize to also contributed action The was species of that the ing protect to action ed Another Starting of control of stray dogs ers onthegeneral purposesoftheProject. farm by adherence and cooperation of terms in results excellent achieving and panel, solar with stoked and entrusted freely fence trified elec- the of by livestock protected cases bears. on predation no been the have by there order testing caused During in damages breeders prevent the to to were dis- directly fac- fences breed- tributed important Electrified conflict. an cattle of remove tor the to trying to at ings, aimed attacks were interventions preventing of number A breeders the entrusting of electrificated fences to Testing systems of through prevention -

os neitrd n h dg it register. The activities were birth carried out in 4 municipali - dog the in unregistered dogs wandering of pesticide release and capture free treatments, flocks, and dogs shepherd of checks sanitary dogs, female of sterilization ister of the shepherd dogs not registered, free reg- birth dog to enrollment the firms, sheep - , through periodic visits to of Unit Asl with collaboration in dogs of ment manage- direct of program a created have we hand, other the On Rome. of University ogy,

pag. 7 pag. 8 Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” ovd n h dt cleto activities. collection • in- data been person - the have The monitoring program includes: in qualified trained ter - properly volved the from and in nel selected active units ritory operating Four • • • purposes: following the with surveillance, to activity ing support- a and monitoring continuous a vide pro- to had Life project the bears, of behavior To collect significant data on the presence and Naturalistic monitoring was ofgreater incidence. predation livestock of cases of incidence the and dogs stray of phenomenon the where ties

places where there is greater possibility to geted to seek presence data in periods and has tar- territory of technique foot, on patrols, survey involved The sampling. of routes fixed of network a of walk periodic a involved has transepts of technique The surveys. and dif- transepts two techniques: ferent by made ground the Forest- volunteers; on survey experts, State students, the Corps, of ry agents by re- ported etc.) bears livestock, reported of to attacks observation (sightings, presence - parties of third by data collecting term. long the in actions safeguard undertake to to directthemanagementchoices, edge onthegroup ofbearspresent, to contribute to improve the state of knowl-

using GPS recording system. mapped were etc..) feeding, of signs pings, drop- (tracks, collected data the to and sites) out carried surveys the (transepts, routes surveys, specific monitoring to related data All •

marsican bear. the of site the in non- census genetic to invasive contribute and analysis genetic to submitted be of to bears collection of samples the hair for targeted traps hair with associated sites attractive of control and development - traps hair monitoring detect presencedata. Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” ties, the Pro Loco, cultural associations, moun- At the meetings representatives of municipali- . and Sirentina Rocche, delle Altopiano the of respectively areas macro the of palities munici- representative three the Celano, and Mezzo, di Rocca in held were ings meet- 2006 June to February From organized. conservation of the brown marsican bear were the for initiatives previous to continuity give to period short the park in undertake the to that intended actions the and entirety its in the information programme on the Project Life illustrate to project the of work the of cation verifi and submission the for meetings tion, popula- resident entire the and associations semination of results. To reach the authorities, dis- as well as communication and awareness of program detailed a of out carrying the was One of the most important actions in the project conservation of brownmarsicanbear on largescaletheprojectand Campaign of information and awareness • • • • • of thepresencebearshavebeendrawn: information following the synthesis, extreme From the examination of the data collected, in

siae i te ertr o te Sirente the Velino. of individuals territory 4/5 the in of estimated presence stable the the presenceofreproductionsites; the hibernating phase; during also areas some of attendance the significant tothebear(coreareas); and attended mostly areas of presence the areal; Apennines center the in as area Velino connection Sirente the of importance the - n h wb hog www.abruzzo24ore.tv, through web the on returned and regional the in audience highest on some local television stations who have the air on news went which television investigations special and for each services for video Authority; meeting the of activities all and Project the to place prominent a give to order in stations television and regionalnewspapers press, the of organs all involving office, press a up set has park the Life, Project to Thanks digital Broadcast technology has been realized. brown marsican bear inside the park made with beginning of each meeting with new images of In fact, an audiovisual product projected at the Web andTVmediachannels. modern the and material printed the as such both the “traditional” communication channels involved it because system integrated an fact “gave voice” to the activities of the park was in that plan awareness and communication The Park. the with acting players of numbers est tion centres with the goal of reaching the larg- in commercial the municipalities, premises and tourist accommoda- in brochures) leaflets, (posters, materials printed of distribution the through interested, territory the throughout widespread campaign advertising incisive an d’Albe, by supported was meeting Each present. were Massa Marsi, ‘ de Magliano San , , Abruzzi, Celano, Aielli, Demetrio, degli Tione Secinaro, Aterno, Molina Sicoli, Goriano Aterno, Gagliano chio, , , Fontec- Cambio, Ovindoli, , , , , namely the towns of , Rocca di of the municipalities of the Sirente Velino Park population local the and territory the organiza- on tions welfare animal communities, tain

pag. 9 pag. 10 Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” ple, making them adopt an “invisible friend”! “invisible an adopt them making ple, peo- young and children away far to Park al to bring and to discover Sirente Velino Region- pupil product have represented of the operational tools computerization and computer The ). Velino etc. children, away Sirente far hospitals, in mitted the di- of ad- children know children, (disabled Park Regional territory not can the ani - who rectly children and all to hous- natural habitat ing bear the the to linked values available mal POFs. make been has school course to the of individual idea projectual in The regu - been included has larly course upgrade The ized. real- was 2006/2007 and 2005/2006 Avez- years of school for Peligna municipality park Pratola and L’Aquila the the zano, of of levels and all of territory teach- schools invisible all for of Bears!” “My ers the course adopt …Let’s upgrade friend the Finally directed toschools. Environmental educationprogram of poisonsweredesignedandproduced. use the against fight the to and phenomenon dog stray of idea the to relation in Authority to explain the project and the objectives of the leaflets campaign and posters to advertise the event and leaflets information this for Even local health authorities of Avezzano - Sulmona. vention of guard dogs in collaboration with the the launching of control and management as such action the of inter- objectives the and bears control of stray dogs in the areas in frequented timing by executive the the and formality the commitment, its breeders and shepherds ers, Aielli. During the meeting the Park has Celano, shown farm Secinaro, munici- Ovindoli, the of palities interested that and Mezzo, di Rocca in 2006 April in held was the that meeting at spoke ASL the of and Park the of tors opera- Qualified dogs. stray the of against of phenomenon control the fight in and the poisons of use in the farmers shepherds, and involved breeders has one, target first specific the more than a with campaign, This practice. stray dogs,indirectcauseof theillegal in general about thephenomenonof the useof poisonsbythefarmersand the deterrence from thepractice of Campaign of specificinformation about editorial system havebeencarriedout. which keeps indefinitely in the news within the news portal, accessible from all sides the world, -

Progetto Life -Natura 2003-2007“Salviamol’Orso” vzao t h “eto aua asc “ in “ Marsica Natura “Centro in the identified at Avezzano were locations year first the In • • • • • • • • • following activities were carriedout: the course Update the activate To

einn a oeaig bub h Eco- theatre. the aboutb operating an designing 14 next the over meetings (pathontheecotheatre); place take will which the for program the of definition meetings and year second three of construction year; first the for meetings 12 of construction teachers involved 51; of number participants, of tion registra- and teachers interested to Notice for thesecondyear; course Update the for seats two of cation identifi year, first the for identified needs the on based course the of sites three the of identification and planned dates meetings of the of definition and organization various schoolsinvolved; the of Project the of POF the in inclusion re- teachers sponsible; the with and project the in interested managers School with Meetings and telephone contacts; , L’Aquila, through a mailing Avezzano, municipalities the of and Velino Sirente Park of territory the of levels all of schools all to project the of Presentation 2006/2007; and 2005/2006 years school the in out ry car- to course the of planning and Design - this specieshasalsobeencreated. protect to actions further for basis cognitive A good to increased. general definitely has and bears protect know to need the of ness of the project, we can end say dur- that the level the of aware- at achieved results the made of light locations. In various in information lessons course to the special ing has spread web the that and press office the by educa- communication supported environmental been has of tion activity the of Also district. is- voice the in per schools all (The in copies distributed sue, 1,500 Parco” circulation del park), the voce news- “La the of issues letter 5 of drafting the we in ed teachers need- material the of gather to able awareness been have the and edu- environmental cation of course the Through creativity. personal and collaboration senses, the ward for- putting expressiveness, its and with body the imagination, and experiences practical through journey a on embarked we ervation; pres- its and nature with man of relationship the to relating stories with and Sirente Velino park with the of territory the meeting of places natural the the provided has project The of kindergartens, primary and middle schools. brown bear, through the theatre destined to teachers marsican the of particular in Sirente, Velino park the of territory the the with to meeting and education” Velino. environmental to “Train- Sirente was ing theme Park the year, second the the For of Environmen- Education for Center tal the at Secinaro in school the of premises the at Peligna Pratola

pag. 11 NATURA 2000

ECONOMIC DATA OF THE PROJECT CATEGORIES OF EXPENSE ESTIMATED EXPENSE TOTAL EXPENSES Staff (personnel) 385.700,00 320.193,75 Travelling allowance 18.000,00 1.920,73 External assistance 283.000,00 350.500,77 Long-lasting goods 93.500,00 77.871,33 Land rights/purchases Non-lasting material 23.600,00 23.538,18 Other expenses 10.500,00 3.500,00 General expenses 50.500,00 35.483,88 Total 864.800,00 813.008,64

PROGETTO LIFE ORGANIZATION CHART NAME STATUS Oremo Di Nino Project Resposible Emilio Sinibaldi Administrative Paola Morini Faunal Luigi Logiudice Agricoltural Forestal Gianfranco Di Giacomantonio Communication Coordinator Domenico Ciofani Natural Monitoring Francesca Ferlini Natural Monitoring Luca Maria Nucci Natural Monitoring Stefano Cecala Natural Monitoring Ruffi no Sgammotta (in part) Natural Monitoring Chiara D’Angeli (in part) Natural Monitoring Elisenda Pasquali Administrative Secretariat Gina Di Nicola Offi ce Accounting Leucio Angelosante Techincal Offi ce Patrizia Di Meglio Auditor Luca Di Giacomantonio Press Offi ce Alessia Bonaduce Communication Organization (secretary’s offi ce) Massimiliano Nibid Graphic Design Paola Morgia Environment Advice Antonella Bambagini Oliva Environment Education Silvia Cardarelli Responsible of Training Courses Rossella Frozza Environment Communication

L’Aquila-via Aldo Moro 22/C Funded from contributions made by the European Community tel. 0862 61973fax 0862 482589 LIFE financial deed “Progetto LIFE 03 NAT/IT/000151” [email protected]