Life and Invertebrate Conservation

LIFE NATURE | LIFE AND INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION BEETLES Saving the distinctive Rosalia alpina beetle A small number of LIFE Nature projects have targeted the conservation of Rosalia alpina, a saproxylic beetle species that is listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive. he Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina), is one considerably within the next decades. In particular, Tof the most attractive of all European insects. dead timber is expected to occur more frequently, of- Despite its distinctive appearance, however, there fering additional opportunities for all saproxylic insects. is a lack of scientific information about its biology Moreover, according to the report, thanks to the already and habitat preferences. Widely distributed in some existing old-growth forest within the wilderness area, mountainous regions (notably in Central Europe) its the chances for colonisation of the set-aside forests by populations and ranges have nevertheless suffered typical forest species such as Rosalia alpina “are much significant long-term declines; and in several coun- higher” than if the area had been created elsewhere, tries its conservation status is “threatened”. The main without a well-preserved core zone. long-term threats identified are habitat loss in rela- tion to logging and wood harvesting and the decline of Pollarded trees provide particular habitat features for old broad-leaved trees, especially of old beech forest saproxylic beetles. The main objective of an ongoing (Fagus silvitica) within which it lays its eggs. project in Gipuzkoa in the Spanish Basque Country (LIFE08 NAT/E/000075) is to support the conserva- LIFE projects looking to improve the conservation sta- tion status of rare dead wood beetle populations found tus of Rosalia alpina have focused on preserving the there, particularly Rosalia alpina and the hermit bee- species’ preferred habitats and of ensuring an ade- tle. This will be achieved by improving the availability quate supply of dead wood. Developing and spreading and quality of pollarded tree habitats. The project also knowledge of this less well-documented saproxylic aims to create a European network of appropriate for- insect has been another important goal. estry habitats for the targeted species. Leaving well alone Important initial research aimed at creating a more favourable environment for Rosalia alpina was also Few areas of truly ‘natural’, or old-growth, forests re- started under the Italian ‘RECTINET.5 SCI’ project main in Central Europe. Thus the ‘Rothwald’ project (LIFE03 NAT/IT/000139). As part of its broader for- (LIFE97 NAT/A/004117) located in the Dürrenstein est habitat management actions, the project targeted wilderness area of Lower Austria is especially impor- 2 ha of mature beech forest for works to increase the tant for the long-term conservation of several groups supply of available dead wood. Monitoring, however, of wood-dependent beetles, including Rosalia alpina. has indicated – indicating only the “possible” presence LIFE co-funding was used to help create this excep- of this attractive, but reclusive, beetle species. tionally rare forest nature reserve, which includes one Rosalia longicorn beetle (Rosalia alpina) of the largest existing remains of undisturbed mixed mountain beech-spruce-fir old-growth forest in the Alpine region (c. 460 ha.) In addition, some 700 ha of formerly exploited mountain beech forests were set aside for natural succession. A follow-up study of the project was carried out in 2006. It concluded that the conservation status of all forest habitat types in the project area would improve 33.

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