Integration of Habitat, Bird, WFD Directives: application on Tiber Farfa Nature Reserve

Susanna D'Antoni, Pietro Massimiliano Bianco (ISPRA)* Christian Angelici, Desiree Izzi (Tiber-Farfa Natural Reserve)

*ISPRA – Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research Department for Monitoring and Protection of the Environment and Biodiversity

ISPRA GUIDELINES TO INTEGRATE WFD AND HBD ✔Indications for integration of RBMP with N2K/protected areas plans ✔Water related species and habitats lists (Annex I, II HD & Annex I BD), ○ Wetland Horizontal Guidance – 2003, ○ tool to identify protected areas /N2K sites for RBMP ”registers” (WFD Annex VI) where to implement the integrations ✔Transcoding Aquatic Habitat description of different classification typology (Nature 2000 code, EUNIS, Corine Biotope) ○ to facilitate links between different cartography; ✔indication of guide species, ○ including IBMR species ○ to link the monitoring data and activities Technical Report n. 107/2010 ISPRA GUIDELINES FOR WETLANDS & AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS CONSERVATION Tools and Indications for: ⮚ Threats Analysis to water related species and habitat from basin to protected area scale, ○ using pressures data of RBMP ○ threats data of Natura 2000 form ○ defining Threats prioritization according to Salafsky et al., 2003 (IUCN) ○ defining Measures prioritization at appropriate scale ⮚ Integration of Measures defined at site scale with those at basin scale for habitat & species, green infrastructures and ecosystem services conservation ⮚ Integration of WFD-HBD-BD monitoring activities and data on Habitat and macrophytes, Fish Technical Report n. 153/2011 THE PROJECT ON EU DIRECTIVE INTEGRATION IN NAZZANO, TEVERE – FARFA NATURAL RESERVE Main goal: verify the synergies between Birds, Habitat and WFD Directives, according to WFD (Art. 4, 6, 8 and 11) & in line with ISPRA Technical Report 107/2010 & 153/11.

Time period: 2009-2015

The study was coordinated by ISPRA, conducted in collaboration with: Nature Reserve Tevere Farfa, Environmental Protection Agency of Latium, Region, Regional Parks Agency of Latium, Province of , Higher Health Institute, University of Rome Tor Vergata, University of Viterbo La Tuscia, University of Roma Tre. STUDY AREA: NAZZANO, TEVERE – FARFA NATURAL RESERVE (LATIUM) Protection: Ramsar Site (Nazzano Lake), Regional Natural Reserve, Natura 2000 Site (SAC/SPA IT6030012) on river Tiber and Farfa. The wetland ecosystems and the semi-natural habitats are originated following the construction of a dam (Meana). Surface: Ramsar Site 400 ha – Natural Reserve 700 ha - SCI/SPA 2000 ha River basin district: Central Apennines Nazzano Water body: River Tiber & Farfa, Nazzano “Lake” considered artificial reservoir (by Reg. law)

SIC/ZPS IT6030012 Zona Umida “Lago di Nazzano” Riserva Naturale “Nazzano Tevere-Farfa” SPECIES AND HABITAT IN THE SAC/SPA IT6030012

TYPE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THE PROJECT

➢ Verify the integration of monitoring activities and results on water ecological status (WFD) and conservation status of aquatic species and habitats (HD & BD)

➢ Identify the integration of Pressure/Threats on aquatic species and habitat form the basin scale to protected area scale for the threat analysis and their prioritization (IUCN - Salafsky et al., 2003)

➢ Identify indicators (WFD, HD,BD) useful for the effectiveness assessment of the protected site management

METHODS

The Methods used for the part of the project described in this presentation are:

Waterfowl Census (Annex I - BD): species richness, N ind./species, N. nest, Dominance , Diversity, Evenness J; Daily energy exp. and trophics

Macrophytes: riparian and aquatic vegetation (IBMR: ANFOR, 2003, Minciardi et al. 2009);

Water related Habitat Nature 2000 (Annex I - HD): habitat distribution, richness, trend, Ellenberg Index of aquatic & riparian plant species

METHOD: HABITAT & MACROPHYTE MONITORING INTEGRATION

Macrophytes considered by IBMR as indicators of water quality, are also characteristic species or indicators of Nature 2000 habitats and of their conservation conditions ISPRA Report 107/2010 RESULT: HABITAT & MACROPHYTE MONITORING INTEGRATION

Habitat indicator 2010 2012 2013 The use of IBMR methods to species (IBMR) of monitor macrophytes during the 3260 year and in different times can help to interpret trends and Azolla filiculoides X X X status of aquatic habitat: Callitriche stagnalis X X ➢ Myriophyllum v., Zannichellia p. Lemna minor X X and Najas marina show a remarkable variability of coverage Myriophyllum spicatum X ➢ Potamogeton nodosus, seems to Myriophyllum verticillatum X X tolerate high turbidity ➢ The submerged and semi- Potamogeton nodosus X X X submerged phytocenoses are dominated by ubiquitous species Potamogeton pectinatus X X and tolerant of disturbing factors Zannichellia palustris X X ➢ Water level fluctuations interfering with the development of natural communities Potamogeton pectinatus, Azolla filicuides habitat condition

Potamogeton nodosus, Lemna minor habitat condition

RESULT: BIRD & MACROPHYTE MONITORING INTEGRATION

In Tiber Farfa Confluence (c) during the spring-summer period, the average number of aquatic birds seems correlated to the macrophytes/IBMR index and to the water turbidity. THREATS ANALYSIS

Indicators selection for Effectiveness Management Assessment (EMA) of PA

(Salafsky et al., 2003; IUCN Protocol - Salafsky et al., 2008)

✔ Procedure for the threats analysis:

1) Identify the threats to water related Habitat & species in N2K site: ○ at catchment level: River Basin Management Plan (12-13 Basin 'Tiber middle- course‘); ○ at site level: Natura 2000 form, Management Plan, bibliographic data, expert judgment. 2) Threat classification in ranks: based on SCOPE and SEVERITY: aimed to define Conservation Measures prioritization at appropriate scale

3) Threat analysis in relation to conservation objectives both to the basin and local level;

4) For each threat: identified indicators (from those of WFD, HD, BD) * Threats: Human activities or process which have caused, still causing or will cause the destruction, damage or loss both of biodiversity & natural process (Salafsky et al., 2003). THREATHS ANALYSIS

Indicators selection for Effectiveness Management Assessment (EMA) of PA

(Salafsky et al., 2003; IUCN Protocol - Salafsky et al., 2008)

SCOPE: portion of threatened target - from 1 to 4, 1 <0.5% - 4> 50% SEVERITY: degree to which the threat impacts the integrity of the target from 1 to 4, 1 = not damaged, 4 = seriously damaged / lost

Adding the score of the scope and severity,is calculated the magnitude which provides a synthetic indication of the weight of each threat on the targets considered RESULTS: PRESSURE ON WATER BODIES/THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

All the threats for aquatic habitat and species indicated in the River Basin Management Plan and Site Management Plan, act at the catchment area scale.

A smaller portion of these operate at the Natura 2000 site scale (76% for habitat and 66% for animal species) Results: Threat analysis from expert judgement and Conservation measures pr. (Causarano, 2011, D’Antoni & Causarano, 2013)

Rank/Pr Conservation Target Threats Threat Indicator Scale iority Measures

Habitat Quality & dynamics wf, struct.riparian z., (herbaceous Gravel Not permission of Basin Macrobenthos, shape), extraction & Medium sediment extraction and Macrophytes (WFD), Fish, excavation quarries Habitat (HD), Physico- Waterfowl chemical cond (WFD)

Habitat Physico-chemical cond Increase the sewage (herbaceous Water (WFD) - Priority substance water treatments, decise Medium Basin, N2K Site shape), Fish pollution (WFD) & pesticides, Fish the use of fertilizers and (WFD), Fish (HD) pesticides

Hydromorpho Quality & dynamics wf, Habitat Reduce the water level logical struct.riparian z., Physico- (Eutrophic variation alteration: Medium chemical cond (WFD, N2K Site lakes), change in Macrophytes (WFD),

Waterfowl water level Habitat (HD)

Public administration and Fishermen Alien taxa awareness, Control to Fish High Fish (WFD), Fish (HD) Basin, N2K Site introduction avoid alien introduction

15 RESULTS

✔ Most of the threats for habitat and species came from the basin level

✔ The main pressures/threats identified by “expert judgment” are: - Invasive alien species, - Hydromorphological alteration - change in water level caused by the dam, - Sand and gravel extraction/Quarries - Water pollution (nitrates and priority substances/pesticides)

MOREOVER THE MONITORING ACTIVITIES INDICATE:

✔ Important pressures/threats for waterbird and Habitat 3260 is “Sand and gravel extraction/Quarries” that cause modification of turbidity ✔ Non significant presence of nitrates and pesticides on the part of Tiber and Farfa included in SAC/SPA

IMPORTANT TO DEFINE CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES AND CONSERVATION MEASURES ON THE THREAT ANALYSIS INTEGRATED WITH MONITORING RESULTS!! CRITICAL ISSUES

- Lack of knowledge of ecological requirements for water related habitat and species to define Additional Objectives for RBMP and suitable measures for the water body included in SAC/SPA - Different scales of conservation status (sensu HD&BD) H&S - biogeographical region/administrative region vs ecological status (sensu WFD) - water body - Most of the threats to the conservation status of species and habitats linked to aquatic ecosystems derive from pressures outside the site (basin scale) - The threats indicated in the RBMP often are not defined on habitat and species ecological requirements. Those drawn from site management plan consider only in generic way the water body condition

CONCLUSIONS

✔ WFD indicators useful to increment knowledge on STATUS and PRESSURES and can contribute to define the conservation degree of water related species and habitat in a Natura 2000 site

✔ The threat analysis, integrate with the monitoring of WFD, BD and HD indicators give a more realistic indications to define additional objectives and measures in the RBMP and site management plan and their priority

✔ Some WFD indicators highlighted threats at site level can be useful for the effectiveness management assessment

✔ In the Tevere - Farfa NR, the macrophyte and waterbird monitoring data highlighted the necessity to band the gravel extraction outside the SAC/SPA and to extend the Nature reserve along the Farfa river

✔ In Nature 2000 site with agricultural areas it is important to integrate the RBMP and Site Management Plan with the NAP on pesticide use (2009/128/CE)

Thanks for your attention!

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