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BOX 2. Field visit “Strategic areas for ecological connectivity in the Italian Alps” (Adamello Park, 9 May 2019) Corrado Teofili, Rayna Harizanova Grateful thanks to the experts of Adamello Park for having shared their extensive knowledge of the territory: Anna Bonettini, Dario Furlanetto, Enzo Bona, Guido Calvi, Luca Dorbolò, Alessandro Ducoli.

Last May at Adamello Regional Park, located in the Lombard Valley Camonica, took place the field visit "Strategic areas for ecological connectivity in the Italian Alps", promoted and organized by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea - Italian Delegation to the Alpine Convention, in collaboration with Adamello Park and Federparchi. The field visit took place within the framework of the project ALPBIONET203051 and was organized in conjunction with the Expert Workshop of the SAPA Network on biodiversity monitoring (see Chapter 2.1) that took place the day before in Milan, thus placing both initiatives at once among SAPA Network’s activities and within the Programme of the Lombard presidency of EUSALP for the current year.

Overview Date 9 May 2019 Host entity and co-organizer Adamello Park – Camonica Valley Mountain Community Promoter and organizer Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea - Italian Delegation to the Alpine Convention Collaboration Federparchi EUROPARC Italia Partecipants 27 pax. - Project Partner/Observer Federparchi, Eurac Research, Prealpi Giulie Nature Park, Swiss National Park, ALPARC, Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea - Other organizations Lombardy Region, Province of Brescia, Mountain University - UNIMONT, Association Legambiente, Orobie Valtellinesi Regional Park

The ALPBIONET2030 project ALPBIONET2030 is a project financed by the Alpine Space Programme that involves 15 international partners, among which Italy is represented by Federparchi, Eurac Research and Prealpi Giulie Nature Park (as a project partners) and the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, Veneto Region, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park. The overall objective is to consolidate and enhance transnational cooperation in the field of nature conservation while providing a harmonized concept of preserving natural habitats and common planning tools to achieve a high level of ecological connectivity for biodiversity conservation. The identification of Strategic Alpine Connectivity Areas (SACA) is a central aim and major challenge for the ALPBIONET2030 project, with the goal of becoming a future model of ecological connectivity.

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WHAT IS A SACA? The SACA are areas that, in terms of ecological connectivity, play a strategic role within the mosaic of alpine landscapes. The structuring of the Alpine territory in SACA classes will offer the opportunity to better direct actions for ecological connectivity in the area and increase the impact of these actions. Within the project, three types of SACA have been identified, namely: SACA 1 (Ecological Conservation Areas) are area areas that still have considerable space for connectivity with non-fragmented surfaces and where connectivity needs to be conserved. Such areas are characterized by a sparse infrastructure, dispersed settlements and large natural areas at mid-altitude. SACA 2 (Ecological Intervention Areas) are areas with high potential for connectivity in which larger, more or less natural non-fragmented zones could easily be created, especially by connecting protected areas, Natura 2000 sites or other precious biotopes. SACA 3 (Connectivity Restoration Areas) are areas where fragmentation has already progressed so far that interlinked habitats and a transparent landscape matrix are no longer a realistic option using reasonable, viable interventions.

The SACA mapping The different SACA takes the form through the mapping of the current scenario of ecological connectivity in the area of the Macroregional Strategy for the Alpine region (EUSALP). The goal of the mapping is to classify in the EUSALP perimeter the areas of strategic importance for ecological connectivity and for each of them define recommendations for implementation, with punctual interventions in the transition area between the perimeters of the Alpine Convention and EUSALP. In fact, the mapping highlights how the strictly Alpine space is detached from the surrounding territory, in terms of discontinuity of the population density and naturalistic richness, which is an important signal of the delicacy of this space. The SACA mapping is based on a Continuum Suitability Index (CSI), which is the result of an articulated analysis of the structural connectivity and landscape permeability. The CSI is therefore composed of five indicators: Altitude and Topography, Population, Land Use, Environmental Protection and Fragmentation52. Several field visits, starting from the project working regions53, have been foreseen aimed at verifying whether the SACA mapping correctly reports the local situation and identifying specific adaptation measures and recommendations for the implementation of ecological connectivity in these areas. A field visit in the framework of the SAPA Network’s activities seeks to strengthen the involvement of the network in the project, in particular the protected areas involved in the project working regions. The field visit therefore represents an opportunity for discussion on this priority topic for the network, in order to

51 INTERREG Alpine Space ALPBIONET2030 - Integrative Alpine wildlife and habitat management for the next generation https://www.alpine-space.eu/projects/alpbionet2030/en/home 52 Jecami 2.0. https://www.jecami.eu/viewer/saca/ 53 For the Italian Alps, the protected areas involved in the project working regions, already pilot regions of the Ecological Network Platform of the Alpine Convention, are: Prealpi Giulie Park, Stelvio Park, Adamello Park, Adamello Brenta Park, Gruppo di Tessa Park, Monte Corno Park, as well as Vedrette di Ries-Aurina Park of the Province of Bolzano involved in the project working region Hohe Tauern.

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consolidate and further develop the results achieved within the SAPA Reports and other activities carried out in the Alpine area, of the Alpine Convention and EUSALP.

Adamello Park Adamello Park is involved in the Rhaetian Triangle that is a pilot region both of the Alpine Convention and the ALPBIONET2030 project. This role of privileged territorial laboratory was further enhanced by the MaB (Man and Biosphere Program) UNESCO designation of Camonica Valley on 26th of July 2018. Such acknowledgment represents an additional point of strength of Camonica Valley area, already designated as UNESCO World Heritage "Valle Camonica Rock Art", and at the same time a greater commitment and responsibility to enhance and promote this recognition. About 50% of the territory of the Mountain Community of Camonica Valley, beside the Adamello Park, comprises numerous protected areas that constitute the “Nature Network of Camonica Valley”. Indeed, the Network encompasses Adamello Regional Park, Natura 2000 sites outside the parks, nature reserves and many parks of local interest, as well as part of Stelvio National Park and Alto Garda Bresciano Park, constituting a very important large protected area in the heart of the Alps. The high number of protected areas is one of the most relevant aspects that led to the designation of MaB UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Fig. 1 Nature Network of Camonica Valley (source: http://retenatura.parcoadamello.it/)

The field visit The intention of the field visit was to encourage a debate on the current situation of ecological connectivity in the Italian Alps and on existing instruments for mapping the connectivity (tools, platforms, databases, interventions, projects, research, etc.) through an exchange with local experts and stakeholders working on ecological connectivity issues. Ecological connectivity is strongly linked to issues such as territorial planning, biodiversity monitoring, protected areas management, infrastructures, etc. Therefore, it was important to imagine a joint action by different actors at various administrative levels involved in SAPA Network, as well as external ones, whose knowledge could contribute to complete the state of play of the Alpine connectivity.

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An introductory meeting has sought to illustrate the SACA mapping methodology, to discuss the maps and to present the selected sites for the field visits. The meeting was also an opportunity to present significant experiences on the topic of ecological connectivity, as the initiatives carried out by Action Group 7 Green infrastructure of EUSALP and the research activities for the valorization of the territory and the ecosystems carried out by the Mountain University - UNIMONT. The sites selected for the field visit are of particular interest for the local ecological connectivity and were identified in a preparatory stage. Starting from the analysis of the SACA mapping, sites that present critical connectivity aspects or that are addressed by defragmentation interventions were identified.

SITE INTERVENTIONS SITE 1 | Oglio River near Losine Ecological connectivity restoration through defragmentation of a river habitat SITE 2 | Industrial area in Malonno Requalification of critical situation of ecological connectivity Plain SITE 4 | Malga Valley near Ponte del Environmental requalification of the woods impacted by natural Guat disasters

SITE 1 | Oglio River near Losine: Ecological connectivity restoration through defragmentation of a river habitat Although Oglio River is one of the main ecological corridors of the Lombard Regional Ecological Network, funds and implementation tools are still scarce. Due to this, interventions of ecological connectivity restoration54 were mainly supported by Cariplo Foundation and the Municipal Consortium BIM (Bacino Imbrifero Montano - Mountain River Watershed) of Camonica Valley. The project involved the stretch of the river from Edolo to Lake Iseo - beyond the perimeter of the Mountain Community but within the perimeter of the MaB area - and included numerous micro actions to defragment the problems of hydrogeological connection of the Oglio River. Three significant actions are visible on Site 1.

1) "Breakage" of the bridles in order to allow the fish fauna, mainly Salmonidae, going upriver. 2) Realization of "clusters" formed by huge rocks bound together. Unlike the previous intervention with fluvial connectivity purpose, the clusters have instead the role of diversifying the fluvial mesohabitat (riffle,

54 Furlanetto D., 2019. Il fiume Oglio. Tra infrastruttura idraulica e giardino. Breno: Comunità Montana di Valle Camonica – Parco dell’Adamello

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pool or run), determining different morphological and hydraulic conditions for the colonization of the fish fauna. 3) Requalification of the peri-fluvial tree and shrub areas, aimed at marginalizing invasive species and safeguarding the most interesting coenoses. The requalification interventions of the forest bands are fundamental for maintaining the ecosystem, as well as the spaces of agricultural connectivity along the river often used for intensive cultivation and zootechnical use in the absence of regulatory prohibitions.

SITE 2 | Industrial area in Malonno Plains: Requalification of critical situation of ecological connectivity The Malonno plain is representative of the transformations that since the second post-war period have affected the landscape of Camonica Valley with a significant impact on the transversal environmental connections, i.e. between the east and west sides of the valley. In this regard, a specific research project55 dedicated to explore the framework of the transformation of the Camuno landscape has been developed56. The project identifies design guidelines for some specific sites, among which an important in-depth analysis concerns the Malonno plain 57 and the industrial area specifically.

There are several critical aspects characterizing the site: - its detachment from the residential area that negatively affects the open spaces, reducing them progressively and increasing their vulnerability to further transformations;

55 Research project “Trasformazioni e Permanenze dei Paesaggi Camuni. Letture diagnostiche e interpretazioni progettuali” elaborato nell’ambito della Convenzione tra la Comunità Montana della Valle Camonica/Parco Adamello e il Dipartimento di Architettura/Landscape Design Lab dell’Università degli Studi di Firenze (2017). The project is part of the broader program "Ciclabilità, mobilità sostenibile e riordino paesaggistico: verso un territorio ad elevata sostenibilità socioeconomica e di qualità ambientale nella Valle dei Segni", financed by the Cariplo Foundation in the context of the Competition "Emblematic Interventions 2014". 56 Lambertini A., 2018. Paesaggi della Valle Camonica Paesaggi della Valle Camonica: trasformazioni e permanenze. Letture, interpretazioni e strategie progettuali alla macroscala, Vol. 1. Breno: Comunità della Valle Camonica – Parco dell’Adamello 57 Lambertini A., 2018. Paesaggi della Valle Camonica Paesaggi della Valle Camonica: trasformazioni e permanenze. Temi ed esplorazioni progettuali, Vol. 2. Breno: Comunità della Valle Camonica – Parco dell’Adamello

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- evident barrier effect for the mobility of flora and fauna species, but also of resources such as the water subtracted from the hydrological cycle, with repercussions even over local; - landscape degradation, as long as the industrial buildings compared to the traditional ones are completely off the scale. Design solutions emerging from the project are: - re-functionalization of the inactive buildings; - water management using surfaces as rain gardens; - open spaces design, recovering the symbolic relations between the two sides of the plain, as well as the Oglio river; - green infrastructures for crossing the main road SS42 along the industrial area. Compared to the SACA mapping, the site is located within a SACA 3, which includes the entire village of Malonno. The research project therefore represents a potential design solution aimed at improving such situations of pressure.

SITO 3 | Val Malga di Sonico near Ponte del Guat: Environmental requalification of the woods impacted by natural disasters, with particular reference to ecological values Malga Valley, one of the most precious areas of Adamello Park from many points of view, last October was hit, as a large part of the central-eastern Alps, by the Vaja cloudburst that has not spared the woods that shown certain congenital fragility. In fact, the forests of the Malga Valley had already been identified as susceptible to hydrogeological problems and important measures to increase its natural features had already been adopted. Long-term planning and management is therefore fundamental to guarantee the resilience of these woods towards such extreme events. After the cloudburst, mainly prompt interventions and clearing up actions of the main roads have been carried out. Furthermore, the extent of the damage has been assessed - 160 ha of forest completely razed to the ground and 300 thousands cubic meters of trees - and the slopes stability now exposed to direct runoff was verified.

Malga Valley is an ecological corridor of great importance for the bears that cross the valley towards Trentino Province. Moreover, in 1995 the valley was selected for reintroducing the ibex, now present in the main valleys of the park. Although the ibex would not be particularly affected by the new scenario generated by the cloudburst, systematic monitoring will show over time the impact these extreme events may have for the fauna, large carnivores included. The last October event could also be an opportunity for a concrete

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revision of the Lombard forest management plans, as well as for research activities on a new modeling of the variables by which are affected the impacts of these natural phenomena.

Conclusioni The final purpose of the initiative was to identify specific proposals for improving the ecological connectivity in the sites of the field visit, in order to integrate them into the SACA mapping as recommendations for implementation, transferable to other similar contexts. It could be said that a common approach emerges from the various interventions to restore ecological connectivity demonstrated during the field visit: the relevance of establishing a dialogue with stakeholders and local administrators, with technicians and professionals, for making awareness of ecological value of certain spaces and the project opportunities that can be put in place. This is a priority commitment of the Management Plan of the MaB of Camonica Valley, which foresees a number of actions aimed at raising awareness among local administrations for sustainable urban planning, i.e. containment of land consumption and redevelopment of the abandoned industrial areas. For such long procedures, the establishment of a board/working group is an important first step. Initiatives like the field visit fulfills this need as an opportunity to "network" on common topics and achieve agreed outcomes.

Flyer of the field visit

For further information: SAPA Network – System of the Italian Alpine Protected Areas www.areeprotette-sapa.it [email protected]

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