Biosphere Reserve Nomination for Sila Biosphere Reserve UNESCO - Man and Biosphere Programme Sila Biosphere Reserve Foreword: Sila nomination process to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves Sila National Park was set up by Presidential Decree 14/11/2002 and includes the territory already coming within the previously existing Calabria National Park (1968). With regard to the UNESCO system for the protection and improvement of the protected areas, the Park Agency took the first steps in 2009, making contact with the Ministry of the Environment. In collaboration with the Calabria Region, Provinces of Cosenza, Crotone and Catanzaro and the interested municipalities of the area, the Park Agency later started up research activity to achieve the inclusion of the Sila area in the UNESCO classifications, conducting an initial survey of the natural resources to be brought to International attention and producing reports on details of the features surveyed. After the completion of this activity, in December 2011 the Park Agency sent a final report to the Ministry of the Environment and the Italian National Commission for UNESCO. The comparative analyses conducted in loco on the reference regional and world cases, the survey of the local productive traditions and the identification of the ecosystem resources of the “Great Forest of Italy” led to the nomination of the Park and the Sila area for inclusion in the Global Network of Biosphere Reserves. The preliminary analysis of the Park’s characteristics has confirmed that the Sila area can successfully start the process for recognition in the Global Network of Biosphere Reserves, since it includes ecological systems that are representative of the Mediterranean, as well as being a significant area for the conservation of biological diversity. The Sila area is also a site with various levels of human intervention over millennia, developed over time in the traditional and sustainable use of the land, the forestry resources and the related ecosystem services. The sustainable activities indicate the potential for the development and the logistic support for the entire Reserve. After the decision of 25th ICC MAB, Sila National Park and the involved local authorities and municiapilities worked hard to fully implement all the reccomandations. The size of the area now appears to be adequate with respect to the other “Biospheres”, and in case of designation, would become one of the largest Biosphere Reserves in the Mediterranean basin, at least in relation to the core and buffer areas which are included in the perimeter of the protected area and to the territory of the bordering towns where are located sustainable development plans. The numerous initiatives undertaken in the recent months, the presence of the Park Agency as coordinator and the existence of planning instruments shared by all the communities involved, all ensure the involvement and participation of a wide range of public authorities, civil society, local associations and different stakeholders, and a strong management framework for the future of the Biosphere Reserve. This process for the “internationalization” of the Sila area aims at capitalizing the work done in previous years and at favouring: The growth and coordination of a network of quality territories – which can be considered as environmental districts – as learning laboratories aimed at maintaining and developing ecological and cultural diversity, and guaranteeing the ecosystem services for human wellbeing; The development and integration of knowledge, also in the scientific and cultural sphere, for a better understanding of the interaction between man and nature; The enhancement of the capacity to manage complex socio-ecological systems, the constant dialogue between science and politics, environmental and multimedia educations, with an active participation of the local community. 2 Sila Biosphere Reserve Summary page PARTE I – SUMMARY 1. Proposed name of the Biosphere Reserve 3 2. Name of the country 3 3. Fulfillment of the three functions of Biosphere Reserves 3 4. Criteria for designation as a Biosphere Reserve 7 5. Endorsements 18 PART II – DESCRIPTION 6. Location 19 7. Area 21 8. Biogeographical region 24 9. Land use 25 10. Human population of the proposed Biosphere Reserve 32 11. Biophysical characteristics 44 12. Ecosystem services 60 13. Main objectives for the Biosphere Reserve’s designation 62 14. Conservation function 67 15. Development function 103 16. Logistic support function 126 17. Governance, Biosphere Reserve management and Coordination 155 18. Special designation 187 19. Supporting documents 188 20. Addresses 190 Annex 1: MABnet Directory of the Biosphere Reserve 191 Annex 2: Promotion and Communication Materials 199 3 Sila Biosphere Reserve PART I – SUMMARY 1. PROPOSED NAME OF THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE: Sila Biosphere Reserve 2. COUNTRY: Italy 3. FULFILLMENT OF THE THREE FUNCTIONS OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES: 3.1 Conservation function – to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecological systems, species and genetic variation Sila Biosphere Reserve, located in the South of Italy, in Calabria Region, in the heart of the Mediterranean, is a suggestive area, result of highly favourable ecological conditions as well as of intensive activity that, over the centuries, has shaped the landscape. Thanks to its morphological and geographical characteristics, theproposed Biosphere Reserve hosts a wide variety of natural environments, with different microclimates, according to the altitudes and directions. For this reason Sila mountains include a wide variety of habitats and provide a biodiversity reserve of enormous importance in the Biogeographical region of the Mediterranean, rich in rare species, local and endemic. Sila Biosphere Reserve is the only one “hotspot” area in Southern Europe (Apennines and Apuan Alps), included in the 234 Centres of plant diversity in the world, selected by IUCN and WWF. Sila was also identified by WWF as one of the priority areas for the conservation of the biodiversity of the central Mediterranean eco-region, especially for mammals, amphibians, reptiles and vascular flora, with different species included in the IUCN Red List or important for the protection of biodiversity in Network Natura 2000, included in Attachment IV to the Directive and in other international conventions regarding conservation (Berne, Bonn, CITES). In particular, the proposed Biosphere Reserve is undoubtedly the area of the Italian peninsula with the most hotspots of genetic diversity within the Mediterranean regions, since fauna has a level of genetic differentiation higher than European average. The proposed Biosphere Reserve hosts approximately: 1,000 types of vascular plants, of which 81 endemic; over 210 species of vertebrates of which 113 birds (82 nesting), 65 mammals, 16 reptiles, 12 amphibians, 6 fish; a rich biodiversity of arthropods with 2,632 known taxa and an estimated number of over 15,000, with considerable local and regional endemic distribution. The nominated area includes partially Sila National Park (Calabria National Park in 1968 and Sila National Park in 2002), one of the fundamental elements of the Italian National system for protected areas. Within the proposed Biosphere Reserve, various areas are already recognised of having international importance, deserving inclusion in the Natura 20001 European network for protection and safeguarding. These include 25 SCI2 areas , 3 SPA and 1 Important Birds Area (IBA), classified in accordance with the “Habitat” Directive 92/43/EEC and “Birds” 79/409/EEC. 1 The ecological network spread throughout EU territory and set up under Directive 92/43/EEC ("Habitat"). 2 Sites of Community interest. 4 Sila Biosphere Reserve The nominated area also includes 9 State Natural Biogenetic Reserves: Coturelle - Piccione, Gallopane, Gariglione Pisarello, Golia Corvo, I Giganti della Sila, Macchia della Giumenta - S. Salvatore, Poverella Villaggio Mancuso, Tasso - Camigliatello, Trenta Coste. All the protected areas coming within the proposed Biosphere Reserve feature a mainly forest ecosystem for their 83.9%. The most distinctive feature of these forests is the endemic Laricio Pine, or Calabrian Pine subspecies (Pinus laricio ssp. Calabrica), a species which is the most widespread in this area as well as forming almost the total world population with approximately 34,000 ha. 3.2 “Development – to foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable” The proposed Biosphere Reserve includes areas that have been hosting traditional activities for centuries. The candidacy of this area for the World Biosphere Reserves Network attempts to undertake two fundamental actions for the benefit of the whole Sila area: (1) strengthen research and monitoring activities of preserving and protecting the natural resources of the Sila area within a sustainable development system, and (2) promoting the adoption of suitable instruments for the rationalization of the existing programmes in the territory, fostering ecologically compatible development. While agriculture represents the historic activity with a longstanding tradition (the cultivation of the “Sila potato” and soft wheat are the two main crops on the Sila uplands, citrus and olive trees and vineyards on the other cultivated lands), livestock raising is based on the traditional transhumance (with the production of Certified Origin Products such as the caciocavallo cheese), development of the lumber sector and sustainable