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A rapid and cost-effective tool for managing habitats of the European Natura 2000 network: a case study in the Italian Alps

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Abstract

“Habitats” Directive 92/43/EEC is the pivotal European law for building a continental network of sites of community importance (SCIs) for nature conservation. Article 6 of such directive underlines the importance of biodiversity conservation through the realization of proper management plans. As a result, such plans are increasingly common. A management plan based on intensive field studies and monitoring activities requires time and financial resources, which are generally limited. The aim of this paper is to offer a rapid, cost-effective and scientifically based decision tool aimed to achieve GIS-based conservation strategies for habitats of EU interest within SCIs and, in general, within protected areas. As a case study, we considered species-rich Nardus grasslands (threatened by natural reconversion and intensive cattle grazing), and transition mires (threatened by pasturing and human disturbance) in a SCI in the Alps. Through a multi-criteria evaluation, we selected indicators and weights based upon our knowledge of the study area. As a result, we were able to: (a) quantify the level of existing threats, (b) suggest urgent conservation strategies, and (c) suggest future monitoring activities. Since the study area is representative of many protected areas in the Alps and the conservation topics under evaluation are frequent threats impacting habitats of EU interest, our decision model might be transferable to further areas given proper adaptation of weights to the intensity and the frequency of current threats.

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Abbreviations

SCI:

Site of community importance

EU:

European Union

H-6230:

European Union habitat 6230—species-rich Nardus grasslands on siliceous substrates in mountain areas (and submountain areas in Continental Europe)

H-7140:

European Union habitat 7140—transition mires and quaking bogs

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the University of Pavia (Italy). The authors wish to thank an anonymous reviewer for his useful comments, and Dr. Duccio Rocchini (University of Siena), Dr. Fabio Attorre (University of Rome “La Sapienza”) and Dr. Valeria Dominione (University of Pavia) for their constructive suggestions on an earlier draft of the manuscript. We are grateful to Dr. Julie Crawford (Mancos, Colorado, USA) for linguistic revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Ecologia del Territorio, University of Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Rossi Graziano, Parolo Gilberto & Ferrarini Alessandro

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  1. Rossi Graziano
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  2. Parolo Gilberto
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  3. Ferrarini Alessandro
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Correspondence to Rossi Graziano.

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Graziano, R., Gilberto, P. & Alessandro, F. A rapid and cost-effective tool for managing habitats of the European Natura 2000 network: a case study in the Italian Alps. Biodivers Conserv 18, 1375–1388 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9459-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9459-4

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