Gestire 2020 aims to ensure the achievement of biodiversity conservation goals set out in the Habitats and Birds Directives,building on the contents of the Regional Prioritised Action Framework (PAF), thus contributing to the improvement the management of the Natura 2000 network.

This overall target will be achieved pursuing the following specific objectives:

  • improving governance and management models of the Natura 2000 network in order to achieve multiple policy goals, through the increase of capacity building of the many actors involved in the management of N2K in Lombardy.
  • maintaining and improving the conservation status of habitat and species
  • raise the awareness and the level of information of the value / potential of Natura 2000 sites
  • monitoring the effectiveness of the project in achieving the objectives of the PAF.

The actions

GESTIRE2020 is a complex project consisting in 64 actions closely related to each other, including preparatory actions A (19), concrete actions C (21), monitoring actions D (4), communication actions E (16) and management actions F (4).

The complexity of the project can be summarized in some macro-actions:

Overall objective Macroactions Expected results Actions
Ecological connections Mantain and improve the ecological connections, implementation of regional ecological network (RER) Analysis of priorities of the actions in order to implement the RER (A5), implementation of measures through RDP funds, Article 43 GREEN AREAS FUND, Cariplo + LIFE Funds (C4), when they are not supported by complementary funding, promotion of best practices (E10)
Maintain and improve the conservation status of habitats and species Actions to improve the conservation status of habitats and plant species of Community interest Improve the conservation status of grasslands, peatlands, forests and some plant species. Maintain the ecological flow of water bodies Planning, prioritisation of actions to improve the conservation status of habitats (A17), implementation of the measures supported by RDF funds, art.43 GREEN AREAS FUND, Cariplo + LIFE Funds (C9) ), when they are not supported by complementary funding, improvement of the conservation status of state-owned forests (A8+C13), selection of resistant strains of Oak (A6) and structural improvement of oak woods (C12), analyses for specific species of protected flora (A10) + in situ reintroductions (C18) dissemination of best practices (E5), monitoring (D1, D3).

Definition of the ecological flow (A19), application of the model (C7), dissemination of experimental results (E15)

Actions to improve the conservation status of habitats and animal species of Community interest Improve the conservation status of bird species of Community interest, bats, amphibians, reptiles, crayfish, large carnivores Planning, prioritisation of actions to improve the conservation status of habitats for birds (A17), implementation of the measures supported by RDF funds, art.43 GREEN AREAS FUND, Cariplo + LIFE Funds (C9) ), when they are not supported by complementary funds: colonial herons and breeding Heronry (C15) + birds of inland still water (C16) + birds of river shores  (C17) + birds of forest habitat (C13) + large raptors – actions for securing power lines and ski lifts (A12 + C19); dissemination of best practices (E6), monitoring (D1, D3).

Action Plan for Bats (A13), conservation measures (C8) and dissemination of bats info-line (E7)

action plan for amphibians (A14) implementation of the measures supported by RDF + LIFE when they are not supported by RDF funds (C10), and dissemination of best practices (E8) planning interventions for crayfish (A15), concrete actions (C6), dissemination of best practices (E9)

actions to facilitate the coexistence with large predators (bears and wolves): training (A16), management procedures (C11), dissemination and meetings (E14)

Management of alien species Define a strategy to control invasive alien species (IAS), including actions to limit the import of new species through airport Identifying a regional strategy to control and manage the exotic animal and plant species: eg gray squirrel, raccoon, terrapins, crayfish of Louisiana, containment protocols for plant species, defined by priorities  (A7), implementation of concrete actions to contrast the spread of alien species (C5), awareness-raising meetings on the topic (E11); design of an integrated office to prevent the spread of new species at Orio airport (A9), launch of the office (C20), dissemination of information (E12)

Overall objective Macroactions Expected results Actions
Improve the governance and management models Capacity building Skills and know-how improvement of all actors involved in the management of N2K (RL, managing bodies, farming, volunteers, associations, professionals) Definition of training needs (A1) and implementation of training courses (C2) for public administration staff (through the ESF funds), for farmers  (through RDF funds) for professionals and volunteers (through LIFE or Cariplo  funds). The dissemination of results is planned (E4). The project foresees the hiring of 14 technicians to facilitate the use of complementary funds: they will work together with managers and farmers to facilitate the access to and use of RDP, Cariplo measures etc. (C1)
Governance promotion Improving governance of the sites (also considering the ecosystem services provided by N2K) Assessment of the current management models of sites, criticalities and innovative proposals (A2), application of models (C21), dissemination to other sites (E4)
Harmonization of N2K legislation and new surveillance protocols of the sites Improvement of EIA procedures and supervisory procedures and skills Sharing of procedures in a Thematic Working Group, EIA standardization (A3), new protocols for surveillance of N2K sites (A4), application of the procedures (C3), sharing of best practices (E4)

Overall objective Macroactions Expected results Actions
Raise awareness and information on the value / potential of Natura 2000 areas.

Action cutting across the whole projectIncrease knowledge of Natura 2000 Network, habitats and species, threats to conservation, best practices, etc.General communication strategy of the project (E13 + E1 + E2), connected to the specific lines of communication of actions: capacity building and governance (E4), ecological connections (E10), habitats and species (E5), bats (E7), birds (E6), amphibians and reptiles (E7), carnivores (E14), crayfish (E9), alien species + Orio al Serio (E11 + E12), ecological flow (E15)Networking with other LIFE projects (E3)

Overall objective Macroactions Expected results Actions
Monitor the effectiveness of the project in achieving the objectives of the PAF

Action cutting across the whole project

Assess the impact of the project actions on the conservation status of habitats and species Monitoring of the environmental impact of the project on N2K target species (D1), implementation of a long-term monitoring plan (D3), monitoring of the socio-economic impacts (eg ecosystem services, green jobs) (D2)

The project phases

GESTIRE 2020 lasts eight years and it is divided into several phases.

FIRST PHASE (2.5 years - from January 1st 2016 to June 30th 2018)

The first phase is dedicated to the organization of the management system and to capacity building.14 technicians will support the managing bodies of Natura 2000 areas to encourage the use of complementary funds (such as RDF, the ESF, Green areas fund). The training needs of the personnel working in the Natura 2000 network will be set and specific training courses will be designed.

The conservation actions of habitats and species, which will be implemented in the later phases, will be planned. Some concrete actions will be implemented in the first phase such as the continuation of activities to protect the red squirrel, based on the results of the LIFE project “Rossoscoiattolo” or for the protection of crayfish, in line with the experience acquired in LIFE CRAINat.

FOLLOWING PHASES (3 phases- from July 1st 2018 to December 31st 2023)

Subsequent phases will be dedicated to the implementation of all concrete conservation actions such as: conservation efforts of endangered habitats, bats, amphibians and large carnivores, birds (including securing of power lines), start-up of the office at the Orio al Serio airport in order to contrast the introduction of alien species, targeted surveillance of Natura 2000 sites, restoration of ecological connection, the experimental application of the methodology for the minimum flow of water courses.

The information gathered through the monitoring will allow the identification of specific indicators to plan interventions and monitor their effectiveness.

Most of measures foreseen in the concrete actions will be implemented by the managing bodies of the Natura 2000 sites, selected through calls for proposals which will define specific criteria for the location and implementation. Thus the interventions will be adapted to the specificities of different regional contexts, while maintaining uniformity of implementation and a link with an overall strategy at the regional level. This will also provide long term support to local authorities, in the presentation of quality projects for the implementation of measures, and in the maintenance of the implemented concrete actions.

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