LIFE FRESH - LIFE for FReshwater Eutrophic Swamp Habitats restoration

LIFE FRESH aims to improve the characteristics of the freshwater marsh ecosystems of the southern portion of the Po Delta, through the restoration of habitat 3150, characterizing this type of marsh, and other very localized habitats, but of great conservation importance such as 3170* and 7210*, ensuring their conservation over time. The project will intervene on 3 of the most representative Natura 2000 sites in Italy: Valli di Argenta (IT4060001), Punte Alberete-Valle Mandriole (IT4070001), Bardello (IT4070002) with the achievement of the following objectives:

• improvement of the water quality and of the hydraulic systems in 8 marshes included in three Natura 2000 SCIs/SPAs;
• restoration of habitat 3150 on a large scale (382 ha) and with an innovative holistic ecosystem approach, through the reintroduction or repopulation of characterizing plant species (e.g. Salvinia natans, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, Myriophyllum spicatum, Nymphaea alba, Nuphar lutea, Trapa natans, Utricularia australis) and animal species (e.g. Pelophylax kl. esculentus, Scardinius hesperidicus, Esox cisalpinus, Lymnaea stagnalis);
• improvement of the conservation status of other less widespread priority habitats in localized areas (3170*,7210*);
• reintroduction of locally extinct plant species characterizing freshwater wetlands and habitats (Marsilea quadrifolia 3170*, Stratiotes aloides 3150); densification of Cladium mariscus (7210*);
• increase in the populations of some species characterising the habitats, currently protected by Directive 92/43/EEC or 2009/147/EC (Ardeola ralloides, Aythya nyroca*, Chlidonias hybrida, Emys orbicularis, Pelobates fuscus ssp. insubricus*, Rana latastei, Lycaena dispar) or classified at the highest levels of threat by the international or European IUCN red lists (Aythya ferina*, Anguilla anguilla, Sympetrum depressiusculum);
• improvement of the perception of freshwater marshes, dissemination of marsh culture and creation of a Marsh Peoples Community.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) . Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them