Good Practice Guide Low Def

ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY
AND BOOSTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

47 successful regional case studies in Europe
in the elds of agriculture, land planning and tourism
22
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is the culmination of contributions from more than 90 individuals and more than 40 organizations since
January 2010. We would like to thank all the members of the Reverse team for having identied, described and
illustrated the herein case studies, as well as all the others persons who made it possible, as authors, reviewers
and contributors:
Camille MASSOL, Bndicte HAMON, Adeline BOROT DE BATTISTI, Sophie KERLOCH (Aquitaine Region); Immacolata
BARBAGIOVANNI, Paolo COLLEPARDI, Miria CATTA, Giovanni PICA, Paola TAVIANI, Jane Helene GARZIA, Stefano
CARRANO, Paola CIRIONI, Massimo TANCA, Mariateresa COSTANZA (ARSIAL); Marta ROZAS , Azucena SALAZAR,
Pedro ORTEGA (Basque Government); Bertrand LASSAIGNE, Jennifer KENDALL, Angela MALLARONI (Bio dAquitaine);
Henrich KLUGKIST, Dirk HRTER, Tom LECKE-LOPATTA (Bremen Region); Herv CODHANT (CEN Aquitaine); Daniela
BENEDIKOV, Michaela BENKOV , Iveta CICOV (PPRC Pietany); Karin KRUUSMAA, Merrit SHANSKIY, Kalev SEPP,
Elis VOLLMER, Maaria SEMM (Estonian University of Life Sciences); Polymnia SKALAVAKI, Voula NOUSIA, Ioannis
FOTAKIS, Dimos DIMITRIOU (Forest Directorate of Chania-Crete Region); Christini FOURNARAKI, Panagiota GOTSIOU,
Adamantia KOKKINAKI, Aristidis STAMATAKIS (MAICh); Marcelo MARTINEZ PALAO, Ramn BALLESTER SABATER,
Inmaculada RAMREZ SANTIGOSA, Antonio VICTORIA LPEZ, Francisco FLORES ALBACETE, Rafael DAZ GARCA
(Murcia Region); Lambros TSOURGIANNIS, Kiki HARALAMPIDOU, Dimitris TSIANIS (Region of East Macedonia and
Thrace); Josene GUMPRECHT, Benjamin KTHER (ttz Bremerhaven); Ivana STELLA, Giuseppe MERLI, Rodolfo
INGUAGGIATO, Paolo PAPA, Raoul SEGATORI (Umbria Region); Luciano CONCEZZI, Livia POLEGRI, Federico MARIOTTI
(3A-Umbria Agrofood Technology Park).
Rmy LEBRUN, Eric MAILLE (Agrobioperigord); Cdric HEURTEBISE (ASF); Patrick CHAUVIN, Alexia QUINTIN
(Communaut dAgglomration Pau-Pyrnes); David CONDOTTA (Communaut de communes de Lembeye);
Vronique CHABLE (INRA); Laurent COUZI , Mathieu SANNIER (LPO Aquitaine); Bernard LAFON (Oh Lgumes
oublis); Clment INFANTI (Pays Val de Garonne-Gascogne); Patrick DE KOCHKO (Rseau semences paysannes);
Carlos GARBISU, Iker MIJANGOS, Eva UGARTE, Jose Ignacio RUIZ de GALARRETA (NEIKER-Basque Institute of
Agricultural Research& Developt); Miren ASKASIBAR (Paisaia);Teresa ANDRS (HAZI); Iaki AZKARATE (City Council
of Errenteria);
Ullrich MICKAN (Torfkhne Bremen); Theresia LUCKS (Umweltschutzamt/Naturschutzbehrde Bremerhaven);
Costas A. THANOS (University of Athens);
Isabella DALLA RAGIONE (Archeologia Arborea farm and Foundation); Alessio CAPOCCIA (WWF Italia); Valeria NEGRI
(Universit degli Studi di Perugia); Aldo FREZZA , Luigi ARTEBANI (Universit Agraria di Allumiere); Nicoletta CUTOLO,
Valerio ALOI, Fabrizio PETRASSI, Massimiliano BARRESI, Mariapia PIERMARINI (ARP-Regione Lazio); Vincenzo
MARCHETTI and Rossella DI MAULA (Le Fontanelle farm); Mario De SANTIS (Cooperativa Grisciano).
Special thank go to Aquitaine Region - Adeline BOROT DE BATTISTI, Bndicte HAMON and Camille MASSOL - for
coordinating and editing the book.
We also acknowledge the work done by FRONTALIZA as English reviewer and D-Day for the design.
Book published in 2012.

ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY
AND BOOSTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
47 successful regional case studies in Europe
in the elds of agriculture, land planning and tourism
33
HIGHLIGHTS
Challenges related to biodiversity and economic development
Biological diversity, known for short as biodiversity, incorporates the variety of life on Earth (microorganisms,
plants, fungi and animals) and the natural patterns they form
1
. Three different and interrelated levels of
biodiversity are commonly dened: genetic diversity (i.e. the range of genes in all individuals as well as
between individuals); species diversity (i.e. the range of species within and between populations); and
ecosystems (i.e. the range of habitats, communities, and ecological processes, including intra-ecosystem
variations). Although this is not easy to quantify, all levels are important for securing evolution and
adaptation of individuals to a changing environment.
Biodiversity certainly has intrinsic value. It is also essential to human life and well-being in the sense that
humans have always depended upon natural resources. More specically, biodiversity ensures the quality,
quantity and stability of ecosystems goods and services, i.e. the series of tangible and intangible benets
humans draw from the natural functions played by ecosystems (MEA, 2005). Thus, biodiversity provides
raw materials for food (e.g. agricultural products and sh), health (e.g. plant medicine) and shelter (e.g.
wood, wool, etc.) and in doing so, it becomes the basic resource for many production activities; it also
regulates and recycles the air, soil and water conditions necessary for our survival; it nally forms the basis
for cultural and recreational activities (such as ecotourism) and scientic and educational programmes,
as well as spirituality, religion, ethics and emotions.
Biodiversity is the result of both natural processes and human practices. It has, however, been increasingly
negatively affected by the latter. In Europe, like elsewhere in the world, biodiversity is being degraded.
25% of marine mammals, 15 % of terrestrial mammals and 12% of birds are threatened with extinction
(EEA, 2010). Moreover 62% of European habitats and 52% of European protected species included in the
Habitat Directive have an unfavourable conservation status (EEA-ETC/BD, 2009).
Among key pressures, rapid shifts in land use have been acknowledged as the major threat (IUCN, 2007,
2009, 2010). Extensive agriculture land has declined by 2.6% between 1990 and 2006 across Europe
2
. So
have natural grassland areas. Over the same period, constructed, industrial and articial areas have gone
up by 7.9%. Subsequent pollution and overexploitation threats come next. Croplands, forests and pastures
44
1
According to Article 2 of the Convention on Biological Diversity
in 1992, biological diversity is dened as the variability among
living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial,
marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological
complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within
species, between species and of ecosystems.
2
Figures related to land cover (agriculture, natural grassland,
industrial areas) come from the latest available statistics from
CORINE, a European Environment Agency programme dedicated
to coordinating information on the environment available at
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/COR0-landcover.
3
See the European Invasive Alien Species Gateway from DAISIE
(Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe),
accessible at http://www.europe-aliens.org.
cover almost 80% of the total European land area EU-25 plus Norway and Switzerland (EEA,
2007). Unsurprisingly, pressure from the twin trends of intensication of agricultural and
forestry practices together with land abandonment plays a great role. Furthermore, invading
exotic species have gained ground, especially in aquatic ecosystems and in the context of
a changing climate: more than 10,000 non-native species have been observed in Europe,
more than 10% of them having an adverse economic or ecological impact
3
.
Agriculture and food production, land planning and tourism are economic sectors that are
directly interconnected with biodiversity issues. Their development and sustainability
requires the consumption, use and management of biodiversity. They all rely and
impact on biodiversity. In some cases, they may even be the drivers of biodiversity
conservation, as people realise biodiversity can be a valuable asset in marketing
(e.g. traditional varieties of plants and animals), promotion (e.g. ecotourism) and
negotiation (e.g. landscape strategy).
The long-term development of agriculture and food production, land planning and
tourism cannot ignore the sustainable governance of biodiversity. The challenges
require mainstreaming biodiversity issues into policy strategies as in the day-
to-day management of economic activities. Experience shows that this is
possible and replicable.
5
The Reverse project is based on sharing experience amongst 14 European partners who are aware of the major
challenges linking biodiversity and economic development. More specically, it focuses on opportunities and
insufciencies in biodiversity conservation policies in three sectors: Agriculture and food production, Land planning
and Tourism.
Based on practical experience feedback, Reverse aims to:
- Promote successful initiatives in conserving biodiversity while boosting economic activities across Reverse partners;
- Improve the effectiveness of sectoral policies in support of biodiversity conservation and development at European
and regional levels.
Reverse is a three-year European interregional cooperation project (January 2010 - December 2012). Lead by the
Aquitaine Region, it involves 7 European countries: Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Slovakia and Spain.
It is co-nanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and made possible by the INTERREG IVC
programme. As part of the European Territorial Cooperation Objective, the INTERREG IVC Programme (2007-2013)
is an EU programme that helps regions of Europe work together to share their knowledge and experience.
OUTPUTS OF THE REVERSE PROJECT
Several documents have been produced by the Reverse partners. Their purpose is to provide practical support tools
to decision-makers, ofcers and technicians to enable them to take biodiversity into account in their policies and
actions. They include:
- 3 European Charters on, respectively, Agriculture and food production, Land planning and Tourism, providing strategic
and political recommendations for decision-makers at European level;
- A number of Regional Charters developed by each project partner with the aim of providing strategic and political
recommendations to decision-makers at regional and local level;
- A Case Study Book which puts together the various experiences from Reverse partners.
In addition, a myriad of events have been organised jointly or individually by the Reverse partners, in order to raise
the awareness of decision-makers, technicians and the general public as to the importance of biodiversity.
An electronic version of these documents and details of these events can be found on the Reverse website:
www.reverse.aquitaine.eu
THE REVERSE PROJECT
66
The 14 Reverse partners comprise regional authorities, public establishments, associations, research institutes
and universities, which contribute to the conservation and development of natural and cultivated biodiversity. They
work on various complementary subjects such as the conservation of species in situ, gene banks, the management
of natural areas, region-wide strategies for the conservation of biodiversity, ecological corridors, local legislation
for the protection of biodiversity, education, etc.
REVERSE PARTNERS
Regions:
Specialised organizations:
Aquitaine Region (France)
www.aquitaine.fr
Bremen Region (Germany)
www.umwelt.bremen.de
Umbria Region (Italy)
www.regione.umbria.it
Euskadi Region (Spain)
www.euskadi.net
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute
of Chania (Greece)
www.maich.gr
Murcia Region (Spain)
www.murcianatural.carm.es
Bio dAquitaine (France)
www.bio-aquitaine.com
Estonian University of Life Sciences-EMU (Estonia)
www.emu.ee
Natural Areas Conservatory
of Aquitaine - CEN Aquitaine (France)
www.cen-aquitaine.fr
The Plant Production Research Center
Pietany - PPRC Pietany (Slovakia)
www.cvrv.sk
Regional Agency for the Development
and the Innovation of Agriculture in Lazio - ARSIAL (Italy)
www.arsial.it
Technology Transfer Centre
Bremerhaven
ttz Bremerhaven (Germany)
www.ttz-bremerhaven.de
Region of East Macedonia and
Thrace (Greece)
www.remth.gr
Decentralized Administration
of Crete-Forest Directorate of
Chania (Greece)
www.crete-region.gr
77
Find your way through this guide
The presentation of the case studies has been structured into three chapters. Chapter 1 is dedicated to Agriculture
and food production (21 projects), Chapter 2 focuses on Land planning (13 projects) and Chapter 3 on Tourism (13
projects). The three sectors are intrinsically interrelated though, especially when examined through the cross-
cutting angle of biodiversity. As a result, we are aware that some examples could have t into several chapters, but
it is the authors responsibility to choose the most relevant sector. For instance, cases dealing with agri-tourism
can be found in Chapter 3, although they may relate to both agriculture and tourism.
Case studies all adopt a common presentation format. This enables an easy-to-read overview of the object, purpose,
context, contributors, resources needed and results of each reported experience.
A complementary analysis grid prefaces every chapter in order to facilitate searching for the most relevant
examples as regards the specic expectations of the reader. All three grids enable a cross-comparative examination
of cases related to agriculture, land planning and tourism respectively, on several entry points: the key biodiversity
issues addressed, the targeted area, the specic objectives, the beneciary group, etc.
This guide puts together 47 successful projects from several European regions around protecting biodiversity in the
elds of agriculture, land planning and tourism. It does not intend to be exhaustive, but provides a wide collection of
case studies, all of them successful in addressing a double imperative: protecting biodiversity and boosting economic
development. These projects were originally identied and described by the 14 partners of the Reverse project.
They are very diverse, as they cover small-scale as well as nation-wide actions. They may be expensive or require
no budget. They involve very distinct actors. They may target mountains, water, agricultural lands or urban areas.

The object of this guide is to provide illustrations of successful case studies of the joint management of biodiversity
protection and economic development. The practical examples chosen prove that conserving biodiversity can deliver
economic and social benets.
This guide is primarily designed for policy-makers and local elected representatives, as well as ofcers and technicians
operating in agriculture, land planning, tourism and environment. More broadly, it may interest everyone committed
to biodiversity.
Every case study reported in this guide is presented under the responsibility of the respective author. Methods used
and results obtained t into a specic context and may not be applied generally. However, all these experiences
underline several major considerations that are worth sharing here:
- Available scientic and practical knowledge is always an asset in the conservation and valorisation of biodiversity
and is sometimes a prerequisite for any decision or action;
- Raising the general publics, technicians and local authorities awareness of the benets of conserving biodiversity
is essential for their future commitment and engagement;
- Participative action and sustained communication have often been reported as critical factors of success;
- Valuable benets from the reported experiences prove not only ecological and economic, but in many cases also
cultural and social (such as job maintenance or creation, improved collaboration and networking);
- Many examples have demonstrated that effective consideration of biodiversity does not necessarily require
revolutionary measures but may simply need the implementation of a tiny change or the adoption of a different
perspective.
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
88
CONTENTS
14
10
40
20
44
24
52
34
70
18 19
4
2
9
13
11
16
21
6
1
3
20
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STRATEGY, POLICIES AND REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS
FOR COMBINING AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
ASSESSING BIODIVERSITY HEALTH IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS
FARMERS AS GUARDIANS OF BIODIVERSITY-LINKED LANDSCAPE,
TRADITIONS AND CULTURE
BIODIVERSITY-FRIENDLY AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
BANKS FOR AGROBIODIVERSITY PRESERVATION
IN SITU CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CULTIVATED BIODIVERSITY
ECONOMIC PROMOTION AND DIFFERENTIATION
THROUGH CULTIVATED BIODIVERSITY
INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF AGROBIODIVERSITY
AGRICULTURE, FOOD PRODUCTION AND BIODIVERSITY
CASE STUDY NUMBER PAGE NUMBER
76
80
118
84
126
100
110 10
12
7
3
1
2
13
11
9
6
5 4
8
REGIONAL LAND PLANNING POLICIES TAKING BIODIVERSITY INTO ACCOUNT
ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR PLANNING
LEGAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS
TO PROTECT AREAS WITH THREATENED BIODIVERSITY
COMPLIANCE AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS
FOR TAKING INTO ACCOUNT BIODIVERSITY IN LAND PLANNING
DEVELOPMENT OF BIODIVERSITY-LINKED LANDSCAPE HERITAGE
PROACTIVE AND COOPERATIVE PUBLIC COMMITMENTS IN FAVOUR OF BIODIVERSITY
LAND PLANNING AND BIODIVERSITY
128
132
162
136
146
156
3
10
12
6 8
1
2
11
9
5
REGIONAL STRATEGIES FOR RECONCILING TOURISM AND BIODIVERSITY
BIODIVERSITY-FRIENDLY TOURISM MANAGEMENT IN PROTECTED AREAS
ECOTOURISM FOR ATTRACTING VISITORS AND BIODIVERSITY AWARENESS RAISING
TOURISM BASED ON AGROBIODIVERSITY
HERITAGE VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY AS A PROMOTING TOOL FOR TOURISM
TOURISM AND BIODIVERSITY
4
7
13
99
10
Agriculture has a central role to play in bringing biodiversity loss to a halt. Firstly, farmers, by their inuence on
landscapes, are the guardians of heritage, traditions and cultures linked to biodiversity (5, 6 and 7). Secondly,
agricultural practices which are respectful of the environment, voluntarily adopted by some farmers, contribute to
limiting natural biodiversity loss (8 and 9).
Last but not least, maintaining cultivated biodiversity is a major challenge, as it is often forgotten when talking
about biodiversity. Gene banks allow ex-situ conservation of agro-biodiversity (10 and 11). Also, at farm level, in-situ
conservation methods maintain and even develop agro-biodiversity (12, 13 and 14).
Cultivating biodiversity may become a differentiation asset when it is used as an ingredient for traditional food
recipes, or when a quality label distinguishes it (15, 16, 17, 18, 19), contributing to increased income and resilience.
Creating a supportive environment in order to encourage and coordinate small-scale farmers actions still remains a
major challenge, for instance, creating economic incentives and legal frameworks linking agricultural development
and biodiversity conservation (1 and 2), tools to improve knowledge in interactions between agriculture and biodiversity
(3 and 4), and continuing to educate stakeholders on the importance of biodiversity (20 and 21).
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TYPE OF ACTION IN FAVOUR OF BIODIVERSITY
Improve knowledge and assessment
Raise awareness, educate and share experiences
Preserve fragile biodiversity
Avoid and mitigate biodiversity loss
Compensate/restore biodiversity loss
BENEFICIARIES
Citizens, consumers and visitors
Policy makers/national, regional, local governments
Environmental associations
Private rms (farmers, tourism operators,
infrastructure builders)
Research institutes/universities
TARGETED AREAS
Cities, urban areas, articial areas
Agricultural lands (culture/pasture)
Wetlands, rivers, lakes, uvial and coastal habitats
Mountains
Forests
Natural areas
INVOLVED OPERATORS
Policy makers, public administrations or institutions
Private rms (farms, hotels, restaurants, .)
Research institutes, universities
KEY BIODIVERSITY ISSUES ADRESSED
THROUGH THE ACTION
Habitat fragmentation and loss
Threat against remarkable biodiversity
Pollution (soil, water, air)
Overexploitation
Soil erosion
Homogenisation of cultivated biodiversity
(agriculture, forestry)
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS
OF THE ACTION
Regulated land use and activities
Maintained human activities in the area
Enhanced co-operation between local stakeholders
Increased returns for local populations
Higher value added and attractiveness of the area
Preserved social values of biodiversity
(landscape, gastonomy, heritage)
1
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY FARMING
REGIONAL PROGRAMME
FRANCE 14
2
REGIONAL ACT FOR AGRO-BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
ITALY 16
STRATEGY, POLICIES AND REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS FOR COMBINING
AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
3
MICROBIAL BIODIVERSITY AND SOIL HEALTH
SPAIN 20
4
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY GUIDELINES
SPAIN 22
5
DRY CALCAREOUS GRASSLANDS PRESERVATION
FRANCE 24
6
LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR FARMERS
ESTONIA 28
7
AGRI-FOOD LANDSCAPES
SPAIN 32
FARMERS AS GUARDIANS OF BIODIVERSITY-LINKED LANDSCAPE,
TRADITIONS AND CULTURE
8
FARMING AND PROTECTING SNAILS
GREECE 34
9
NATURAL BIODIVERSITY IN VINEYARDS
FRANCE 38
15
DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN FOR AGRO-BIODIVERSITY
ITALY 52
16
COLLECTIVE MARK NATURA IN CAMPO
ITALY 54
17
LANDRACE SEEDS EVENT RENABIO
FRANCE 56
18
AGRO-BIODIVERSITY IN TRASIMENO LAKE
ITALY 60
19
THE TASTE OF LANDRACES
FRANCE 66
ECONOMIC PROMOTION AND DIFFERENTIATION
THROUGH CULTIVATED BIODIVERSITY
21
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
SPAIN 72
20
EDUCATIONAL GARDEN
SLOVAK REPUBLIC 70
11
POTATO GENES
SPAIN 42
10
PRESERVING A CULTURAL HERITAGE
SLOVAK REPUBLIC 40
14
SEED HOUSES CONCEPT
FRANCE 48
12
ARCHEOLOGIA ARBOREA TREE COLLECTION
ITALY 44
13
BREED CONSERVATION
SPAIN 46
CONTENTS
CASE STUDY
NUMBER
3 4
1 2
11 15
14
10 17 16
21 13 12
7 6 5
8 9
19
20
18
Aquitaine Region, France
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Since 2002, the Aquitaine Region has implemented
a global approach to reduce the negative impacts
of agricultural practices on the environment and
biodiversity.
At the beginning, it consisted of creating a frame of
reference called AREA, containing 10 environmental
recommendations for farmers. The different measures
ensure a transversal approach to environmental impact
of farming. Indeed, all productions are concerned
with seven different issues: pesticides, fertilisation,
plant efuents, health safety, energy, biodiversity and
irrigation.
In order to promote environmentally-friendly farming
in Aquitaine, the Aquitaine Region limited the public
funding of investments to farms that were involved in
this environmental programme.
In 2009, the Aquitaine Region decided to enhance
the efforts of farmers by creating an environmental
certification. Thus, farmers who respect the
environmental recommendations were delivered an
environmental certication of the farm called AREA.
This certication was recognised as an ofcial quality
certication by the French government in January 2012.
Nowadays, public funding in Aquitaine is limited
to certied farms. For compensation, the Aquitaine
Region nances the global environmental diagnosis
of the farm and technical advice necessary to reach
the certication.
BACKGROUND
Environmental certication is a national challenge
initiated during the Grenelle Environment roundtable
in 2007. The Grenelle Environment roundtable
was a participative debate organised by the French
government, to which many organisations were invited
to discuss sustainable development issues for the next
ve years. This debate has led to different laws, the
second of which (Loi Grenelle de lEnvironnement II)
deals with the environmental certication.
Since then, a national commission for environmental
certication was created. All organisations in France are
allowed to create an environmental certication such
as AREA (public organisations, rms, associations).
The role of the commission is to analyse the content
of the environmental measures and to decide whether
the certication proposed can be considered as a high
quality certication or not. Thus, in France, there are
several programs like AREA (Agriculture Raisonne
for instance).
Nevertheless, the AREA programme is still unique in
France as it is the only certication used for attributing
regional public funding.
BENEFITS AT A GLANCE
ECONOMIC
ECOLOGICAL
SOCIAL
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STRATEGY, POLICIES AND REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS FOR COMBINING AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION 14
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY FARMING:
A REGIONAL PROGRAMME OF HIGH QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION 1
ACTORS INVOLVED (PROMOTER AND TARGET
GROUPS)
The promoter of the project is the Aquitaine Region
along with the other public funders: Europe and
French state. This programme has been implemented
in close collaboration with farmers representatives.
More precisely, technical advice and environmental
diagnosis are provided by technical advisers from
local agriculture ofces (Chambres dagriculture).
As for the certication of farms, controls are made
by an external organisation specialised in certication
called AFNOR Certication.
LOCATION AND TIMESCALE OF THE PROJECT
Farm level, across the whole Aquitaine Region
Start date: 2002, creation of investment programme
AREA;
Step date: 2009, AREA becomes a certification
scheme at regional level;
Step date: 2012, AREA is recognised as an ofcial high
quality certication by the French government.
RESOURCES
The AREA programme is run by the Department of
Agriculture of the Aquitaine Region. Three employees
control the certification measures. Farmers are
accompanied by approximately 120 technical advisers.
The budget dedicated for certification is about
7,000,000 per year for all the public funders.
- 8% to fund immaterial resources (monitoring,
animation, external control);
- 92% go to fund material investments (necessary
to abide by the 10 requirements and specification
measures).
600 farms per year benet from this program.
All farmers in Aquitaine can receive funding from the
Aquitaine Region to get the environmental certication
AREA.
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RESULTS AND LESSONS LEARNT
In January 2012, 82 farms were certified AREA.
About 5,000 farms have been funded by the AREA
programme and are likely to get certied in the coming
months.
It is a fact that most farmers get certied in order
to access public funding for their investments.
Nevertheless, the negative impacts of some agricultural
practices on the environment are still reduced. An
overall evaluation of the programme will start in 2013
to evaluate its impacts on the environment in Aquitaine.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
First of all, the Aquitaine Region plans to start
a widespread communication campaign to raise
public awareness and enhance the efforts made by
farmers. Thus, farmers should benet from public
acknowledgement which could enhance on-farm
product sales.
Based on consumers current trend, the Aquitaine
Region foresees that the environmental certication
could become a buying criterion. Eventually,
environmental certication could be a binding condition
to access certain markets.
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STRATEGY, POLICIES AND REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS FOR COMBINING AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION 15
WANT MORE INFORMATION ?
Guillemette HUSSON
Rgion Aquitaine
Croix des Fontaines, 14 rue Franois-de-Sourdis
33077 Bordeaux, France
+33 5 57 57 80 00
Guillemette.husson@aquitaine.fr
Website: http://les-aides.aquitaine.fr/rubrique216.html
Arsial, Italy
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Lazio Region has issued the Regional Act n. 15
(1
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of March 2000) Protection of autochthonous
genetic resources of agricultural interest within the
policies of development, promotion and protection of
agro-systems and quality productions, according to
the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, Rio de
Janeiro 1992), implemented by Italy with the Act n. 124,
14/02/1994.
The Regional Act protects Lazios autochthonous
genetic resources of agricultural interest at risk
of genetic erosion. It concerns species, breeds,
populations, ecotypes, landraces, clones, and cultivars,
including related wild crops, as well as animal breeds
and populations of zootechnical interest with the
following characteristics:
- Originated in Lazio territory or introduced and
integrated into the agro-ecosystem of Lazio for at
least the past 50 years or disappeared from the region
and collected in botanical gardens, breeding farms,
experimental institutions, public or private genetic
banks, and research centres of other regions or
countries;
- Used for agricultural, zoo technical, agro-forest,
hunting, or aqua cultural purposes;
- Having an economic, scientic, environmental, or
cultural interest;
- Threatened by genetic erosion.
The activity is founded in many steps: the census
of plant and animal genetic resources (seeds and
fruits collection, agronomical data and biographic
historical research), the morpho-physiological and
genetic characterisation as well as the evaluation of
threat genetic erosion of these autochthonous genetic
resources for the registration in the Regional Voluntary
Register (RVR, institutional repertoire). At the same
time, in situ and on farm conservation is promoted
through Conservation and Safety Network.
The Act entrusts ARSIAL to manage RVR and the
Network, and the coordination of all activities.
GOALS: protection of autochthonous genetic resources
of agricultural interest in order to reduce the threat
of genetic erosion; to promote on farm and in situ
conservation; valorisation of food products resources,
threatened by genetic erosion; public free public
service for technician and scientic support of local
farm communities.
CHALLENGES: to develop an economic interest which
would make the active conservation of protected
genetic resources possible.
TARGETS: animals and plants threatened by genetic
erosion.
The Agricultural Department of Lazio Region supports
in situ and on farm conservation through an incentive
to autochthonous resource keepers (farmers and
breeders), through Lazio Rural Development Plan
2007-2013 (EU FESR), Agro environmental Measure
214, Action 214.8 for animal protection and Action 214.9
for plant protection. The grants to resource keepers
for on farm conservation are: 200/LU (Livestock Unit)
for animals, 250-300/ha for cereals, 500-600/ha for
vegetables, 800-900/ha for trees plants and 70-90/
plant for a single tree up to a maximum of 5 tree-plants
per local variety.
ARSIAL benets from the same Agro-environmental
Measure (214.8 and 214.9) to nance its technical
and scientic activity to support the protection and
valorisation of the autochthonous genetic resources
and public services of local farm communities.
ECONOMIC
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AGRICULTURE AND BIODIVERSITY AGRICULTURE AND BIODIVERSITY
STRATEGY, POLICIES AND REGULATORY INSTRUMENTS FOR COMBINING AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
2
REGIONAL ACT FOR AGRO-BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
PROTECTION OF AUTOCHTHONOUS GENETIC RESOURCES OF AGRICULTURAL
INTEREST IN LAZIO REGION
presence of the product on the market; presence in the
catalogues of the seed companies/nurseries; number
of cultivating farmers; areas under cultivation (as
percentage of the total regional area for the species);
trends for new area of cultivation. Each indicator is
associated with other conditions in order to attribute a
risk score (1 = low; 2 = medium; 3 = high): the sum of
the different values gives a total level of erosion. Animal
genetic erosion threat levels are evaluated considering
the total number of breeding females for every species
in the EU.
By monitoring the degree of the genetic erosion
threat of each single resource it is possible to
establish whether the conservation in situ or on farm
is successful.
Every year, the list of the autochthonous genetic
resources, reported in the Rural Development
Programme of Lazio, is updated with new resources
registered on RVR.
GROUPS)
Currently ARSIAL is involved in the application of
the Regional Act with its technical expert group
(agronomists, veterinarians and historians) and has
partnership agreements with different Italian scientic
institutions for morpho-physiologic characterisation of
local varieties and breeds, and for the different steps of
the approach: Plant Production Department (University
of Viterbo), Departments of Agricultural Research
Council (CRA-Centre for Fruit Tree Research in Rome
and CRA-OLI in Spoleto, CRA-VIT in Conegliano Veneto,
CRA-PAV, CRA-PCM and CRA-RPS in Rome), National
Research Council (CNR-IGV in Bari), Italian Public
Organisation for Seeds Control (ENSE, nowadays
INRAN), Plant Biology and Agroenvironmental
Biotechnology Department (University of Perugia),
Consortium for Experimentation, Dissemination and
Application of Innovative Biotechniques (ConSDABI in
Benevento) and Psychology Department of University
of Rome La Sapienza.
BACKGROUND
Lazios territory is located centrally in the Italian
peninsula, and is characterised by a complex
morphology (Lazios area is 17,236 km
2
composed of
26% mountains, 54% hills and 20% plains) and a great
bio-climatic variability. The diversity of land layouts
has enabled the establishment of a large number
of landraces and animal breeds well adapted to the
different agro-ecosystems that have developed over
the centuries. In the XX century in the Lazio region,
as in the rest of the world, the standardisation of
farming practices and the development of an intensive
agriculture has favoured the use of new cultivars
and animal breeds, genetically uniform and more
productive. As a consequence, local plant varieties and
animal breeds have been lost.
In the 90s, several Italian Regions decided to promote
regional acts to protect agrobiodiversity and to
counteract biodiversity loss at an intraspecies level
(within species). The Region of Toscana (1997) was the
rst, followed by the Regions of Lazio (2000), Umbria
(2001), Friuli-Venezia Giulia (2002), Marche (2003),
Emilia Romagna (2008) and Basilicata (2008).
Currently, the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and
Forest (MIPAAF) is planning the National Agriculture
Biodiversity Plan (PNBA) with a specic council (GIBA)
composed of Public Italian Research Organisations,
scientic expertise and Regional Administrations. The
PNBA is a guideline for Italian Regions to operate on
farm, in situ and ex situ conservation of agricultural
biodiversity (plant, animal and microbiological).
METHODOLOGY, PROCESS
ARSIAL collects information throughout the entire
regional territory on plant and animal resources
threatened by genetic erosion. These resources,
registered in the Regional Voluntary Register (RVR)
can be suggested by ARSIAL, or by a public or scientic
institution, or a private organisation, or a simple citizen.
The RVR is the ofcial repertoire of the Lazio Region,
where the protected genetic resources, landraces for
plants and local breeds for animals, are registered,
subject to the opinion of two Scientic Commissions:
one for the Plant Sector and one for the Animal Sector.
The registration form is available on ARSIALs website.
Anyone owning, growing plants, or breeding animals
registered in the RVR may become a member of the
Conservation and Safety Network, free of charge.
To evaluate the threat of plant genetic erosion (levels
high-medium-low) the following indicators are used:
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LOCATION AND TIMESCALE OF THE ACTIVITY
The project covers the Lazio region area.
The implementation of the Regional Act n.15 is a full-
time work and an institutional activity started on March
15
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2000 and still in process.
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RESOURCES
Human resources: 2 people full time (100,000/year),
7 people part time (35,000/year), 6 temporary co-
workers full time (150,000/year).
External costs: about 250,000/year for the partnership
agreements and external expertise.
Results show in 2011:
- 186 landraces and 27 local breeds are registered in
the Regional Voluntary Register;
- 352 farmers (plant resources owners) and 501
breeders (animal resources owners) are currently
enrolled in the Network for in situ and on farm
conservation of autochthonous genetic resources;
- 809 demands applied for economic supports
provided by the Regional Development Programme
for cultivating or breeding protected genetic resources;
- Characterisation of soil biodiversity has started on
many farms members of the Network;
- Ex situ conservation is maintained in Collection Fields
and in ARSIALs Germplasm Bank;
- The valorisation of products comes from protected
genetic resources, for example 19 local varieties of 32
grapevine (registered in the RVR) have been listed in
the National and Regional Register of wine varieties
necessary for winemaking. In the animal sector,
zootechnical books for 7 local breeds have been set up.
Lessons learnt:
- The census, started in 2001 following the application
of the law, has revealed more than expected, the large
variability of autochthonous genetic resources. Often
farmers have conserved more than one single landrace
or local breed;
- The protected resources represent a cultural heritage
and can provide support for developing the local rural
economy.
The main problem encountered is the risk of fraud
by swapping protected resources with commercial
varieties. The solution to this problem is still in
progress.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
In the future, the development of the Conservation and
Safety Network should be based on:
- Dening specic systems for management on farm
seeds production and plant multiplication;
- Promoting the participatory plant breeding
methodology;
- Checking the phytosanitary and genetic status of
protected resources;
- Studying soil microbial communities in the site of in
situ conservation;
- Studying food products nutritional properties;
- Promoting traditional food products.
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Mariateresa COSTANZA
(+39 0686273450, biodiver@arsial.it)
Immacolata BARBAGIOVANNI
(+39 0686273481, i.barbagiovanni@arsial.it)
ARSIAL (Regional Agency for the Development and Innovation of Agriculture in Lazio)
Via Rodolfo Lanciani, 38 Roma, Italy
Website: www.arsial.it - http://biodiversita.arsial.gov.it/
This type of action could easily be replicated in other regions applying our methodology:
1. Prescription of a law for protecting autochthon agro biodiversity;
2. Census and characterisation of genetic resources of agricultural interest using the scientic methodologies
dened in Italian National Agriculture Biodiversity Plan (PNBA);
3. In situ and on farm conservation of genetic resources, threatened by genetic erosion, with farmers and
breeders (owners) in a Conservation and Safety Network, using scientic methodologies of PNBA;
4. Benchmarking successful European experiences on agrobiodiversity protection to order to improve PNBAs
scientic methodologies;
5. Development of on farm conservation through a farmers European network;
6. Comparison of European genetic resources using common scientic methodologies.
Basque Country, Spain

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
- To develop a set of methodological tools, based on the
status of the soil microbial communities, assessing (i)
the impact of conventional agricultural practices on soil
health and (ii) the benecial effects of more sustainable
agricultural practices on soil health. This involves:
the development of laboratory techniques to
measure the abundance, activity and biodiversity of
soil microbial communities.
- To use soil microbial biodiversity as a biological
indicator of soil health. This further involves:
ensuring the validity of the different techniques
to estimate soil microbial biodiversity as biological
indicators of soil health.
- To develop soil health cards as a useful tool to
bridge the gap between farmers, politicians (decision-
makers) and scientists. This involves:
designing an information handbook on the
microbial indicators of soil health: ie quantication,
data interpretation, ecological relevance, background
reference values, etc.
BACKGROUND
Intensive agricultural practices (fertilisation, tillage,
pesticides application, etc.) are well-known causes of
environmental degradation. In particular, agricultural
practices have a significant negative impact on
aboveground and belowground biodiversity. The
functioning of the soil resource (as the basis of all
agro-ecosystems) depends, to a great extent, on the
status of the soil microbial communities. Interestingly,
the microbial biodiversity of soils has great potential
as a biological indicator of the impact of agricultural
practices on soil health.
Recently, more and more attention is being paid to
microbial biodiversity. Microbial ecologists at NEIKER
decided to use molecular microbial ecology tools for
assessing the impact of agriculture on soil health.
Some of these tools use soil microbial biodiversity as
a biological indicator of soil health.
Some eld assays have been established in Biscay
(Basque Country) to study the impact of agricultural
practices on soil health, via the study of a variety of
soil microbial properties which provide information as
to the abundance, activity and biodiversity of the soil
microbial communities.
GROUPS)
Promoter: the Basque Government through the
participation of NEIKER (Basque Institute of Agricultural
Research and Development). Specifically, the Soil
Microbial Ecology Group at NEIKER is responsible for
developing the actions described above (development
of laboratory techniques for the determination of soil
microbial properties, design of soil health cards, etc.).
Target groups: Politicians (decision-makers),
scientists (researchers and technicians: soil scientists,
agronomists), farmers (managers) and, in general, any
person interested in soil health and its quantication
and preservation. To this aim, on a yearly basis, Soil
Health Open Days are held at NEIKER in an attempt
to increase peoples awareness of the importance
of preserving soil health and its quantication using
soil microbial properties. In this respect, in 2012,
NEIKER will distribute soil health cards to people
ECONOMIC
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ASSESSING BIODIVERSITY HEALTH IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS 20
MICROBIAL BIODIVERSITY
A BIO-INDICATOR OF THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ON SOIL HEALTH
attending the Soil Health Open Day, as part of LIFE10
NAT/ES/579 Project. In addition, people from different
Basque Institutions (LORRA Cooperative Society, Cattle
Ranching Associations of Zeanuri and Orozko, etc.)
have shown considerable interest in this project.
Biscay (Basque Country)
Start date: 2004
End date: 2010
RESOURCES
Human resources: The Soil Microbial Ecology Group
at NEIKER (currently, 5 doctors and 3 PhD students)
works on this topic within different projects (full-time).
Funding is provided via several scientific projects
nancially supported by the Basque Government, the
Biscay County Council, the Spanish Government and
the European Union.
There are no external costs.
Results in gures:
- Ten scientic international papers, providing scientic
conrmation on the validity of using soil microbial
properties and biodiversity as bio-indicators of the
impact of agricultural practices on soil health;
- Development of two indexes (for treated and
agricultural soils) for soil health assessment.
Published, respectively, in: Journal of Environmental
Management 91 (2010), 2066-2074 and Soil Enzymology
in the Recycling of Organic Wastes and Environmental
Restoration (2012), 211-218;
- Design of soil health cards for local farmers. By
comparing the values obtained for the soil health
indicators in their agricultural soils with reference
values provided in the health cards (for specic types
of soils and managements), local farmers are able
to monitor the health of their soils and, in particular,
to follow temporal trends as to the impact of their
agricultural practices on soil health;
- Local decision-makers have shown interest in these
new methodological tools during the Soil Health
Open Days organised by NEIKER. However, some
problems have been encountered in the reluctance of
some local farmers and agronomists to incorporate
soil microbial properties into the assessment of soil
health, as they are accustomed to using the analysis
of soil physicochemical parameters;
- A current limitation for the utilisation of soil
microbial properties as indicators of soil health is the
lack of reference values for different soil types and
managements. Traditionally, soil health studies have
taken into consideration only the chemical and physical
properties of the soil, since techniques for the analysis
of soil microbial properties are relatively recent. In
consequence, reference values for microbial indicators
are still scarce and vary according to the protocol used
for their analysis. Extensive studies on soil microbial
parameters are needed to improved current databases.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Research projects on the utilisation of soil microbial
biodiversity (in general, soil microbial properties)
as tools to assess the benecial effects of organic
agriculture on soil health are being continued.
NEIKER has started to offer a service of soil health
diagnosis for customers. For the time being, clients
belong to other research centres, farming cooperatives
and individual farmers.
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ASSESSING BIODIVERSITY HEALTH IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS 21
Soil Health Cards can be applied for different agro-ecosystems, by adapting the list of particular
indicators on which depend, among other factors, the specic soil processes and ecosystem services
of interests.
Soil Health Cards include all the information required by non-experts to understand and interpret
indicators.
Soil Health Cards are easily adaptable to different situations and users, and are useful tools to guide
agro-ecosystem management, in a context of sustainable agriculture.
Dr. Carlos GARBISU and Dr. Iker MIJANGOS
NEIKER-Basque Institute of Agricultural Research and Development
Berreaga 1, E-48160 Derio, Spain
cgarbisu@neiker.net
imijangos@neiker.net
Website: www.neiker.net
on the Assessment of the Effects of certain Public and

private projects on the environment and Directive
2001/42/EC of 27 June 2001 on the Assessment of
the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the
environment) are one of the main tools for stopping the
loss of European biodiversity.
The environmental studies, under their various
names (Environmental reports, Environmental
Impact Assessment, the appropriate Assessment of
Implications for the European ecological network of
special areas of conservation of Natura 2000, etc) are
today an important tool for preventing the alterations
that certain projects or plans may have on the
environment.
There is a broad technical and social consensus which
states that the quality of these environmental studies,
commissioned by the promoters of such initiatives,
needs to be improved. The assessment system is the
competence of the Public Administration, both for the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of projects and
the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of plans
and programmes, impact assessment or conditions to
act within the European Natura 2000 network area, etc.
The idea of the methodological guide emerged within
the DG for the Environment of the Region of Murcia due
to the need to improve the environmental content of the
evaluation of projects related to agriculture.
The work consisted in implementing of the following tasks:
1. Preparation of a basic minimum content, for the
environmental impact studies (or similar), of plans and
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In 2005, the General Directorate for the Environment
of the Region of Murcia (DGE) developed a collection of
7 guidelines for the study of projects having an impact
on the environment. The aim was to establish a basis
for the analysis of any programme, project or activity
having a potential effect on natural environment,
particularly for projects requiring an Environmental
Impact Assessment.
The second guide was on Agriculture, livestock
and aquaculture: agricultural processing facilities,
livestock, sh farms, etc...
The overall objective was to promote the integration of
environmental aspects right from the beginning in the
development of plans, programs and projects which
could have an impact on the environment.
The specic objective was to develop a methodological
guide for the environmental impact assessment
of projects. This guide contains tools and basic
information, facilitating the preparation of these
studies and thus speeding up their administrative
processing. The document is available to the general
public, businesses, promoters of environmental studies
and to the Public Administration.
BACKGROUND
The EU Directives on nature conservation (Directive
2009/147/EC of 30 November 2009 on the conservation
of wild birds and Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992
on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna
and ora) and the related environmental assessment
of plans, programs and projects (Directive 85/337/EEC,
Murcia Region, Spain
ECONOMIC
ECOLOGICAL
SOCIAL
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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY GUIDELINES:
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Location: Region of Murcia.
Time: June 2002 - May 2003.
RESOURCES
Human resources: 10 technical experts:
- Project management from the DGE: 2 technical
experts (part time)
- External assistance staff hired: 4 technical experts
(full time)
- Collaborators: 4 technical experts (part time)
External cost: 76,000 for the total of the seven guides
over 24 months, 11,000 of which going specically
to the Agriculture and Livestock section; 2,500 co-
nanced by the Interreg III-B Programme (ERDF).
500 copies were published and distributed to all
local and regional administrations as well as to
consultancies. The environmental studies have
improved, in line with the recommendations of the
Guide. However, the dissemination of the guidelines
could have been even greater with a larger budget.
The guide has proved to be an extremely hermetic
document, so it could be supplemented with more
practical documents which are easier to consult and
use. Moreover, it only has an informative value: it
should be made legally binding in order to promote its
use and application.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Over the next few years, the methodological guide
should be updated with the new legislation and the
progress of the scientic and technical knowledge. The
ambition of the DG for the Environment is to develop
interactive tools (through the website) to facilitate
consultation and the use of the guide.
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projects impacting the environment grouped by type, or
themes considered of importance in Natura 2000 areas.
A systematic review of plans and projects subjected
to EIA in the Region of Murcia was carried out, both
by the Regional Administration and by the Central
Government, specically including a review based on
previous impact studies and their allegations.
This work was supplemented with interviews of experts
from the units directly under the Sectoral Secretariat
for Water and Environment within our Regional Ministry
and with experience from the elaboration of reports on
environmental impact studies.
The General Directorate for the Environment reviewed
the structure, content and accessibility of the general
documentary sources, and interviewed ofcers in order
to incorporate this information into the directory, and
to propose a denition of the format for the materials
annexed to the environmental impact studies, including
the required mapping.
2. Development of the content for the methodological
guides for assessing projects having an impact on
environment.
3. Graphic design for the methodological guidelines.
Graphic designs were incorporated in the
methodological guidelines, combining a common
background with graphical identications for each
type of project, trying to follow as much as possible
the Manual for Graphic Style of the Publications of
the Directorate General for the Environment. Graphic
examples and diagrams illustrating methodologies,
software, presentations of results, maps, etc were
included.
4. Edition and printing of the methodological guides.
500 guides were edited and published in colour.
GROUPS)
The General Directorate for the Environment produced
these guidelines in order to enhance environmental
awareness amongst those involved in the preparation
of environmental studies.
The guidelines are primarily aimed at the administration
itself and the promoters of projects.
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A project with the aim of establishing a basis for the
development of any kind of environmental study of plans,
programmes, projects or activities related to agriculture
having a possible effect on the natural environment.
In order to produce a good document it is necessary
to carry out interviews with experts who work on the
elaboration of environmental impact studies
Ramn BALLESTER SABATER
Region of Murcia - DG for the Environment
C/ Catedrtico Eugenio beda, n 3
30008 Murcia, Spain
+34 968 228892
ramon.ballester2@carm.es
Website: http://www.murcianatural.carm.es
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This case illustrates a successful process from
the recruitment of volunteer naturalists to the
appropriation by the local actors and public authorities
of the patrimonial value of a network of dry calcareous
grasslands.
BACKGROUND
The main objective of this project was to protect 250 ha
(50 sites) of dry calcareous grasslands for the purpose
of local development, whilst including local actors in
the process.
In a context of land abandonment, one of the objectives
was to mobilise a network of local farmers and local
actors for the restoration and management of the sites,
in order to preserve biodiversity.
METHODOLOGY, PROCESS, STEPS
1994: First information relative to the ecological value of
the network of sites managed by voluntary naturalists.
This information was given by Cen Aquitaine, in
collaboration with local authorities of Lembeye;
1995-1996: First inventory of dry calcareous grasslands
of the Vic Bilh Territory / restoration of a site (a group
of local authorities of Lembeye in connection with Cen
Aquitaine was in charge of the project);
1996-2000: Monitoring and restoration of other sites;
2000: Signature of contracts of partnership between
Cen Aquitaine and the local intercommunality of
Lembeye and voluntary land owners;
2000-2006: First Management Plan of calcareous
grasslands of the cantons of Lembeye and Garlin;
2005: Approval of the Document of Objectives of the
CEN Aquitaine, France
ECONOMIC
ECOLOGICAL
SOCIAL
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FARMERS AS GUARDIANS OF BIODIVERSITY-LINKED LANDSCAPE, TRADITIONS AND CULTURE 24
Natura on 2000 Site N FR72200779 by the local steering
committee;
2006: Signature of the rst Natura 2000 contract;
2007-2011: The second Management Plan for
calcareous grasslands of the cantons of Lembeye and
Garlin.
GROUPS)
Promoters:
- Communaut de communes of Lembeye: group of
31 rural municipalities, with a total population of about
5,000 inhabitants (density: about 25 inhabitants/km).
- Cen Aquitaine: Non Governmental Organisation
focused on protecting biodiversity through the
involvement of the territory actors. Four major
assignments: to increase knowledge, to protect, to
manage, and to enhance natural heritage of remarkable
sites, in the Aquitaine Region.
- Technical partners involved: wine cooperative of
Crouseilles, tourism offices, representative of the
agricultural sector and nancial partners (European
Union, Ministry of Ecology, Aquitaine Region Aquitaine,
General Council of Pyrnes-Atlantiques and local
municipalities)
Targets include landowners, farmers, associations,
municipalities, professionals involved in tourism and
agriculture, general public...
Location of the project: Vic-Bilh territory, North East of
Pyrnes-Atlantiques, Aquitaine Region, France. This
territory involved 54 municipalities (36,000 ha, 9,000
inhabitants, density about 25 hab/km), amongst which
DRY CALCAREOUS GRASSLANDS
PRESERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF A NETWORK OF DRY CALCAREOUS
GRASSLANDS IN THE VIC-BILH TERRITORY
18 municipalities are concerned by a Natura 2000 site,
representing a total dry calcareous grassland area of
about 250 ha.
Quick overview of the territory:
- Two small towns, Garlin and Lembeye;
- Maize production is dominant, especially in the
valleys;
- 15% of the land is forest (mostly private forest on the
slopes, for local consumption of wood);
- Vineyard (Madiran appellation, Pacherenc, Barn);
- Hunting and shing activities;
- Rural Tourism (heritage: castles, churches and
traditional houses accommodation: hotels (4), camp
sites (3) and holiday cottages (20)).
RESOURCES
Total funding over 15 years = 430,000 including
European funds (Rural Zone Development Programme,
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund,
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development,
Natura 2000), the French State (Ministry of Ecology,
Ministry of Agriculture), the Aquitaine Region, the
General Council of Pyrnes-Atlantiques and local
municipalities.
For the total programme (15 years), about 6 employees
(Full Time Equivalent) with 0.3 to 0.5 FTE/year.
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FARMERS AS GUARDIANS OF BIODIVERSITY-LINKED LANDSCAPE, TRADITIONS AND CULTURE 25
Fifteen years (1994-2010) of involvement in the territory
of the Vic Bilh have led to several achievements:
- Increasing knowledge:
Natural habitats of major interest are present: dry
calcareous grasslands, habitats of the Habitats
Directive
More than 20 natural habitats inventoried, with 4 of
community interest:
- Juniperus communis formations on heaths and
calcareous grasslands;
- Dry grasslands and semi-natural scrubland facies on
calcareous (Festuco-Brometalia);
- Sub-steppe of annual grasses (Thero-Brachypodietea);
- Molinie grasslands on limestone and clay (Eu-
Molinion).
7 species of Community interest are present:
- 4 insects (3 butteries : Maculinea arion, Euphrydryas
aurinia, Eriogaster catax and 1 beetle: Lucanus cervus);
- 3 bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros, Myotis blythi,
Myotis myotis).
Localisation and mapping of 250 ha of calcareous
grasslands and other natural habitats of interest,
inventory and localisation of protected species and
habitats;
Monitoring of the evolution of the environment, the
targeted species, and the combined management
procedures.
- Protection of natural sites:
Land owners were enlightened about the natural
heritage of their property. Contracts for preserving and
managing the natural habitat were proposed.
About 120 ha were protected out of 250 ha concerned
(80 ha under convention, 15 ha acquired by Cen
Aquitaine, 25 ha under contract such as Natura 2000
or local agri-environmental measures).
- Restoration and management of dry calcareous
grasslands:
10 farmers and 2 non-profit organisations were
involved: one working in the eld of reinsertion of
unemployed people and one involved in the insertion
of disabled people through work.
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Total credit
(k)
%
Increasing knowledge 120 28%
Natural sites protection 70 16%
Restoration and management
of sites
210 49%
Enhancing natural heritage 30 7%
Total 430 100%
Total credit
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European Union 13 3%
Ministry of Ecology 185 43%
Region Aquitaine 26 6%
Department of Pyrnes-
Atlantiques
185 43%
Local Municipalities 17 4%
Others (foundations, ...) 4 1%
Total 430 100%
...
Over the last fteen years, more than 150 people a year
have been made aware of the importance of natural
heritage, especially during an event combining the
discovery of orchids and wine tasting in cooperation
with the cooperative cellar of Crouseilles.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
After more than fteen years of work on the territory,
over 50% of the area initially identied is protected
and managed, in conjunction with local stakeholders.
Now, the following issues are to be tackled in order to
strengthen the work:
- Convincing new territories to join the network;
- Strengthening promotion tools for natural heritage in
collaboration with tourism operators;
- Integration of the network of dry grasslands in a broader
framework, by identifying ecological functionalities and
ecological connectivity.
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Management of calcareous grasslands by grazing:
identication of local breeders, denition of contracts
with the farmers, acquisition of donkeys for maintaining
pasture in danger of being abandoned, management of
under grazed pastures, maintenance of ponds used for
providing water for the animals.
Organisation of work camps for youth and volunteers
(support from the general public).
- Enhancing natural heritage:
Development of 5 hiking trails in connection with dry
calcareous sites (with a notebook guide and information
panels);
Creation of the insects of the dry calcareous
grasslands exhibition;
Partnership with the cooperative cellar of Crouseilles;
Several thematic events organised during the
year, e.g. Frog Frequency in April, Nature Party
and Aquitaine Nature Days in May, Sustainable
Development Week in June, Night of the owl in
august, Autumn Workshop in October.
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FARMERS AS GUARDIANS OF BIODIVERSITY-LINKED LANDSCAPE, TRADITIONS AND CULTURE
5
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Herv CODHANT
h.codhant@cen-aquitaine.fr, +33 5 59 32 79 57
Cline DELTORT
c.deltort@cen-aquitaine.fr, + 33 5 59 32 67 05
Conservatoire dEspaces Naturels dAquitaine (CEN Aquitaine)
Maison de la Nature et de lEnvironnement de Pau
Route de Bordeaux, Domaine de Sers, 64000 PAU, France
+ 33 5 59 32 16 74
Website: www.cen-aquitaine.fr
David CONDOTTA
Communaut de communes de Lembeye
+33 559 685 022
davidcondotta@orange.fr
- It is essential to work in collaboration with a legitimate local authority in order to encourage local approval.
- Integrating the skills of local actors skills contributes to their understanding and implication in the project.
- Mobilising several funding tools underlines the convergence of public policies.
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Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The goal for creating a landscape management plan
method is to provide recommendations for planning
and carrying out landscape management accordingly
to decisions made on a higher level (county, local
municipality, village...).
A landscape management plan is generally prepared
for land units owned by a single enterprise or household
in a rural region.
It plan species a programme that draws the land
owners attention to the value of the area and the
maintenance activities required, and proposes
solutions for problematic areas.
BACKGROUND
In order to ensure a more sustainable spatial structure
for nature and environmental protection, counties were
asked to prepare thematic plans. Green network
and Valuable landscapes were identied as two of
the most important subthemes of the county plans.
Local governments were given the task of identifying
valuable landscapes and organising their protection,
preservation, maintenance, and in some cases their
restoration. A valuable landscape measure was
developed in 2004 as a part of draft agri-environment
payments programme. However, due to the lack of
nancial means, the planned measure was left out of
both programming periods (2004-2006; 2007-2013) of
the Rural Development Plan. The areas planned for the
implementation of this action would have been dened
as valuable landscapes in the county plans. A landscape
management plan would have been prepared for the
area as a condition for applying for nancial support.
An agricultural enterprise, applicant for support, would
have been required to perform maintenance works
according to the management plan prepared for the
enterprise by an accredited specialist. The support
payments would have been calculated on the basis of
the volume of performed works.
A landscape management program supports the
organisation of systematic activities, which takes into
consideration the specicity and conditions of an area
and, among other things, provides an overview of the
assets of the area and describes the management
measures required. The activities prescribed are
designed for a larger territory (valuable landscape)
and require land user specications for smaller areas.
The current situation of the implementation of
landscape management programmes is that public
land is maintained by citizens initiative (for example
in the joint work of village societies and unions), but
the fate of private land and its landscape elements
depends on the awareness, interest and possibilities of
each individual landowner. Therefore, there are several
reasons for preparing more specic management plans.
For instance, the maintenance activities prescribed
for a larger territory in the landscape management
programme may require local specificities. Also,
landscape management programmes are too general
to be used as payment contracts for land users.
The structure and preparation stages of a landscape
management plan are: collecting general data;
analysing the landscape; defining plans and
development documents; analysing landscape assets
(in cooperation with the owner); dening a development
plan (in cooperation with the owner); determining
management goals (in cooperation with the owner);
dening assets and activities, planning (in cooperation
ECONOMIC
ECOLOGICAL
SOCIAL
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LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR FARMERS
PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY IN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE
with the owner); dening budget and activity funding;
describing detailed activities; editing maps.
General data consists of: the name of the farm,
administrative location, description of geographic
location, the amount of owned and rented land, lines
of activity, historical development, animal breeds,
soil description, existing buildings, protected natural
objects and objects under heritage protection, other
definitions (valuable landscape, green network,
valuable milieu etc.).
Landscape analysis helps to make decisions suitable
for a region considering the landscape structure (land
use, ecological features and anthropogenic objects).
Historical map analysis is based on the comparison
of land use according to ancient and modern maps.
Changes in settlement, road connectivity and the
contours and locations of well-preserved elds are
observed. The objective of the analysis is to describe
the changes that have occurred, to nd well-preserved
landscape structures and elements from earlier
historical periods, and to identify locations of historical
and cultural importance.
In the development perspective, the area must be
considered as a whole with its natural, social and
economic aspects and the objectives of the land owner
should be taken into account. The vision and long-term
goals are formulated for a longer period than the period
specied in the landscape management plan.
In accordance with the development vision, short-term
goals are specied in the landscape management
plan. Management goals are determined according
to landscape assets, land owner economic goals,
landscaping decisions made on a higher level,
international treaties. The planning of management
activities is preceded by the mapping the farms assets.
Assets can be preserved or their value can be increased
by managing certain features or areas.
The essential managed features or areas on farm
landscapes are: elds with a historical and visual value;
permanent and semi-permanent grasslands; stone
walls; wooden fences or other barriers; immovable
monuments; tourist attractions; buildings and their
vicinity; old trees, single trees, belts of trees, groups
of trees, alleys, hedges; multi-layered protective belts/
hedges; ower meadows; meadow strips, buffer areas;
grasslands/brushes near water bodies, roadside strips
of brushes; artificial watercourses, forest borders
and patches, ponds; habitats of introduced species;
agricultural buildings; unused areas; other landscape
elements.
Activities are defined for each managed area,
for example: afforestation, pruning, collecting,
transporting or burning branches, mowing and
removing the cuttings, planting trees or bushes,
watering, rejuvenation, design, supporting young trees,
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replacing dead plants, putting up a fence if necessary,
etc.
The mentioned features and areas in possible need of
management can themselves be assets (e.g. elds,
wetlands, bands of trees etc.). At the same time elds,
roadside brush strips etc. may help preserve a beautiful
view to the asset.
Some assets are not in need of management or are
not managed according to this management plan,
e.g. forests grove, lakes that are connected with local
folklore. Conserving some assets does not presume the
management of an area, but the application of general
management principles.
Planning activities over the years gives an opportunity
to draw up approximate annual budgets for activities.
The activity costs vary greatly depending on the nature,
location and situation of the managed area and whether
future management can result in economic gain.
Activities can be structured according to assets or
combined by categories (e.g. brush-cutting, mowing,
informing, requirements for buildings, conserving
forest ecosystems, activities for tourism etc.).
GROUPS)
The promoter of the operation is the Estonian University
of Life Sciences in co-operation with Ministry of
Agriculture and the Ministry of Interior.
Target group are farmers and land-owner, volunteers
from rural areas order landscape management plans
on their own initiative. In the future, agricultural
companies will probably be interested if the contribution
to landscapes becomes a part of environmental
planning and this will be seen as a chance to increase
the value of the company and its products.
Agricultural landscapes and rural landscapes in the
wider sense in the whole of Estonia.
Start date: 2007.
End date: 2009.
The denition of a landscape management plan takes
3-6 months.
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RESOURCES
The methodology of the landscape management
plan was developed and tested during three years.
It was developed by a team of 4-5 people. The cost
of the project was 32,000. To compile a landscape
management plan for a farm needs a minimum of
1,200-2,000 depending on the size of the farm.
The methodology of landscape management plan for
farms was developed and tested in ve areas. The
methodology of landscape plan has an important
practical value as it enabled to accomplishment the
objectives of landscape management plan at a local
level.
A landscape management plan should be prepared in
cooperation with both a specialist and the landowner.
The implementation of the landscape management
plan depends on the landowners motivation, the
possibilities and ability to use various programs,
nancial support, the measures and other means to
implement certain activities.
The data for creating a landscape management plan
should be collected during an interview with the owner,
enabling the inventory and analysis of literature, source
material, maps, and development document.
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FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Perspectives are to educate farmers and to work
out financial instruments for applying landscape
management plans on farms. In the future, landscape
management plans should be a condition for applying for
nancial support. The applicant of nancial support (an
agricultural enterprise) should be required to perform
maintenance works according to the management
plan prepared by an accredited specialist. The support
should be calculated on the basis of the volume of work
to be carried out. Minimum works should include:
maintenance of the surroundings of primeval trees or
groups of trees of landscape value; planting of single
trees and maintenance of the surroundings; opening
of viewpoints; creation of alleys; maintenance of alleys;
maintenance of ancient monuments; maintenance of
coppices and forest edges; creation and maintenance
of woodland paths.
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Prof. Kalev SEPP and Maaria SEMM
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural
and Environmental Research
+372 731 3777
kalev.sepp@emu.ee
maaria.semm@emu.ee
Website: www.emu.ee
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project involves the study of landscapes in relation
to agriculture, more particularly to the production of
animal or plant products, as well as several beverages.
Several products carrying Basque quality labels,
protected designation of origin (PDO) labels, and other
generic products have been studied. The land where
these products are cultivated or produced has been
spatially identied, in order to analyse the landscape
that they help create and maintain. In addition, a
wide range of Basque agents working in the field
of agriculture have evaluated how they perceive the
identied landscapes.
BACKGROUND
The interest in identifying the landscapes, or their
attributes, created and maintained by agriculture is
primarily related to the importance of making all those
involved conscious of the link between producing and
consuming certain local products, and maintenance
of rural landscapes that are highly valued by society
in general.
First of all, there has been a long and complex process
of collecting spatial data. This has proved to be the
most time-consuming phase of the project, and limited
the number of products nally studied. While it has
been possible to obtain spatial data for several of the
targeted products, others had to be grouped in order
to carry out the study. These are the products studied:
- Products of animal origin: Basque Label Chicken,
Basque Label Eggs, Basque Label Lamb, PDO Idiazabal
Cheese, Basque Label Milk, Basque Label Beef, Basque
Label Honey.
- Products of plant origin: fruit tree orchards (including
hard-shelled fruits, dessert grapes), greenhouse
products (including Basque Label Tomato, Basque
Label Gernika Green Pepper), dry-farmed crops (cereal,
oleaginous and proteaginous crops, tubers, etc.).
- Beverages: three PDO Txakoli (white wine), PDO Rioja
Alavesa Wine, cider.
Secondly, a landscape analysis has been carried out
regarding the landscape unit where those plots are
located, and the viewsheds where they lie. Two sets
of maps have been produced for each product, one
showing where each product is produced/grown and
the landscape linked to it in three different scales (point
or plot of production/cultivation, closest landscape unit
to the point or plot, viewshed where the point/plot is
located), and the other showing the landscape types
contained in the second scale (landscape unit).
Once the landscape related to each product has been
described, all the information has been compiled in a
data-sheet for each product. Finally, an opinion poll
has been conducted aiming to nd out how a variety of
collaborators perceive these landscapes.
The results of the study show that for products linked
with poultry farming and dairy production, the inuence
on the surrounding landscape involves mainly the
farm itself. These products dont create a particular
landscape. When it comes to sheep and cattle products,
which are the basis of Basque farming, there is a clear
link between them and the landscapes they use, which
are largely located in protected areas. On the other
hand, the study concludes that honey doesnt create a
particular landscape.
Orchards are very common in the Basque Country, and
give a specic character to the landscapes, especially
in the rst scale of the three studied. Greenhouses
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AGRI-FOOD LANDSCAPES
are an element of rural landscape, rather than a type
of landscape themselves. Dry-farmed crops occupy
a large portion of the landscapes in lava (one of the
three political and administrative units of the Basque
Country), and could even be considered a symbol of
identity, being the product that most clearly creates
a particular landscape, tending to occupy most of the
landscape units where they occur, bringing a wide
diversity of colour throughout the seasons.
Wine production also creates very distinctive
landscapes, due to the texture and seasonal colours
of the vineyards. Similarly, the plots with traditional
apple orchards create a particular texture in landscape,
but less than in the preceding example. Apple orchards
for the production of cider are a common element of
the landscape mosaic in the Atlantic part of the Basque
Country, where some change is occurring due to the
intensication of production.
GROUPS)
The Basque Government is the promoter for the action.
The results of the study could be of great use in adding
value to several food products which are already highly
appreciated by Basque consumers due to their intrinsic
characteristics. Other actors involved are the producers
of the studied products, and those involved in promoting
them, as well as the general public, who needs to be
made aware of the positive effect that consuming these
products has on the Basque landscapes.
So far, no specic measures have been outlined to
communicate the results of the study. The study itself
is being used as a source of information in several
other projects, such as a study conducted by NEIKER-
Tecnalia on climate change and cattle farming, or a
mobile phone application that EKOGUNEA is developing
on sustainable choices for consumers when it comes
to agri-food products.
The project considered all agricultural products in
the Basque Country, and has selected those for which
spatial data was easily available. The study started in
May 2008 and ended in July 2009.
RESOURCES
The project was developed with external assistance
from IKT, which was in charge of the production of
spatial data, and PAISAIA, which developed the study
based on the data provided. The overall cost of the
external assistance was approximately 44,000 .
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In many cases, the landscape units defined for
different products share the same geographical
location. Therefore, the key elements of landscape,
the perception, and even the problems are the same
for several agri-food products. On the other hand,
although there are some products which create a very
distinct type of landscape, such as dry-farmed crops
or PDO Rioja Alavesa Wine, others just add an element
to landscape (sometimes well integrated, sometimes
not), and the study has not identied a particular type
of landscape linked with each of them.
Analysing the opinions received during the survey
conducted, it can be concluded that agri-food products
create or are part of landscapes which are perceived as
pleasant. Besides, most participants in the survey agree
that it is important to protect agricultural soil from
the pressure of other uses, such as infrastructures,
building and other urban uses. Also, as the product
gains social and economic relevance, and its production
increases, more participants support production
methods which benet biodiversity and natural values,
as opposed to the intensication of production. In the
case of cattle products, the survey shows a more acute
need to enhance the sector and raise public awareness
about the importance of consuming local products.
The main lesson learnt has been that even though it has
not been possible to identify specic types of landscape
related to each agri-food product, the study has pin-
pointed products which create a specic landscape
and it has mapped the extent of those landscapes. In
addition, it has identied for each product the elements
that add to landscape character, and has served to
visually attract attention on the relevance of the agri-
food sector in land planning.
The main problems encountered during the study are
related to the availability of spatial data, since the
use of spatial data based on Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) to study landscape was not an objective
when the data-bases of the products were created,
some years ago.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The improvement and conservation of rural landscapes
are part of agro-systems multi-functionality, and the
practices which preserve and improve these landscapes
are fostered through agri-environmental schemes.
Nevertheless, there is still much to do in this eld, in
order to conserve and improve rural landscapes by
developing and implementing good landscape practices
in production systems.
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Spatial location of agri-food products and their
landscapes give stakeholders, decision makers and
consumers a new perspective on the relevance of
agriculture, while adding a new value to those products.
Miren ASKASIBAR
PAISAIA, S.L. Donostia ibilbidea
76. 20115-Astigarraga Spain
+34 943 335 048
paisaia@paisaia.com
REMTH, Greece
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This action is about farming snails, (Helix aspersa) in
a controlled natural environment (open-type farms)
as opposed to greenhouse snail farms. The snails are
raised directly in ower-beds, terraces or pastures
equipped with a special net preventing trampling,
which is weather resistant and protective, so that the
snails do not escape. The snails are fed with certied
seeds suitable for breeding, with no chemicals. The only
chemicals used are at the beginning for the fumigation
of the soil bedding.
Snail breeding does not require particular climatic
conditions nor territorial requirements and therefore
can be implemented all over Europe; from the South to
North and from the East to West. It turns out to be an
innovative and viable production and may provide new
economic opportunities for agriculture considering the
current economic crisis.
During the period 1960-1990, there was a high
increase in the trade and processing of fresh snails,
exclusively for export to countries of central Europe
and essentially in France (in 1998 French imports from
Greece represented 25% of fresh and frozen snails
and 80% of processed snails). This trade was based
on picking snails in their natural environment (about
1,000 ton/year). This activity, along with the intensifying
of agriculture and the use of fertilisers and pesticides,
applied serious pressure to natural populations of
snail species. The development of farming techniques
reduced this pressure, whilst still satisfying the
food demand. In addition, this type of farming can
be characterised as environmental friendly, as no
chemical fertilisers and pesticides are used and no
waste is produced.
The natural population of the main raised species
named Helix aspersa is very diverse and represents
an important genetic reserve. Besides the need for
protection and maintenance, this population may
be used for the production of selected snails with
competitive characters for niche markets.
BACKGROUND
The project started as a private initiative. Over the last
decades, monocultures, such as tobacco growing in the
mountainous areas, maize and sugar beet cultivation
in the plains of the region of Eastern Macedonia &
Thrace, had negative impacts on farmers income,
protability, efciency and on the cultivation land and
the environment. During the last years, these crops
were no longer competitive. The price and the demand
for these products declined vertiginously, reducing the
farmers income. This led them to try other productions.
One of them is snail breeding, which appears to be
competitive and efcient.
Furthermore, over the last few years, snails have
become popular for their nutritional and gastronomic
value. From the consumers point of view, snails are
a delicacy and provide several advantages over other
kinds of meat such as low calories, low-fat and high
content in mineral nutrients, amino acids, benecial
fatty acids.
The debate taking place in the E.U. countries regarding
snail production has created favourable conditions for
the development of a market with particularly high
prices, and has enabled a substantial increase in
farmers income.
The natural reserves of edible snails have been reduced
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FARMING AND PROTECTING SNAILS
due to the intensive picking and to the degradation
of environment (deforestation, intensification of
agricultural cultivation, res, etc.). Snail breeding is
therefore inevitably justied and encouraged.
The local farmers unions began to support farmers
by organising informative meetings. These initiatives
were addressed to all farmers in the region aiming to
create a dynamic local farming activity providing good
quality products in quantity, and at a competitive price.
The Ministry of Rural Development & Food, considering
the growing interest, especially from young people, to
breed snails, organised a systematic guidance, in order
to enhance investment and to avoid as far as possible
potential untargeted business risks. For this purpose,
it prepared a guidance text, covering all stages from
installation and breeding to marketing of the product.

Specically, the axes of the framework include:
- The registration of snail farms at regional level and
giving them a unique code number;
- The establishment of rules of standardisation and
packaging of the nal product;
- The possibility of increasing the added value of
the nal product, through certication and setting
standards for the breeding;
- The snail farms will be eligible for renting common
lands dedicated to agriculture and livestock.
GROUPS)
Promoter:
It is a private initiative, undertaken by individual farmers.
In the Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace about 20-
25 farms have been established mainly between 2009
and 2011. They are individual farmers enterprises and
are not funded by the Greek State or the E.U.
Target Groups:
- Farmers, especially young ones;
- Agricultural universities and relevant institutes;
- Know-how provider rms;
- National, regional and local agricultural authorities;
- Firms specialised in building agricultural
infrastructures;
- Feed enterprises.
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BIODIVERSITY-FRIENDLY AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES 35
In the Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace, snail
breeding farms have been established in both plain and
mountainous areas. Snails are not affected by altitude
so they can be raised either in at or sloping land.
Thus the productivity of these farms is comparable to
those operated in Egypt, Jordan, Sweden and Finland.
On the other hand, many studies indicate that the
Mediterranean Basin is optimal for the better quality
snail production: Greece is at advantage compared to
many other countries.
Timescale
1. Construction of the park;
2. Soil preparation activities;
3. Planting of specic species, mainly annual plants
(March - April);
4. Introduction of the snails for reproduction
(24,000 individuals for 0.5 ha) in the reproduction
infrastructures (Spring- 1.5 month after planting);
5. Transfer of the young snails in the fattening
infrastructures (250 individuals per m
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6. Fattening period (12-18 months);
7. First harvest (November of 1
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year: collection of
snails used for reproduction);
8. Collection period (October-November of 2
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year)
(500,000 individuals or 5-6 tn per 0.5 ha);
9. Marketing of the product.
RESOURCES
The installation cost depends on the eld. Initially, some
essential works should be undertaken such as fencing,
placement of stakes and sheets-metal, articial rain,
fertilisation-disinfection. These costs are estimated at
about 30,000 maximum per ha.
The efciency can also be estimated as follows: the
production of a farm with 50,000 snails on one hectare
is about 10,000 to 15,000 kilos per year. From the
second year and onwards the mixed prot per ha is
calculated to 44,000 , while the net prot per ha is
estimated to 35,000 .
The states effort is to reinforce this type of farming.
The Ministry of Agricultural Development & Food
therefore includes snail farming as an eligible activity
in Measure 112 (Young Farmers), in Measure 121
(Improvement Plans) and in Measure 123 (Adding
value to agricultural and forestry products) of the
Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. Also the
Ministry of Development, Competitiveness & Shipping
subsidises this activity through the Investment Law
3908/2011. ...
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Although this project is only beginning, rst results are
quite positive. There are farms with impressive results,
with production yield of 10-12 ton per ha. The annual
revenues reached about 18,000 per farm on average
(the usual farms are about 0.5 ha).
Of course there are other snail farmers who had
signicant problems in their production and did not
achieve a satisfactory result. Although it consists of a
relatively simple farming activity, it demands technical
knowledge, knowledge of the micro-climate of the
region, organisational skills, long-term planning,
persistence and hard work from the farmers.
It is obvious that the results of the total production
will enhance biodiversity in the region, as well as the
farmers income.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Farmers do not only intend to implement a large scale
production and provide good quality products, but also
they want be involved in all stages from the farm-yard
to the nal consumer including manufacturing and
distribution.
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Dimitris TSIANIS
Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace
Directorate of Agricultural Economy & Veterinary
+30 2541350163
tsianis75@yahoo.gr
37
Bio dAquitaine, France
THE ACTION
A network named Arthropods biodiversity integrated
by 13 certied organic chteaux in the Bergerac area
has been created to observe, during a 5 year period
(2009-2014), the impact of various inter cropping
practices in the vineyards, on the population of
arthropods and their biodiversity.
The basic assumption is that improving the natural
interspecific biodiversity by adapted agricultural
practices, we improve the homeostasis of the agro-
ecosystem, and then the quality of the vine and the
grapes.
It is important to consider in addition the impact of the
level of conversion of the vineyards to organic and the
landscape wealth.
General Goal: to nd an optimum agro-ecosystem
using the minimum of input and the better impact of
biodiversity to have a well adapted vineyard to its soil.
Specific Goal: to make a survey on arthropod
biodiversity in vineyard over a 5 year period.
BACKGROUND
This network was established in 2009, because at
that time Biodiversity became a hot topic in the
vineyards industry without any concrete information
or reference that could characterise and assess its
impact. The Prigord association of organic farmers,
Agrobio Prigord, therefore decided to set up a network
of organic chteaux, examining both the impact of
cultural practices (total grass cover, grass cover every
second row and one row of natural grass/one row of
seeded owers, the period of conversion to organic
(impact of organic farming) and the richness of the
landscape around the experimental plots).
On the other hand, given the economic cost of certain
practices (seeding flowers in particular) it seems
necessary to inform the winemakers on the real impact
of these methods on biodiversity:
1. Visual impact;
2. General biodiversity;
3. Aid to cope with vine pests, in relation with another
parallel network (Efcient biodiversity) using the
same seeded owers that in the network Arthropods
Biodiversity.
Specificity of the study: the network includes only
organic areas and areas in conversion to organic
farming (certied approach), studying the impact of
farming methods, taking into account the level of
conversion to organic farming, taking into account the
environment of the vine in the analysis.
Measuring biodiversity is to measure the diversity
of life. Given the number of species it is impossible
to be exhaustive, even in a simplied medium as an
agricultural system. For this study we have chosen the
method Rapid Biodiversity Assessment (RBA) which
allows:
- To reduce the analysis time on a larger number of
organisms;
- Measure a broader spectrum of species (quantitative
data): Arthropods;
- Allows simplied recognition by working on Morpho-
species = homogeneous group easily separable to
others by morphological differences observed by a
person who is not taxonomist (Oliver & Beattie, 1993);
- Working on two main parameters: Abundance (e.g.
20 individuals) & Morpho specic richness (e.g.: 11
Morpho species).
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NATURAL BIODIVERSITY IN VINEYARDS:
ASSESSMENT OF ARTHROPODS BIODIVERSITY IN ORGANIC VINEYARDS
ACCORDING TO CROPPING PRACTICES
First results:
2009:
- Correlation between the level of conversion of the
domain and its biodiversity: lower abundance and
richness in morpho species in C1 (1
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year of conversion)
than in Full Organic vineyards;
- No correlation between the cover of the plot and its
biodiversity in arthropods.
2010:
- No correlation between the level of conversion and
biodiversity in arthropods, but there was no areas in C1;
- Correlation between the grass cover and biodiversity
in arthropods: a grass cover every second row would
improve biodiversity in crawling arthropods.
2011:
- Data not analysed;
- Reinstatement of areas in conversion.
Note: 2010 & 2011 were particularly dry years in
the Perigord area, which has heavily penalised the
successful establishment of seeded owers.
Beside the results on arthropods populations this
experiment has allowed to rediscover among the
vineyards, very remarkable local natural owers such
as Tulipa silvestris, Tulipa radii, Anemone.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
This network will continue at least until end of 2014 and
then according to the results a decision will be taken
on further work. Based on the results, the network of
chteaux will decide to either continue the same way or
change focus to new ndings which have been revealed
during the rst study period.
Agrobio Prigord is a member of the wine commission
of the national Technical Institute of Organic
Agriculture (ITAB) through Bio dAquitaine and the
national federation. The Dissemination of the results
will be done rst within these two networks and via the
website www.agrobioperigord.fr. Generally the widest
possible dissemination is favored whether in print
(alter-agri,...), online (different websites of network
partners) and by lectures / training for who we operate
(farmers , technicians, schools, ....)
The device consists of: an air trap combi & a trap on
the ground pitfall. Weekly, from April to August, the
trainee will collect 14 traps over 13 areas.
INVOLVED ACTORS (PROMOTER AND TARGET
GROUPS)
Agrobio Prigord is the promoter of the experiment.
This association of organic farmers works with the
organic grape growers of the Bergerac area, giving
technical expertise to organic grape growers and grape
growers in conversion process.
The experimental network for the assessment
of arthropods biodiversity has been created in
partnership with Vitinnov who gives scientic expertise.
Vitinnov is a cell for technology and knowledge
transfer in viticulture, backed by the national college
of agronomy and research centre Bordeaux Agro
Sciences (former ENITA of Bordeaux). Faced with
various challenges (input reduction, carbon footprint,
global warming ...), more and more wine growers are
questioning their practices and the consequences in
terms of sustainability on the vineyard.
PLACE AND TIMESCALE OF THE ACTION
Prigord, France
The network was established in 2009 for an initial
period of 5 years (end 2014). The network composition
may change annually to include new areas in conversion
to organic.
RESOURCES
Currently this network receives no specic nancial
support and is fully funded by Agrobio Prigord. The
establishment of this network requires annually:
- A full time trainee for 6 months (Master or License),
to monitor the traps;
- Agrobio Prigord provides 15 days of technical expert
advice;
- Vitinnov provides 15 days of scientic expert advice
for training and coaching the trainee and the grape
growers, analyzing the results and providing writing
assistance for the report.
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Eric MAILLE
Agrobio Prigord - Ple Viticole de la Fdration des Vins du Bergeracois
Z.A Vallade, 24112 Bergerac Cedex, France
+33 5 53 57 62 24 (land), +33 6 87 58 48 50 (mobile)
e.maille@agrobioperigord.fr
Website: http://www.agrobioperigord.fr/produire-bio/viticulture
Following the rst years of these studies, grape growers have a better knowledge and better
understanding of the biodiversity of their plot. The tenants are parties involved in the study and thus
discover the abundant life in their vineyards.
Many times, at the moment a winemaker start converting his vineyard to organic, when he sees more
insects he thinks he will have more problems, after a time he realizes that with more insects he has a
better balance of the vines, and that they directly benets their wealth and also indirectly (agronomic
impacts, recovery from visitors to the elds, ...).
Plant Production Research Centre Pietany, Slovak Republic

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Gene Bank of Slovak Republic (SR) was created
for conserving plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture, and in other domains such as their use
for breeding techniques, research, and education.
Preserving the biodiversity of the country and the
national cultural heritage for future generations is an
essential objective for the Slovak gene bank.

BACKGROUND
The Gene Bank of Slovak Republic opened in 1996
as a specic facility for long term conservation of
plant genetic resources in full viability. Medium - and
long - term conservation of plant genetic resources
is the main objective of the gene bank. The principal
programme coordinated by the gene bank is the
National Programme for Conservation of Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture in Slovakia. This
programme was approved by Law No. 215/2001
Collection of Law and all activities are supported by
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development of
Slovak Republic. Mandate for coordination was given to
the Plant Production Research Centre Pietany (PPRC
Pietany). Under the direction of PPRC Pietany, 23
partners (universities, breeding stations, institutes,
private farmers etc.) from the whole of Slovakia
participated in biodiversity conservation. Researchers
from Gene bank of SR are involved in national and
regional projects regarding biodiversity conservation.
At present, Gene bank SR conserves more than 20
thousand accessions of plant genetic resources.
Seeds samples of genetic resources are stored in the
gene bank in two collections: basic collection and active
collection. In the basic collection, seeds are stored at
a temperature of -17 C for a long period with a ten-
year cycle of germinability monitoring. In the active
collection, seeds are stored at a temperature of +4C
with a five-year cycle of germinability monitoring.
Accessions stored in the active collection are used
for distribution and regeneration. The recommended
sample size for storage is 4,000 seeds for self-pollinated
species and 12,000 seeds for cross-pollinated species.
Before storing genetic resources, the average moisture
and germinability of each sample (2 x 100 seeds) are
determined.
The seeds are dried to reach appropriate storage
moisture content (4 8%). After drying, the samples
with the required germinability (at the level of the I.
class of seed quality according to Slovak Technical
Standard) are put into the glass containers with silica
gel and are labelled for identication.
Detailed crop databases describe each collection stored.
Most gene banks are mandated to distribute germplasm
to users. One of the main activities of the Gene bank
of SR for biodiversity conservation is to provide seeds
samples for research organisations and multiplication
companies, institutes, schools, universities and
farmers. Recommended size of sample according to EU
regulations is a maximum 200 seeds of each genotype.
Genetic resources accessions are usually distributed
using s.MTA (standard Material transfer agreement)
that denes the terms and conditions for use. The
International Treaty on plant genetic resources for
food and agriculture includes specic terms governing
access and benet-sharing, facilitating the exchange
of genetic resources around the world.
The Gene bank of SR carries out the collecting
expeditions within Slovakia and other countries.
Landraces, old and natural cultivars and population of
grasses, forage crops, medicinal species, vegetable,
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BANKS FOR AGROBIODIVERSITY PRESERVATION 40
GENE BANK
PRESERVING A CULTURAL HERITAGE
legumes, oil crops and cereals are collected. Collecting
and survey activities increase the collection of genetic
resources, protect biological diversity and prevent
genetic erosion.
Gene bank of SR cooperates with Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) and Biodiversity International. These
international organisations implement activities for
biodiversity conservation at European and International
level. Gene bank of SR participates in the activities
of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant
Genetic Resources (ECPGR). The activities are carried
out within networks and working groups: Allium,
Avena, Barley, Beta, Brassica, Forages, Grain Legumes,
Malus/Pyrus, Potato, Prunus, Wheat, Umbellifer, Vitis,
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants etc.
GROUPS)
The promoter of the project is the Plant Production
Research Centre Pietany, staff of Gene bank SR
(research workers).
Target groups are the general public, students, pupils,
regional policymakers in order to increase awareness
about threats to biodiversity conservation.

LOCATION AND TIME OF THE PROJECT
- Plant Production Research Centre Pietany, Gene
bank of Slovak Republic - Permanent Opens days for
students and children, in 2010 and 2011.
bank of Slovak Republic - Preservation of cultural
heritage Fandly apple in Slovakia, from April, 21
st
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2010 to future.
bank of Slovak Republic - Conservation biodiversity
from Nikolai Ivanovic Vavilov to Gene banks, June, 30
th
,
2011 to future.
RESOURCES
A minimum staff of 10 people is necessary for the
achievement of Gene bank of SR activities. The annual
budget for external costs of the project and funding
partners should be approximately 50,000.
1. Opens days for students and children
Biodiversity was explained to children, students, PhD
students, universities and the general public during
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BANKS FOR AGROBIODIVERSITY PRESERVATION 41
the open days organised by the Gene bank of Slovakia
in Pietany during 2010 and 2011. Participants
were taught about the importance of biodiversity
conservation through visits of experimental elds, a
lm projection and a specic presentation. They were
very interested in the excursions on eld experiments
with medicinal and aromatic plants.
2. Preservation of cultural heritage - Fandly apple in
Slovakia
Old fruit species are being preserved through a specic
frame for the preservation of cultural heritage in Slovak
Republic. For example, Fandlys non-owering apple-
tree is a botanically interesting mutant which has
a ower with two whorls of sepals and two rings of
carpels in two superposed plans. It was founded by
the Slovak patriot and priest Juraj Fandly who lived
in Nahac in the 18
th
century. The apple tree is known
as Fandlys owerless apple-tree. In the cooperation
with Natures and Landscape protection in Bansk
Bystrica, a methodology for the conservation of old
trees has been instigated. Gene banks workers
recovered old apple-trees, in the village of Nahac, in the
region of Trnava. These trees were multiplied and then
planted according to the methodology developed, on
April 21
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2010, in the area PPRC Pietany. 21 workers
from PPRC Pietany attended this event. This activity
could be applied in other regions dealing with the
preservation of old genetic resources and landraces.
3. Conservation biodiversity from Nikolai Ivanovic
Vavilov to Gene banks
Staff from the Slovak Gene bank, continuing a long time
cooperation, started the multiplication and evaluation
of old species originating from Nikolai Ivanovic Vavilovs
expedition*. Guests from Mendel University, Faculty
of Gardening Lednice (Czech Republic) attended this
REVERSE workshop. During this event, old native
species of rye, oat and lupine were evaluated by genetic
experts. The output of this event will be the creation of an
educative lm oriented on native biodiversity conservation.
This lm will be used by all REVERSE partners.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
In the future, the Gene Bank of the Slovak Republic will
continue organising open days aiming to disseminate
knowledge about biodiversity conservation and it is an
important task. It will continue activities connected
with the preservation of cultural heritage - such as
perpetrating the Fandly apple and other species of
national heritage.
* Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov (1887 - 1943) was the botanist, geneticist, biologist, geographer, explorer, agronomist and plant breeder who developed the fundamental theory
on the centres of origin of cultivated plants. During his activity, he organised a series of botanical-agronomic expeditions, collecting seeds from every part of the globe, and
created in Leningrad the worlds largest collection of plant seeds at that time. Vavilov identied rst ve centres of origin of the species, then eight in his last papers: China,
India, Central Asia, Near East, Mediterranean Coasts, Ethiopia, Central and South America, especially in mountain areas or highlands. His theory and observations were
fundamental for the birth of modern studies on crop biodiversity.
Dr. Daniela BENEDIKOVA
Gene Bank of the Slovak Republic
+421 33 7722311
benedikova@vurv.sk
Website: http://reverse.cvrv.sk/en/
Conservation of nature and biodiversity is a very important challenge
for all countries; it should be the main theme in new projects for the
younger generation. For this reason, is essential to organise events
such as open days for schools, universities, institutes and the
general public in European regions.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The germplasm is the basic raw material for the
improvement of a crop plant through multiplication.
The cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is
tetraploid and highly heterozygous. Elite parental lines/
clones of potato are thus maintained through vegetative
propagation rather than through true (botanical) seeds
because sexual reproduction leads to segregation of
the genotype. In order to keep the potato germplasm
accessions disease-free, these are conserved as in
vitro propagated microplants under tissue culture
conditions.
An evaluation of genetic vulnerability of the potato
will provide administrators with economic evidence to
justify germplasm preservation. The range of genetic
diversity in the available Neiker potato germplasm
should be underlined. This variability can be used for
solving future major problems.
Cytogenetic study of different species within the genus
Solanum and the characterisation of old cultivated
varieties are done by analysing their possible use in
genetic breeding. Nowadays the challenges of the
Genetic Breeding Programme carried out in NEIKER-
Tecnalia (Basque Institute for Agricultural Research
and Development), started in 1966, are linked to
resistance to diseases (mainly non persistent viruses
and late blight), early maturity, drought tolerance
and frost tolerance. Wild species such as S. acaule,
S. demissum, S.toralapanum, S. simplicifolium and
S. andigena have an essential role. They are used as
parents in the crossing programme as they provide
these desirable characteristics. Others parameters
like good industrial aptitude have been added to the
selection programme in the last ten years. As result
of this work, in the last ve years, NEIKER-Tecnalia
has registered six new varieties, with good commercial
interest for the European agroindustry.
This project consists of the creation and maintenance
of a gene bank for conserving local cultivars and wild
species of potato.
NEIKER-Tecnalia maintains, nowadays, a potato
germplasm bank containing more than 300 potato
varieties and about 80 wild potato species of the genus
Solanum, constituting a reference for this crop in Spain.
The collection is composed of old cultivars such as
Roja Rin (dating back to the 18
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century); other local
cultivars obtained in NEIKER-Tecnalia, such as Vctor,
Turia, Duquesa, Buesa, Olalla, Nagore and Zorba and
some varieties in danger of extinction such as Ganade
and Fina de Carvallo. Moreover, the bank contains a
wide collection of varieties from Tenerife and La Palma
islands. Information on the collection is available
at the following address www.neiker.net/neiker/
germoplasma. NEIKER-Tecnalia also works within
international networks with the objective of sharing
genotypes, experience and results: Red Latinpapa
(https://research.cip.cgiar.org) and Red Papata (www.
neiker.net/neiker/papata) are some examples.
The ambition of this project is triple:
- To create a reservoir of genetic diversity that may be
useful in the future;
- To maintain local phytogenetic resources and to
collect traditional varieties cultivated in farms;
- To preserve the genetic potential of the varieties.
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POTATO GENES
CONSERVATION OF LOCAL CULTIVARS AND WILD SPECIES OF POTATO
BACKGROUND
The conservation and utilisation of plant genetic
resources is in continuous evolution. Early in the
twentieth century the emergence of science-based
plant breeding resulted in large collections of
germplasm being made. This genetic diversity was
ready at hand to be used in plant breeding programmes.
Record keeping should include plant catalogues,
illustrations, characterisation and evaluation data.
Pathogen identification and indexing work are
required in the base plant prior to inclusion in the
bank. Thermotherapy or heat therapy followed by
apical meristem culture has been used in Neiker
to successfully eliminate many viruses from some
varieties.
The perpetration of the bank is done by micro-
propagation using in vitro culture techniques and
cryopreservation. Besides maintaining the perennity of
varieties, the gradual characterisation of new cultivars
is also done on eld and periodically, and the interesting
ones are introduced into the bank. The cost of eld and
in vitro storage are very different; the rst option being
the most economical. Cryopreservation is not a general
practice, but in the case of Neiker collection, it is used
as an alternative.
The safety of germplasm collection requires duplication
and/or additional collections in other sites.
GROUPS)
The Basque Government through NEIKER-Tecnalia
(Basque Institute for Agricultural research and
Development) is the promoter.
Researchers, breeders and farmers are the target
groups.
Basque Country Region.
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RESOURCES
Human resources: 1 researcher + 3 technical staff.
Building: Laboratory.
Others: Field trials.
Several gene collections are maintained at NEIKER-
Tecnalia nowadays, 330 of which being potato varieties
(Solanum tuberosum L.). Other crops include 165 maize
varieties (Zea mays L.), 94 tomato varieties (Solanum
lycopersicum L.), 250 French bean varieties (Phaseolus
vulgaris L) and 65 pepper varieties (Capsicum annuum L.).
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The research has revealed the existence of a wide
genetic variability, and this variability underlines the
agronomic potentiality of some of the varieties. In this
way, work will continue to introduce and characterise
new varieties with two objectives in mind: maintenance
of biodiversity and availability to the research
community so that they may be used as parent stock
in genetic breeding programs, according to their
characteristics. For instance, characteristics related
to yield, health status, cooking quality and industrial
transformation are the most interesting.
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Maintenance of valuable genotypes (biodiversity and productive aspects)
Collaborative work between countries
Use of innovative tools for maintenance and preservation
Laboratory and eld trials are necessary
Jose Ignacio RUIZ de GALARRETA
NEIKER-Basque Institute of Agricultural Research and Development
jiruiz@neiker.net
Website: http://www.neiker.net/neiker/germoplasma/ingles/ingles.html
Umbria Region, Italy

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
For many years Archeologia Arborea, a non prot-
making organisation owning a farm and a tree
collection, has been collecting rare and forgotten
local fruit tree varieties and species with the goal of
rescuing them from extinction by using local knowledge
and peoples memories of lost avours and tastes. An
inventory eld of old fruit varieties can be found in the
organisations headquarters in Lerchi, Citt di Castello,
Province of Perugia. The organisation also provides
educational activities for schools and groups promoting
sustainable conservation of the environment. In
addition, the technician of Archeologia Arborea offers
advice on rescuing or replanting old varieties of fruit
trees and plants, and assists clients in the restoration
of old family orchards with traditional local varieties.
BACKGROUND
The collection of old fruit varieties was initiated by Livio
Dalla Ragione nearly 25 years ago in the High Tiber
Valley. His daughter, Isabella, agronomist, inherited
and developed her fathers activity, increasing the
collection and founded in 1989 the cultural organisation
Archeologia Arborea with the aim of supporting the
following activities:
- Promoting research for conserving ancient fruit tree
plants from the Dalla Ragione family collection;
- Disseminating information on the existence of the
collection, and the efforts made to conserve and
enlarge it.
The research on old varieties of fruit trees and plants
from traditional rural landscape began in the Upper
Tiber Valley area. Since the beginning, the main focus
was on traditional farming systems, on food history
and culture, on folklore and old traditions, and the
connections with medieval and Renaissance art.
Remarkable documents and information have been
collected from old farming handbooks and archives, as
well as from the texts of itinerant agriculture lectures
and from toponomastic. Most of the plants were
rediscovered by visiting abandoned farms, old hamlets,
parish gardens, villas and monastery orchards. All the
vegetal material found during many years of research
became the orchard collection. The trees are grown
using ancient local farming techniques, thus entirely
recreating the harmony and enchantment of early
country landscapes.
GROUPS)
The action promoters are Livio Dalla Ragione and his
daughter Isabella for saving the varieties. They then
started to share the collection and the knowledge of
heirloom varieties.
The targeted groups are farmers wanting to plant
old varieties, schools, organisations promoting
a sustainable conservation of the environment,
Universities and research centres, and all people
interested in cultural and agricultural traditions.
Target groups know of Archeologia Arborea through
press and television, and public interviews. Students,
or any person interested, are welcome to get involved
in research projects.
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IN SITU CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CULTIVATED BIODIVERSITY 44
ARCHEOLOGIA ARBOREA
The farm Archeologia Arborea is located in San Lorenzo
di Lerchi, Citt di Castello, in the Province of Perugia,
the site of the main collection. The organisation
disseminates information all over the world since 1989.
RESOURCES
Until now, the farm and the organisation were
supported only by private funds and did not benet
from public funds.
Whereas the farm continues to function in the same
way, a foundation has been created and will support
activities and contribute to save the Collection.
The foundation will be supported by private funds
and the objective will be to spread knowledge about
biodiversity and rural culture heritage. Information
about the kick-off will be on the Foundations website.
The collection of old fruit varieties is composed of about
140 old local varieties of apple, pear, plum, peach,
apricot, gs, cherry trees and grapes.
Since its creation, the organisation has taken part
in many projects aimed at collecting and conserving
germplasm in cooperation with different public national
and international institutions. Isabella Dalla Ragione
(alone and with her father Livio) is the author of four
books relating their experience.
In many countries, private groups or individuals search
for old fruit varieties and collect them. It is important
that those people cooperate with the local authorities
involved in conservation of germplasm. Archeologia
Arborea is a precious resource for the activities that
the Umbria Region is carrying out for the conservation
of biodiversity. Other inventory elds with old local fruit
varieties were established or are being established in
Umbria beneting from Isabellas consultancy.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
A project aiming at the morpho-agronomical and
molecular characterisation of some of these varieties
is being carried out by the Parco 3A PTA and the
University of Perugia, along with establishing an
experimental orchard with a selection of the most
interesting varieties. In the long-term, the aim is to
produce propagation material suitable for distribution.
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Isabella DALLA RAGIONE
Archeologia Arborea farm and Foundation
San Lorenzo di Lerchi Citt di Castello, Perugia, Italy
+39-335 6128439
archeo.arb@libero.it
Website: www.archeologiaarborea.org
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Latxa and Carranzana are sheep breeds native to
the Basque Country and Navarre. Although they are not
very productive in terms of milk yield (1.5-2 litres/day),
sheep milk produced in this area is primarily used for
cheese production, mainly Idiazabal cheese certied
within the Protected Denomination of Origin. Thus, it
is important for cheese manufacturers to obtain milk
of high nutritional quality at the lowest possible cost. In
addition to the economical implications, the production
system (which can be dened as semi-extensive since
it is based on the use of natural resources during
most of the year) provides very relevant and important
social and ecological values such as: the maintenance
of the human population, economic activity in rural
areas; cultural identity and Basque food heritage;
environmental services related to the maintenance of
landscape; high value natural areas and biodiversity;
control of vegetation and prevention of re hazards, etc.
In the early 80s, the Basque Government considered a
priority to implement a genetic programme to keep and
improve the breed and its system of production, so as
to enhance the standard of living of these shepherds. It
was expected that these measures would help to avoid
the introduction of more productive foreign breeds that
are exploited under highly intensive production systems
without providing these positive and sometimes
intangible values and services.
The objectives of the Latxa and Carranzana sheep
breed programme are:
- To maintain local breeds very adapted to local areas,
linked to the territory and the natural resources
available;
- To improve the features of the sheep in terms of milk
production, milk quality, health and welfare features;
- To maintain the ecological balance in these areas.
BACKGROUND
The production system of the Latxa and Carranzana
sheep in the Autonomous Community of the Basque
Country (BC, Spain) has been improved during the
last 30 years due to the implementation of several
programmes regarding health and sanitary issues, the
breeding scheme for conservation and improvement of
the local breeds, integration of technology, as well as
a process of structuring and organisation of the whole
professional sector.
Regarding commercialisation, a Regulatory Council
for the Protected Denomination of Origin (PDO)
Idiazabal emerged in 1987 to certify and guarantee
the outstanding quality of the cheese produced. As a
result, farmers enjoy a certain social recognition and
a suitable level of income for their activity.
However, there are still some issues threatening the
evolution and even the sustainability of the breed and its
system (highly productive foreign breeds, intensication
strategies, low milk prices paid by the industry, predation
hazards, etc.), as well as opportunities (new products
and markets, etc.) and new challenges to be faced
(social recognition of environmental services, etc.).
This genetic programme is based on the selection
process of a pure breed, with the initial objectives of
conserving the breed and improving the milk yield
per ewes. The programme started in 1982 with the
implementation of the milk recording programme
in order to identify the milk yield per ewe. Every
single ewe is controlled monthly during the milking
season. Nowadays there are 85000 sheep in 204 ocks
registered in the programme.
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BREED CONSERVATION
GENETIC BREEDING PROGRAMME OF AUTOCHTHONOUS BREEDS
Once the milk yield has been estimated for every
ewe from the data provided by the milk recording
programme, data is analysed using the BLUP (Best
Lineal Unbiased Prediction) methodology that takes into
account all productive data and pedigree relationship
between animals (in 2011, the database used for the
genetic evaluation consisted of about 1,000,000 records
coming from 300,000 ewes). This methodology predicts
the genetic value of every animal (males and females)
for milk production.
Since 2005, new characters have been introduced into
the selection objectives: milk composition (to avoid
a decrease in the fat and protein content) and udder
morphology (to be better adapted to milking facilities).
GROUPS)
The Department of Agriculture of the Basque
Government (BG) and the Local Authorities (Diputaciones
Forales) are the promoters, since they define and
establish the policy measures and provide funding.
NEIKER-Tecnalia is responsible for the genetic
evaluation process. It is a public society property of the
BG, since 60% of the total budget of NEIKER, plus some
strategic research projects related to conservation
programmes, are funded by the BG. In this sense, the
BG denes the priorities of research lines.
The local authorities support the breeding programme
by funding the milk recording programme and the
insemination centre. All ewes into the programme are
controlled once a month and milk quantity and quality
are measured during all the lactation.
The dairy farmers are the beneficiaries of these
improvements as they benefit directly from the
prediction of genetic values of their stock. Regional
breeder organisations (CONFELAC) own the articial
insemination and selection centre (ARDIEKIN).
Researchers, technical staff from R&D centres, policy
makers, sheep breeders, dairy farmers, farmers
associations, food quality labels (Kalitatea, PDO
Idiazabal), dairy industry, milk laboratory, shepherds
schools, consumers are the target groups.
The breeding scheme of the Latxa and Carranzana
sheep started in 1982 and has been implemented
without a break since then. It has implications mainly
for the sheep farmers of the Basque Country, but also
for the sheep sector of Navarre and the French Basque
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Country. Eventually it has implications in different
initiatives in nearby areas (Cantabria, Castilla-Len,
Asturias, Galicia) and also overseas in Chile.
RESOURCES
Human resources:
- Dairy farmers: 204
- Technical staff responsible for the milk production
registering: 9
- Technical staff of farmers associations: 5
- Technical staff of the articial insemination centre: 3
- Researchers: 2
Financial contribution is provided by the Basque
Government (23%), the County Councils, Bizkaia, Araba
and Gipuzkoa (50%), the Spanish Government (11%)
and the livestock farmers associations (50%).
There is no external cost.
Concrete results have shown:
- Annual genetic improvement nowadays assessed as 3%;
- Conservation of native breeds through a traditional,
sustainable farming system;
- Improvement in the productivity and economic
protability per ewe;
- Maintenance of environmental services;
- Maintenance of population and economical activity
in rural areas. The genetic improvement is a higher
milk yield per ewe and the average value shows that
the increase since 1990 has been of 37 litres by ewe
taking into account that the average lactation in 1990
was 116 litres. However there are sheep producing over
500 litres per lactation;
- A positive aspect is that it is absolutely necessary to
work together and joint the efforts of entire community
of sheep breeders in a common interest;
- The total production of PDO Idiazabal cheese has
increased since its creation.
Problems encountered:
- Initially farmers were reluctant to work on genetics,
but nowadays most of them appreciate the results
achieved and cannot imagine a different approach;
- The introduction of highly-productive foreign breeds;
- The global economic crisis in Europe.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The future works will be focused in two areas:
- The active conservation of biodiversity (including
landscape, cultural heritage and genetic diversity) by
increasing the economic value of the product (cheese).
- The evaluation and valorisation of social and environmen-
tal services provided by pasture based farming systems.
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Collaborative work between breeders, technician and
administrations.
Common objectives.
Labelled high quality products associated with specic
breeds and production systems.
Good methodological and technical tools.
Eva UGARTE
NEIKER-Basque Institute of Agricultural
Research and Development
eugarte@neiker.net
Website: www.neiker.net
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The regional programme named Aquitaine cultivates
biodiversity has been initiated by Bio dAquitaine. It
consists of a collective management system for agro-
biodiversity in collaboration with farmers, technicians
and researchers. The aim is to revive, manage, renew,
improve and develop cultivated biodiversity.
Experimental agro-biodiversity platforms have been set
up to observe the behaviour of landrace seeds in situ,
mostly for commercial crops (corn, sunower, wheat
and other cereals), and to experiment crossings and
breeding protocols for the creation of agro-biodiversity
(notably in non opened pollinated varieties). The
platforms are located on farms, where the collections
of landrace seeds are cultivated and integrated into
farm rotations.
A network of farmers cultivating different landraces
for conservation and/or production implement in turn
a seed house (composed of a physical place for seeds
collections, or implemented on site by a small group of
farmers), enabling the necessary revival of knowhow
and knowledge of the selection and conservation
techniques.
BACKGROUND
Farmers are at the origin of the creation of a huge
diversity of crop varieties adapted to the specific
conditions of their environment, their cultures and
their economic and technical means. In Europe, the
modernisation of agriculture during the 20th century led
to fewer and very uniform crop varieties with cropping
patterns made to meet the needs of productivity and
standardisation related to the industrialisation of
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agriculture and food. This evolution has extinguished
of old varieties or landrace varieties, and their
associated knowledge and know-how. Some of the
seeds were stored in gene banks (static conservation)
or by individual farmers (dynamic conservation).
The consequence is the overall shortage of seeds
adapted to organic and low input farming in the late
90s. That is, seeds able to produce without soluble
fertilisers, using less water, suitable for a great variety
of environments, which are adaptable... and able to
ensure the total absence of GMOs, and to which
concentrate a large range of organoleptic qualities.
These new environmental and food challenges have
reintroduced an interest for old and landrace varieties.
To be conserved and to continue their evolution, these
varieties have to be grown and bred in situ by a network
of farmers, their knowledge and know how have to be
revived and transmitted. In this way, the landraces can
be better known, recognised and valued.
Challenges:
- Rediscovering a heritage in danger of extinction: lack
of seeds and / or information on methods of cultivation;
- Working despite unfavourable legal framework:
exchanging or selling of seeds not listed in The
Catalog is prohibited outside experimental protocols;
- Proposing collective methods to manage
agrobiodiversity.
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SEED HOUSES CONCEPT
COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT NETWORK OF CULTIVATED BIODIVERSITY
GROUPS)
Farmers are the promoters of this action, individually
at first and later accompanied by their farmers
organisation (Agrobio Prigord, CETAB, Civam 47), with
the support of the technicians and training agents from
the association.
Partnerships with researchers and investigation
programs have been developed: Farm Seed
Opportunities (STREP project at www.farmseed.net);
MAPOD Gene ows model (INRA); SOLIBAM EU project
2010-2015: Strategies for Organic and Low-input
Integrated Breeding and Management www.solibam.eu.
The targeted groups of this action are organic and low
input farmers, seeking greater autonomy for their
farm, and a strong identity for their products, as well
as agriculture technicians, researchers and local and
regional policy makers.

The corn and sunflower platform is located in Le
Change, Dordogne Department, and has a direct local
and regional impact, but has also national inuence.
The wheat and cereals platform is located in Port Sainte
Marie, Lot et Garonne Department, and has also local,
regional and national inuence.
Start date: 2000
2000: Creation of the corn and live wheat collections
on farms;
2001: Start of the seeds programme based on 11 corn
populations, by Agrobio Prigord;
2002: Partnership with an independent professional
breeder;
2003: Participation in the creation of the national
network for farmers seed conservation (Rseau
semences paysannes) to spread the use of seeds and
know how;
2003-2005: Development of the farmer network, and
increase in the number of landrace varieties (wheat &
corn) and species (Sunower, soya). Exchanges with
Brazilian partners (corn);
2006: Creation of the pilot seeds house in Dordogne
- First event on cultivated biodiversity - Creation of the
regional programme Aquitaine cultivates biodiversity;
2007: Creation of the CETAB, for the collective
management of the wheat collections;
2007-2010: Increase in the number of farmers, and species
(sorghum, lupine, moha, buckwheat, rice), partnership
with researchers and investigation programs;
End date: ongoing.
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- Collecting old and landrace varieties (from
germoplasm banks, networks of knowledge, and
individual farmers) and culture on two farm sites that
became platforms (corn, wheat);
- Development of a network of farms growing old and
landrace varieties;
- Exchanges of expertise and seeds between farmers
in Aquitaine & the rest of France;
- International exchanges of experimental protocols
(Brazil for corn and Middle East for wheat);
- The establishment of experimental methods to
acquire and formalise knowledge, and to evolve within
the legislation;
- Training of farmers and technicians to spread
knowhow and distribute seeds;
- Creation of a network of farmers and farms growing
landraces;
- The establishment of participatory plant breeding
techniques, to include researchers (agronomists,
geneticists, anthropologists) farmers and technicians;
- Implementation of Seeds houses to conserve,
manage, create and improve cultivated biodiversity
collectively and in situ;
- Organisation of events to promote the value of
cultivated biodiversity among diverse target groups (eg
farmers, consumers, policy makers, administrative).
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SEED HOUSE
Provision of seed lots
under agreements
+ technical documents
In situ Conservation
and Selection
On field ratings
Technical training during
the culture cycle
Return of seeds
to seed house
Technological
analysis,
GMO analysis
Seeds lot
packaging
and storage
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- 4 Cultivated Biodiversity days, approximatively 1000
people.
- Seeds House:
Crops: 100 varieties of corn (30 of which being
cultivated in France), 15 of sunowers, 5 of soybeans,
8 of sorghums, 10 of Mohazi, camels, lupines...
Vegetables: 150 varieties (80 varieties of tomatoes, 20
of eggplant, 20 of pepper, 13 of basils, 10 of squash, 5
of zucchini...).
The activities related to the recovery of seeds, the
creation of a collective dynamic network of farmers
and management practices of cultivated biodiversity
are successful. Improving the common knowledge
on landrace varieties is however a long-term work
which needs to be better known and better supported.
The general rural and agriculture population is
however still insufciently aware of the possibilities
of the landrace varieties. Few legislators and policy
makers seem to be aware and interested on the crop
biodiversity issue. Open legal recognition of landrace
varieties is necessary for a better diffusion.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Platforms:
To ensure that farmers in each European region can
have the opportunity to explore, experiment and have
local reference through the multiplication of landrace
platforms and increase the number of crop species
cultivated on these platforms (rice, vegetables,
soybeans, etc.).
Seeds Houses:
The establishment of a good computerised database is
necessary to improve the collections management and
the experimenters network.
Formalising a simple legal frame to be able to duplicate
easily the pilot seed houses.
Develop a national and European network of European
seed houses is a goal for coming years.
RESOURCES
Human resources:
- In 2000, two farmers.
- In 2001, a technician and ve farmers.
(...)
- In 2010: 2 full time specialised technicians + Network
of over 100 farmers with conventions + 4 part time
technicians of the local associations trained in agro-
biodiversity and plant breeding.
Staff costs (2010): Charges and wages + structure =
175,000.
Total 2010 funding, for one year = 290,000
- Region Aquitaine: 184,000
- European Union: 107,000 (FEADER 111B: 74,000 +
INTERREG IVC: 33,000).
Results in gures regarding:
- Conservation in situ:
For Corn: 309 farmers have been growing landrace
varieties under experimental conventions since the
programme started up; 45 hectares have been cultivated
since the programme began under conventions.
For Wheat: lack of precise gures because no historic
and continuous staff on the programme. More than 100
farmers are breeding wheat at national level.
- Experimental platforms for variety selection:
In 2010, Le Change Corn platform contains 111 Corn
varieties, 25 varieties of upland rice, 7 sunowers, 4
sorghum, 5 Mohazi, camel, lupines.
In 2010, Le Roc Wheat platform gathers around 100
wheat varieties & cereals (300 varieties in 2009).
- Collective trainings:
- 40 training courses have been conducted on corn
conservation;
- Around 800 farmers and technicians have been
directly trained.

- Dissemination (until 2010):
- 14 platforms visits (corn & wheat), approximatively
1000 people;
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The originality of this work is that it is actually run by and for farmers.
Each actor, farmer, technician, researcher, brings his stone to
build a true participatory process. We now have the pleasure of
accompanying other community in the development of new Farmer
Seed houses in France and farther, so do not hesitate to contact us
for more information on these innovative projects.
Jennifer KENDALL
Agrobio Prigord
20, rue du Vlodrome, 24 000 Prigueux, France
+33 5 53 35 88 18
biodiversite@agrobioperigord.fr
Website: www.agrobioperigord.fr/produire-bio/biodiversite-cultivee
Angela MALLARONI
Bio dAquitaine
6 rue du chteau trompette, 33000 Bordeaux, France
+33 5 59 47 18 07 (land), +33 6 77 52 41 45 (mobile)
amxb@orange.fr
Website: www.bio-aquitaine.com/content/view/300/313/

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project has enabled to protect specic Regional
genetic resources which have a traditional link
to a limited territory. This link was characterised
and investigated from a scientific, technical and
anthropological point of view. For the most relevant
genetic resources, a Protected Designation of Origin
(PDO) or a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
was obtained, in order to enhance effective on-farm
conservation, and to give economical and touristic value
to the traditional area of cultivation.
Sometimes, the small production and the limited area
of cultivation (often a single farm) of a landrace do not
give the opportunity to request a European Designation
of Origin. The priority is then to increase the production
and enhance the creation of farmers organisations in
order to protect and promote the product. Economic
support in this rst step of activity is strongly requested.
The main goal of the operation is to increase the
economic value of agro-biodiversity of a territory
therefore producing income for farmers. The adoption
of a European Designation of Origin gives the
opportunity both to protect the local production of a
typical landrace (therefore maintaining a tight link
with the area of traditional cultivation and enhancing
effective on-farm conservation) and to add value to the
territories, often marginal areas with a high naturalistic
potential.
BACKGROUND
In the region of Umbria, areas deeply linked to the
agricultural, cultural and religious traditions are still
present. In these areas, often marginal and well suited
for a specic product with peculiar characteristics,
the knowledge (technical, cultural, gastronomic,
anthropological and religious) is inherited from
generation to generation and shared by the entire
local community. In consequence of the depopulation
of rural areas, some products and genetic resources
were in danger of extinction, along with the knowledge
linked to them.
The European Union since 1992 with the Regulation
2081 gave tools to protect local products (or varieties)
for which the peculiar characteristics are proven to be
linked to the area of traditional cultivation.
Accordingly to the methodology used for the European
Designation of Origin (European Regulation REG CE
510/2006), a compilation the traditional production
methods was produced. The farmers organisation
asked a certication body to verify the correspondence
between the product/production process to the
registered specication. Umbria Region supported
farmer consortiums in the process of European
recognition of origin.
GROUPS)
The promoters are the farmer organisations cultivating
the typical products, along with research centres or
universities, and local institutions such as Umbria
Region.
The targeted people are the producers themselves or
the farmers potentially interested in the PDO and PGI
production. In a long-term perspective, the entire local
community will benet from this operation.
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ECONOMIC PROMOTION AND DIFFERENTIATION THROUGH CULTIVATED BIODIVERSITY 52
DESIGNATION OF ORIGIN FOR AGRO-BIODIVERSITY
VALORISATION OF CROP BIODIVERSITY THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF EUROPEAN
DESIGNATIONS OF ORIGIN: PDO AND PGI
The territory concerned is the strict area of origin or
cultivation of each typical product. For each Umbrian
product labelled with an European designation of
origin, the production area is equivalent to one or a
several municipalities - except for the extra virgin olive
oil Umbria PDO and for the white cow of the central
Apennine PGI, for which the territory is respectively the
whole Region and regions from the central part of Italy.
Since 1997, Umbria Region supported the process of
designation of origin of the regional food products.
So far, the regional PDO and PGI products are the
following: Castelluccio lentils PGI, Monteleone Spelt
PDO, extra virgin olive oil Umbria PDO, white cow of
the central Apennine PGI, Norcia ham PGI and several
wines that recently passed to the EU PDO and PGI
system (REg. CEE 510/2006) from DOC system. The
action is still in progress and other regional products
are waiting PDO and PGI label.
RESOURCES
Human resources: For a single PDO or PGI product,
many people are involved (producers, producers
association, certication body, Ministry of Agriculture)
but the real cost for the farmers can be considered the
sum of the income of one or two employee(s) from the
producers organisation plus the cost of the certication.
External cost: For PDO and PGI, the main external
cost is the certication which is about 1 to 2% of the
economic value of the certied production.
Action funding: The costs for the European
certications are carried by the producers. PDO and
PGI producers have access to the funds of the Regional
Rural Development Plan in order to cover part of the
certication and promotion costs.
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ECONOMIC PROMOTION AND DIFFERENTIATION THROUGH CULTIVATED BIODIVERSITY 53
Several Umbrian products based on landraces obtained
the European Designation of origin. The rst (1997) was
the lentil of Castelluccio di Norcia (PGI), typical of a
highland on Sibillini Mountain National Park. In 2009,
a local spelt, the Farro of Monteleone, a municipality
in the mountain area of Nera river Valley, obtained the
PDO certication. In 2009, several regional wines were
included in the EC REG n. 510/2006, the most famous
is a typical wine made with a native grape variety,
the Sagrantino of Montefalco. Today, these landraces
appear to be saved from extinction and represent an
important economic resource for Umbria Region.
The adoption of European labels of origin has enabled
to increase the market value of the products, and
therefore to enhance the cultivation of the landraces.
It can be a strategy suitable for enhancing on-farm
conservation in all European countries.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The request of a European label of origin appears
to be a good strategy to enhance the market of
typical products, inciting farmers to get together in
organisations and protect consumers from frauds. The
local political and academic institutions are identifying
other native products in danger of extinction to be
submitted to the same procedure.
Federico MARIOTTI
Key Manager - Certication Area - 3APTA
3A-Parco Tecnologico Agroalimentare dellUmbria
Soc. Cons. a r.l. - P.IVA 01770460549
Fraz. Pantalla - 06059 Todi (PG), Italy
+39 075 8957 224
certicazione@parco3a.org
Luciano CONCEZZI
PhD - Key Manager - Innovation and Research Area
- 3APTA
Soc. Cons. a r.l. - P.IVA 01770460549
+39 075 8957 209
lconcezzi@parco3a.org; ricerca1@parco3a.org
Websites: www.parco3a.org
www.politicheagricole.it
Arsial, Italy
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Collective Mark Natura in Campo - products from the
Parks protects the genetic resources of agricultural
interest in Natural Protected Areas and the Natura 2000
Network. It is a programme of the Lazio Regional Park
Agency for developing agri-food production through the
economic and environmental sustainable development
of rural areas.
This operation aims to preserve local biodiversity.
Eligible products have to be typical, traditional and/
or eco-sustainable, with the possibility of certifying
through a legal qualication recognised at EU, national
or regional level such as: 1) organic products, 2)
biodynamic products 3) products included in the list of
traditional agricultural food products of Regione Lazio,
4) products included in the Regional Voluntary Register
of the Lazio Region of agricultural interest at risk of
genetic erosion. 5) products certied according to the
Globalgap standard 6) products from farms certied
UNI EN ISO:2004 or EMAS registered or able to produce
at least 30% of green energy.
The farms have to be GMO-FREE and have to apply
guidelines for preserving the environment as dened
in the regulations.
BACKGROUND
The Natura in Campo Collective Mark was launched in
2004 as a project idea funded by the IVth Research and
Development Frame Programme APQ7 Local economy
and sustainable development
The programme Natura in Campo products of the
parks provides three main political guidelines:
- Increasing the value of agricultural and food products
by using the brand Natura in Campo for the products
that meet the necessary quality and eco-sustainability
requirements;
- To promote, advertise and inform on agricultural and
food products that have obtained the brand;
- Marketing branded products, and also to give direct
support to producers in positioning and delivering their
products.
The idea stems from the need for a programme for
quality agricultural food products in Latiums Natural
Protected Areas and Natura 2000 Network.
The collective mark was created to collect certied
products from farms located in Natural Protected
Area and Natura 2000 Network. In 2005, the Regional
Park Agency and the Regional Parks organised several
meetings with agri-food local farmer to explain the
Collective Marks objectives and requirements for
obtaining it.
GROUPS)
Regional Park Agency: launched the Natura in
Campo project to promote quality agricultural food
products in Latiums Protected Natural Areas. The
main actions of the Natura in Campo project are: 1)
To introduce the collective mark Natura in Campo
products of the parks to farms. 2) To increase the value
of agricultural foods products carrying the Natura
in Campo collective mark 3) To put into action the
educational farms.
ARSIAL: is the ofcial public body in charge of the
application and implementation of the agricultural
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ECONOMIC PROMOTION AND DIFFERENTIATION THROUGH CULTIVATED BIODIVERSITY
COLLECTIVE MARK NATURA IN CAMPO
PRODUCTS FROM THE PARKS ON GENETIC RESOURCES
The collective mark enables the:
- Promotion and valorisation actions through meetings,
publications, exhibitions and sales of products with the
Natura in Campo brand;
- Creation of educational farms to give everyone,
children and adults, an opportunity to learn about
agricultural activities and food products making
In the educational farms, everyone, children and
adults, can directly experience daily agricultural
activities and the making of food products. Sowing and
collecting, drying, making things by hand, cooking are
all operations that encourage participants to deepen
their knowledge and comprehension of agricultural
processes and food realisation on a farm. Within the
Natura in Campo programme, a few old rural houses
have been restored and transformed into educational
farms.
The collective mark identies:
- about 150 products from 70 farms with different kinds
of products (vegetables, fruits, cheese, meat, wine,
bread, cakes, olive oil).
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
ARSIAL will organise meetings with Protected Areas
operators on Regional Act 15/2000 activities to discuss
how to protect resources of agricultural interest in
Protected Areas which are at risk of genetic erosion.
Lazio Region owns 77 Protected Natural Areas. This
is the rst step for a synergy between Agricultural
Regional Agency (ARSIAL) and the Regional Park
Agency (ARP) in the Lazio Region. Our main object is
the protection and conservation of regional natural and
agricultural biodiversity.
regional policies of the Lazio Region. The agency is
involved in the protection of agricultural food products
by applying the regional Act 15/2000 (See Good
practice n. 2) creating quality production trademarks
such as PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and
PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) 3) monitoring
organic farm control organisations.
The Natura in Campo Committee is constituted by the
Regional Park Agency and is involved in the following
tasks: 1) Drafting the regulations to launch the Natura
in Campo collective mark 2) Evaluating whether the
collective mark objectives are reached 3) Monitoring,
coordination and promotion of the Collective mark
and its labelled products 4) Evaluating problems 5)
Approbation of regulations changes and reviews.
The action involves Protected Areas of Lazio Region
in which genetic resources of agricultural interest are
diffused. The project is implemented in farms situated
in protected territories.
Start date: 2004
End date: -
RESOURCES
Human resources employed:
- The project manager of the Regional Park Agency;
- Two project administrative assistants;
- Two technician agronomists.
Project partners: Latium Regional Parks.
Total Project budget: 600,000.
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- This operation is a good example of coordination between environmental departments and agricultural activities
at a regional level: knowledge exchange, and sharing among agronomists and naturalist technicians.
- It could be easily replicated in other regions by going through the following stages: checking requirements for
obtaining a Collective Mark in your agro environmental system, issuing a European collective brand, implementing
a law for the protection of agro biodiversity, coordinating the Natura 2000 Network with organic farmers.
Nicoletta Cutolo
Agenzia Regionale per i Parchi - Regione Lazio
via del Pescaccio 96/98 00166 Roma, Italy
cutolo.arp@parchilazio.it
+39 0651687366.
Website: www.arplazio.it
Immacolata BARBAGIOVANNI
Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e lInnovazione dellAgricoltura del Lazio (ARSIAL)
Via Lanciani, 38, Rome, Italy
+39 0686273481
i.barbagiovanni@arsial.it, biodiver@arsial.it,
Websites: www.arsial.it
www.naturaincampo.it

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In June 2009, the RENABIO event, an international
meeting organised in Port Sainte Marie in the Aquitaine
Region, by the French network of farm seeds Rseau
Semences Paysannes (www.semencespaysannes.
org), made it possible to share know-how on cultivating
and on farm or traditional local processes of landrace
cereals through the presence of 150 people from 17
different countries. One year before the meeting,
150 landrace varieties were provided by meeting
participants in order to be sawn and cultivated on the
site of the event. During the event, each participant
transformed their cereals in his own way, sometimes
with special ovens or techniques.

The goals of the event were multiple:
1. To exchange experiences between farmers and
researchers on conservation, renewal and dynamic
management of landrace varieties of cereals
(principally wheat, durum wheat, corn, rye, spelt);
2. To exchange views on the knowhow, uses and
traditional processing methods of the landrace cereal
varieties cultivated on farms;
3. To develop and disseminate the know-how through
various media supports (lms, methods, and recipe
book).
BACKGROUND
Since the creation of the farm seed network (Rseau
Semences Paysannes) in 2003, many local and
regional on farm meetings have been organised, to
discuss technical issues. At European and International
level, annual meetings have been organised around
the idea lets liberate biodiversity and focused on
legal issues. These meetings enabled to take common
positions for the European debate on the regulation of
conservation varieties (2005 in France, 2006 in Spain,
2007 in Germany, 2008 in Italy).
The RENABIO event had the ambition to enrich this
debate on the very practical idea that the landrace
varieties are confronted with legal restrictions... but
have a very high nutritional and cultural interest: every
cereal variety is initially associated with a specic
know-how and a type of bread or food. Sharing,
recognising and developing this know-how is crucial
to making landrace varieties more interesting to new
farmers, researchers, policy makers.
The interest in cultivating landrace cereal varieties has
been lost in most European countries where modern
and industrial agriculture has been developed. At the
same time as this evolution of agriculture, the common
know-how on food and traditional processing methods
is declining. Nevertheless every landrace variety has
an environmental interest (adapted to a local agro-
ecosystem) and its associated use for food: if you
prepare the Romanian mamaliga or the Basque
taloa with a modern hybrid corn variety, they will be
tasteless; the wheat landrace varieties are adapted to
hand bakery with sourdough. The idea of the RENABIO
event is to share, between people still working with
landrace cereal varieties, the cultivation and processing
methods still in use (or rediscovered) so that they are
aware of the heritage they have contributed to preserve.
Different steps have been necessary to set up the event:
- The mobilisation of the network of NGOs, researchers
and peasants involved in the conservation of cultivated
biodiversity;
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LANDRACE SEEDS EVENT:
RENABIO, AN INTERNATIONAL MEETING TO REVIVE CEREALS BIODIVERSITY
AND FARMER AND BAKER KNOW-HOW
- The mobilisation of funding;
- The management of logistic and mutual understanding
of the subject for people of so many origins and
languages.
The nal agenda was the following:
Day 1: Welcome, registration, presentation of the
meeting;
On-farm visit of the sown 300 varieties collection (150
sent one year before by participants!);
Day 2: 4 Workshops on breads and foods:
Sourdough breads (wheat); Rye breads, gingerbread;
Pastas, semolina, frik; Tanoor breads.
Day 3: 4 Workshops on breads and foods:
Breads with spelt/engrain/korazan; Corn workshop:
polenta (italia)/mamaliga (rumania), Broa (portugal)
with white corn/rye, yellow corn/wheat), Talo (euskadi);
Georgian Breads with Thone oven; Flat breads from
Iran, Palestine with the tanoor oven; Study workshop
on regulation issues.
Day 3: Conference-debate on Participative selection
and open visits for local visitors
Workshops on all the bakery know-how developed the
2
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and 3
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day.
GROUPS)
The promoters of the action are: the French network
for the promotion of the cultivated biodiversity Rseau
Semences paysannes and some of its members such
as the CETAB (Centre et Terre daccueil des Bls),
Triptolme, BEDE and Bio dAquitaine. (See details
on www.semencespaysannes.org).
The international partners invited to join the event
were farmers associations promoting agrobiodiversity
in European and Mediterranean countries, traditional
handcraft bakers, as well as researchers: Rete
Semi Rurali NGO (from Italy), Red de Semillas
NGO (Spain), Saatgutforshung NGO (Germany),
Association HosmanDurabil (Rumania), NGO AREA-
ED Transformation du bl dur en boulgour et couscous
(Algeria), Allkorn Association (Sweden), Svilen
Klasanovi (Baker in Bulgaria), Net Cohler par semear
NGO (Portugal), Penelop Bebeli (Researcher, Greece),
Elkana Association (Georgia), Maryam Rahmanian
researcher in CENESTA NGO (Iran), Fuad Abusaif
UAWC NGO (Palestine), Salvatore Cecarelli researcher
ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research
in the Dry Areas) (Syria, Jordania).
Target groups include farmers, handcrafting bakers
and processors, researchers implicated in participative
research.
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The event took place at the Plateforme du Roc, Port
Sainte Marie, Lot et Garonne, France
Project start date: July 2008
Step dates: RENABIO event: 23-26 June 2009
End date: July 2010
RESOURCES
Human resources: 5 people part time (1 pers. 0.5
EFT 24 months, 1 pers. 0.25 EFT 24 months, 1 EFT
6 months, 1 EFT 3 months + administrative time )
and many volunteers time (at least 6 translators, 15
volunteers during the event);
- Total staff costs = 85,000, including:
Coordination 33,000; Networking 17,000; Technical
Work 13,000; Methodology support 7,000;
Administrative tasks 15,000
- Total external costs = 85,000, covering:
Translations 13,000; Communication tools 27,000;
Hosting and meals 20,000; Transport 25,000
- Funding partners are:
Fondation de France 82,000; CS FUND (USA private
foundation) 52,000;
Aquitaine Region 15,000; Lot-et-Garonne Department
Council 15,000; Municipalities of Aiguillon and Port
Sainte Marie 3,000; Biocoop 3,000
Results in gures:
- 150 people from 17 different countries have
participated in the RENABIO event;
- 300 varieties of cereals cultivated on site, for
local collection (150) and partners collections (150)
presented by all the partners to all the participants, and
traditionally transformed over the meeting.
Beside gures, enthusiasm dominated the event and
all participants left with a lot of energy and intention
to disseminate this energy, the biodiversity and the
know-how shared. Expectations are high in the Eastern
European countries about getting information on the
management of genetic resources at farm level and
the different ways to develop and increase value of crop
biodiversity. The farmers from Hungary and Romania
got a lot of information on small mills, small sorting
equipment, farm-ovens to adapt it in their countries.
Bulgarian bakers were discovering all the old varieties
and the possibilities of processing cereals at farm level.
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Iranian farmers have re-discovered the interest of
using sourdough and decided to work with it again.
The American bakers left with the rm intention to start
growing old wheat varieties back home, the Palestinian
have expressed the wish to organise such meetings in
their region and all European participants have gained
a greater interest in the cultivation and promotion of
old, traditional population varieties.
All participants have proved to be willing to develop
the network initiated during the meeting and were
motivated to start collective efforts for maintaining
and processing cereal biodiversity. Local policy makers
were very positive about the event (the president of the
Department as well as the agriculture director and 5
mayors of the local communities attended the meeting).
A satisfactory participation of the local population in the
open days has been observed.
The diversity of languages of the participants was
a huge richness but also a challenge for people to
understand each other and also to solve nancial costs
for translations in so many languages. This challenge
was resolved on site during the event thanks to Babels
volunteers. Babel is a network of translators implicated
in the translation needs of the social forums.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The farm seed network Rseau Semences Paysannes
is continuing to maintain contact with all participants
and partners and, building on the output of this event
and will develop initiatives on biodiversity in Europe
and beyond.
Many projects have been launched as a follow-up to
this meeting:
- A training programme with exchange visits between
Hungarians, German, Spanish , Italian and French
farmers and people involved in biodiversity is being
reviewed for funding by European Union (EU Leonardo
Project),
- A participatory breeding programme has been
accepted for funding by EU, involving partners in 14
Europeans countries (SOLIBAM project): the wheat and
corn programs are integrated to SOLIBAM project (i.e.:
traditional and new recipes with chefs using corn for
human nutrition (talo, milla, millassou, bread), analysis
of nutritional values of landrace cereals).
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In many countries, several partners involved in Wheat
and bread farmers meetings are approaching Rseau
Semences Paysannes to build up a new programme on
cereals in order to enable them to start practical work
on site: conservation work, sorting and storing cereals,
participatory breeding programs, and adapting of small
equipment which can be built in the country and made
available to small farmers to produce sourdough bread,
noodles, semolina with their own local varieties.
A LEONARDO Columelle project has been approved
for the period 2010/2012 to sustain and go further in
the European exchanges of experience.
Exchanges of this same type are underway concerning
fruits trees and fruit valorisation. The RENOVA
federation working on the renovation of old orchards
is in discussion with Hungary and Spain (CERIDA) for
exchanges regarding on farm processing of fruits.
A work on tomato tasting has started in Bio dAquitaine
to formalise data on organoleptic interest of landrace
varieties and could be completed by the same type of
information across Europe.
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Imagine you live 1,000 km away from a eld in south west of
France, where you are going to be in one year. You send there
some seeds to be sown and cultivated with love and patience, by
other hands, in other lands.
One year later you travel to this eld to discover your plants, but
also to show to other people how you shape your dough, bake your
bread. Then you break the bread and share it with the 150 people
who came here for the same thing, share its own experience. It
is a rich, highly symbolic experience that revives know-how and
energies to rediscover the richness of forgotten grain.
Patrick DE KOCHKO
Rseau semences paysannes
3, av. de la Gare, 47190 Aiguillon, France
patrick@semencespaysannes.org
+33 5 53 84 44 05
Website: www.semencespaysannes.org /
Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/nathaliebede
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Since 1996, several local administrations of the
Trasimeno Lake basin have undertaken different
actions aiming to reduce the impact of both intensive
agriculture and beach tourism on the lakes ecosystem.
The local organisations on one hand imposed tight
restrictions regarding water use in agriculture, and
on the other hand promoted the rescue of local
traditional crops, less demanding than the crops
prevalent in local farmlands (such as corn). Since
then, the activities undertaken, mainly by the Perugia
University (Department of Applied Biology, DBA), have
led to the ex situ conservation of several landraces
belonging to different crops well known locally in
the past and threatened by extinction and the in situ
safeguard of some of them. The preservation and
promotion of one particular legume landrace, now very
appreciated by a high level market, provided several
farms, often organic, with a good income, applying low-
input agricultural practices and therefore preserving
the lakes ecosystem. The developement of traditional
crops also enabled the promotion of an alternative to
the beach tourism prevalent in the past: agro-tourism,
more respectful of such a fragile environment and
providing additional income to low-input farms.
BACKGROUND
The area surrounding the Trasimeno Lake (belonging
to eight municipalities, one of them in Tuscany and
seven in Umbria) has known intensive tourism in the
last decades, mostly beach tourism. Consequently,
increasing infrastructures have occupied a large part of
the lakes bank, reducing the area available for wildlife
and increasing water pollution. Given the fertility of the
soil surrounding the lake and the water availability,
intensive agriculture carried out in the whole basin
has contributed to the impoverishment and pollution
of water reserves. In the last decade of the 20th
century, protecting lake water reserves became a true
issue, quantity wise but also quality wise. The area
was classied by the Umbria Region as a vulnerable
area for nitrates (Directive 91/676/CE). At the same
time, nonetheless, the beauty of its landscapes and
historical villages was attracting more and more
naturalistic tourists in the agro-tourist structures in
the surroundings, while beach tourism was declining.
Intensive agriculture became less protable, because
of the reduced water availability. Local administrations
came to the conclusion that a change towards a more
sustainable development model for the whole district
was needed through the environmental recovery of the
waters, the banks and the surrounding land with the
aim of enhancing a new kind of tourism more respectful
of the environment, traditions, local knowledge,
landscape, historical and cultural identity. In 1995, a
Regional Natural Park was established, in order to
protect the lakes water and banks. An observatory for
viewing the lakes wildlife ecosystem (Oasi La Valle)
was established in 1996 by the Province of Perugia.
Agricultural water use was restricted; irrigation by
aspersion was forbidden in a large area around the
lake, therefore strongly limiting the cultivation of prot
crops such as corn, previously widespread in the area.
Suburban areas of towns facing the lake are composed
of a lot of home gardens, often managed by old people,
maintaining crop landraces through family tradition
and particular tastes. Some of these traditional
crops were in the past widely cultivated across the
entire basin; they were then neglected with the rise
of intensive agriculture in the 1970s, and since then
have survived almost solely in home gardens. Local
administrations undertook a project to rescue some of
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AGRO-BIODIVERSITY IN TRASIMENO LAKE
USING GENETIC RESOURCES IN AGRICULTURE FOR RESTORING ECOSYSTEMS
these neglected traditional crops in order to increase
their use in the entire basin along with sustainable
practices (lower input of water and chemicals than
modern cultivars), therefore contributing to changing
the intensive agricultural practices that had become
prevalent in the area.
Among the traditional crops of the area, a cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata) landrace called Fagiolina del Trasimeno
(Trasimeno little bean) was mostly known as typical
and appreciated for its peculiar shape and taste, as
also reported in historical documents. Cowpea, an
important grain legume throughout the tropics and
the subtropics, is in Italy a minor crop and its cultivation
is restricted to a very limited acreage and mostly based
on landraces. Cowpea was the bean (phaseolus)
known in Europe and Asia before the introduction of
the common bean (Phaeolus vulgaris) from the New
World, as reported by several classical authors, among
them Theophrastus and Pliny. The cowpea landraces
cultivated in the Trasimeno area were well known
until the latter half of the 20th century and sold at
a protable price by producers in the market of the
nearby town of Perugia, for its peculiar shape of seed,
characterised by small size, different eye patterns
and different colours: among them, a particular type
of seed was mostly appreciated, characterised by a
cream-coloured seed where the eye is almost absent,
and for this reason traditionally called in Perugia
risina (little rice). This traditional crop had been
almost lost by the beginning of the project, mostly
because, given the progressive maturation of pods
during a long season, it needs to be handharvested:
in 1994 only one farm was producing a few kilograms
for the town market of Perugia. Eighteen residual
cowpea landraces were found in Trasimeno home
gardens for self-consumption during a germplasm
exploration and collection mission carried out in 1994
by the Department of Applied Biology (DBA) of the
Faculty of Agriculture of Perugia University, Section
of Genetics and Plant Breeding. The total area under
cultivation at that time was estimated as a couple of
hectares. A broccoli landrace was also known as being
traditional of the Trasimeno lake area (broccoletti del
Trasimeno) and had almost disappeared. Other fruit
and vegetable landraces were reported as traditionally
cultivated in the past, but there was no information
about their survival.
The specic aim of the different projects funded since
1996 by local administrations was to collect, rescue and
preserve the landraces still present in the area, mostly
conserved in situ in home gardens, and the knowledge
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related to them, and promote their cultivation in the
area through the distribution of seeds to farmers.
In 1996, the Province of Perugia nanced the Plan
for the preservation and valorisation of crop species
biodiversity in the Trasimeno Lake district. The main
actor involved was the Department of Applied Biology
(DBA) of Perugia University. The project led to the
rescue of 77 local populations of horticultural species,
among them 18 cowpea landraces (fagiolina).
Duplicated seed samples of seed-propagated landraces
were collected and conserved at -18C in the seed
bank of the DBA and in a newly created seed bank on
Polvese Island, inside the Educational Centre of the
Trasimeno Natural Park. First, actions were focused
on the rescue of fagiolina del Trasimeno, the most
relevant traditional landrace known in the area, which
was threatened by extinction. Being a legume crop,
and so having the intrinsic capability to enrich the
soil and needing less water and chemical inputs than
other crops, this landrace was also considered to be an
important resource to enhance soil fertility and reduce
water consumption and pollution.
According to the aims of the project, the Province
charged the DBA with carrying out a morphological,
organoleptic and genetic characterisation of cowpea
landraces in the area, to support their ex situ
conservation in the DBAs gene bank, to conduct seed
multiplication and distribution to farmers interested in
reintroducing them, and in general to increase farmers
awareness about the potential benets offered by this
crop.
In addition, the presumed higher quality of cowpea
landraces from Trasimeno Lake was tested in an ad
hoc experiment. Research results were presented
to farmers and farmers associations in a series of
meetings and seminars during which seed samples
were given to farmers interested in reintroducing the
crop on a larger scale. A Consortium of fagiolina
growers was established in 2002, with the economic
support of the Trasimeno Mountain Community and the
Municipality of Castiglione del Lago, in order to market
the crop more effectively.
In 2001, 2004 and 2008 the Trasimeno Regional Park
funded a Seed project (Progetto Sementi), with the
aim of enlarging the collection of Trasimeno landraces
and to disseminate related knowledge. In addition,
a study was carried out identifying wild species
traditionally used for human consumption and now
threatened by extinction.
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farmers were then awarded with a certicate attesting
the status of Trasimeno guardian farmer.
Those farmers potentially interested in cultivation of
Fagiolina were informed through local seminars aimed
at the dissemination of results, where seed samples
were distributed.

Farmers associations, tourism operators, consumers
and traders were invited to seminars and dissemination
material was distributed. The Trasimeno Regional Park
published interactive description dossiers of each
landrace on its website.
The targeted area is the territory around the Trasimeno
Lake, corresponding to the district occupied by eight
municipalities (seven in Umbria, under the Province of
Perugia, and one in Tuscany).
In 1996 the Plan for the preservation and valorisation
of crop species biodiversity in the Trasimeno Lake
district was funded.
In 2001, 2004 and 2008 the Seeds projects were
funded.
In 2002 the Consortium of the Fagiolina del Trasimeno
growers was set up.
In 2005 the project aiming at the drawing up of the
PDO specication for the fagiolina del Trasimeno was
funded.
In 2006 a project coordinated by the 3A Agrofood
Technology Park with funds from the Rural Development
Plan, Measure 1.2.4 (Innovation in agriculture) was
undertaken to draw up specications for the request
of a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for the
fagiolina.
GROUPS)
The action promoters were:
- The Department of Applied Biology (DBA) of the
University of Perugia, specically Prof. Valeria Negri,
who has carried out research on Umbrian landraces
for a long time, focusing in particular on Trasimeno
landraces, with many publications on the subject. The
DBA was the main actor involved in all the projects
carried out on the Trasimeno landraces, conducting
the exploration, collection, ex situ conservation,
morphological, molecular and organoleptic
characterisation, distribution of seed samples, and
dissemination of results.
- In 1996, the Province of Perugia funded the Plan
for the preservation and valorisation of crop species
biodiversity in the Trasimeno Lake district, where the
main actor was the DBA;
- The Trasimeno Regional Natural Park funded the
Progetto Sementi in 2001, 2004 and 2008, where the
main actor was the DBA;
- The Trasimeno Mountain Community and the
Municipality of Castiglione del Lago funded the setting
up of the Consortium of Fagiolina del Trasimeno in
2002;
- The 3A Umbria Agrofood Technology Park promoted
the project funded by the Rural Development Plan
(Measure 1.2.4) for the drawing up of a specication for
the request of a PDO for the fagiolina of Trasimeno.
The actors involved were the DBA, the 3A and the
farmers of the Consortium.
The entire population of the area of Trasimeno,
including farmers, consumers, traders, tourist
operators were targeted.
Farmers and home-gardeners growing the collected
landraces were approached in a friendly manner
and the reason for the visit was explained to them.
An interview followed to gather information on the
farmers family, the farm and the crops cultivated. The
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RESOURCES
Financial resources:
The political institutions funding projects carried out
in this area from 1995 to 2006 were: the Province of
Perugia, the Trasimeno Regional Park, The Trasimeno
Mountain Community, the Municipality of Castiglione del
Lago, and the European funds for Rural Development.
Human resources:
- Three human resources employed for the project
Plan for the preservation and valorisation of crop
species biodiversity in the Trasimeno Lake district
funded by the Province of Perugia.
- The human resources employed for the Progetto
Sementi funded by the Trasimeno Regional Natural
Park were: two people in 2001 (from DBA), three people
in 2004 (two from DBA and one from the Natural Park)
and two people from DBA in 2008.
- The human resources employed for the project funded
in 2005 by the Rural Development Plan for the drawing
up of the PDO specication were: 1 person from 3A
Agro-food Park and two people from DBA.
Several surveys of the territory led to a collection
of germplasm stored in a duplicated gene bank
mainly representing traditional horticultural crops.
An inventory eld with an educational purpose was
created on Polvese Island, within the Natural Park area.
A morphological and molecular characterisation was
conducted on a cowpea variety (Fagiolina) considered
as the main genetic heritage of the territory, and
samples of the accessions collected were donated to
the local farmers. The morphological and molecular
characterisation of the 18 cowpea landraces enabled
the clear distinction of cowpea types in the area. The
results showed signicant differences between the
landraces and varieties commonly found on the market
with respect to organoleptic characteristics, such as
taste and visual appeal, crude protein content and total
carbohydrate percentages of dry matter. Finally, some
farmers have reintroduced the crop in areas where it had
disappeared. Further studies provide strong evidence
that Italian cowpea landraces have a denite identity
which makes them distinguishable from landraces
coming from abroad and commercial material that
can be found on the market. They also showed that
landraces from Lake Trasimeno have a precise identity
and probably a common origin. No molecular evidence
of introgression of commercial material was found for
the Trasimeno cowpea landraces. The projects enabled
the actors to signicantly increase the collection of
landraces rescued (88 horticultural landraces, 3 cereal
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landraces, 5 fruit species landraces). The results
were disseminated to farmers, stakeholders and local
schools through seminars and a publication made
available online.
The fagiolina of Trasimeno Lake caught the interest
of the Slow Food movement which included it among
its presidia and, within a few years, it became an
essential item in many top restaurants, even outside
Umbria. In addition, it has recently been registered
in the list of typical Umbrian products (the so-called
basket of typical products of Umbria) which has
been prepared by the Region of Umbria. The promotion
of research activities and the raising of farmers
awareness triggered a virtuous cycle of conservation.
The area dedicated to cowpea cultivation increased,
therefore signicantly increasing the income of farmers
cultivating the crop. The market price for the small,
white-seeded landrace increased (from 6/kg in 1994
to the present 2225/kg). A specic project carried out
by the 3A Umbria Agrofood Technology Park and the
DBA enabled the drawing up of specications for the
request of a European label of origin for this landrace.
The projects carried out by the Regional Natural
Park in cooperation with the University (Progetto
Sementi 2001, 2004, 2008) extended the collection
and disseminated the results to the local farmers and
institutions. Since 2008 an interactive CD-ROM with an
illustrated inventory of the whole Trasimeno collection
and a preliminary inventory of local spontaneous
species used for human consumption has been
available online.
The recovery of one or more traditional landraces
can be an essential opportunity to make the global
productive planning of an area more sustainable. The
substitution of an intensive agriculture model for low-
input land use can enhance an integrated development
plan, mainly in vulnerable areas where peculiar
environmental conditions should be preserved. Each
region, in cooperation with scientific institutions,
should identify areas with such characteristics and
constraints, and plan a survey of the agrobiodiversity
still present, along with anthropological, historical and
sociological investigations. In order to optimise the
effectiveness of the project, specic attention should
be paid to the increase of in situ conservation and to the
dissemination of results. The involvement of farmers
and stakeholders through a participative process is
also essential.
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FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
In 2012, a project funded by the Rural Development Plan
(Measure 2.1.4) will be undertaken in order to set up a
Seed house for the Trasimeno germplasm collection.
The project, coordinated by 3A, also implicates the DBA
(for the characterisation and the scientic supervising)
and a local organic farm run by a fagiolina grower
(for the seed reproduction, the setting up and the
management of the seed house). The project, lasting
two years, will also produce a detailed inventory useful
for local communities, farmers, tourist operators and
scientists. Those landraces meeting the requirements
of Regional Law 25/2001 (for the protection of the
autochthonous agro-biodiversity) will be entered in the
Register of regional genetic resources. The Trasimeno
seed house will be the starting point for an effective in
situ conservation of Trasimeno germplasm, aiming to
involve other local interested farmers.
In the future, the aim is to create a network among
farmers, traders, tourist operators, schools, and
educational farms. In addition, the attention will be
focused on the transmission of the old farmers
knowledge to the young farmers. The possible creation
of a territorial label linked to the protected natural area
will be also taken into account.
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Prof. Valeria NEGRI (Dip. Biologia Applicata)
Universit degli Studi
Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
+39 075 5856218
vnegri@unipg.it
Websites: www.parcotrasimeno.it/Download/DWN_20081211155634.PDF
www.parcotrasimeno.it
www.fagiolina.com
Luciano CONCEZZI (PhD- Key Manager - Innovation and Research Area -3 APTA)
Soc. Cons. a r.l. - P.IVA 01770460549
+39 075 8957 1
lconcezzi@parco3a.org
ricerca@parco3a.org
Website: www.parco3a.org
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Since 2001, the Aquitaine cultivates biodiversity
programme, coordinated by the Bio dAquitaine
federation, has been implemented to re-establish
cultivated biodiversity in Aquitaine. Based on a
participatory experiment and the selection of landrace
crop (maize, sunower, corn, grain, soy...) and vegetable
varieties, the project involves more than 400 farmers.
Since 2010, special emphasis has been given to the taste
interest of landrace varieties (see also Good practice
RENABIO). In this context, Agrobio Perigord and the
Wheat study and hosting centre (Centre pour ltude
et terre daccueil des bls: CETAB), two members of
the federation Bio dAquitaine, are participating in
the EU Seventh Framework Programme, SOLIBAM
(Strategies for Organic and Low-input Integrated
Breeding And Management). This programme is led
by the French Agronomical Research Institute, INRA,
in Rennes and brings together 22 organisations from
12 countries in Europe and Africa. The objective of
this research programme is to develop strategies
combining plant breeding and agronomic innovation
in organic farming and low-input agriculture.
Through its work, Agrobio Prigord is involved in the
evaluation of the aptitude of maize varieties for human
consumption and processing, provided by participatory
breeding schemes in organic and low-input agriculture.
BACKGROUND
Interest in cultivating landrace cereal varieties
has been lost in most European countries where
modern and industrial agriculture has taken over.
Along with this evolution, common know-how about
food and traditional hand processing methods is
declining. Nevertheless, every landrace variety has
an environmental interest (adapted to a local agro-
ecosystem) and an associated use for food.
Bio dAquitaine and the Rseau Semences Paysannes
(Peasant Seeds Network), dedicated to re-establishing
crop biodiversity in Aquitaine and in France, quickly
realised that the revival of farmers and landrace seeds
is made possible by promoting these varieties in the
elds but also on the plate.
Indeed, if this biodiversity is sought out by consumers
wishing to nd food nutritional qualities, sensory and
cultural variety, farmers will continue to cultivate them
and therefore their conservation will be ensured.
The work carried out by Agrobio Prigord is part of
Work Package 7 (WP) of the SOLIBAM project (www.
solibam.eu), entitled Effect of, and interaction
between, crop genotypes and management innovations
on crop nutritional, organoleptic and end-use quality.
Both genetic and agronomic factors may affect the
nutritional and organoleptic quality of crops grown
under low-input and organic conditions. The main aim
of WP7 is therefore to quantify the effect of breeding
and agronomic innovations developed under WP3-6
on crop quality.
1. Study of the nutritional, organoleptic and processing
aptitudes of farmers/landrace varieties.
Three main types of aptitude were identied and are
studied in the SOLIBAM programme:
- Nutritional quality: the goal is to qualify and quantify, by
ECONOMIC
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THE TASTE OF LANDRACES
DEVELOPING THE SPECIFICITIES OF MAIZE LANDRACE VARIETIES IN HUMAN FOOD
TO DEVELOP CULTIVATED BIODIVERSITY 19
GROUPS)
The entire SOLIBAM research programme has
been implemented by a participatory network
of 23 research institutes, technical institutes,
universities, crop breeding companies and farmers
associations, from Europe and Africa, and is led
by the French INRA of Rennes. It is a Collaborative
Project (large-scale integrating project) supported
by the European Commission through the Seventh
Framework Programme for research and technological
development under Grant Agreement n245058.
The key partners are: INRA, France - AIAB, Italy -
ORC, UK - RISODTU, Denmark - ITAB, France - TUM,
Germany - ITQB, Portugal - IAS, Spain - ESC, Portugal -
ARI HAS, Hungary - SSSUP, Italy - UNIPG, Italy - FDEA-
ART, Switzerland - UCPH, Denmark - INRA Transfert,
France - UNIPI, Italy - Donau, Austria - Gautier, France
- Agrovegetal, Spain - Arcoiris, Italy - ICARDA, Syria -
CNOP, Mali - MU, Ethiopia. See more information at
www.solibam.eu
In Aquitaine, Agrobio Prigord and CETAB are active
members of the Aquitaine cultivates Biodiversity
programme and provide external expertise for INRA
of Rennes to evaluate the aptitudes of maize varieties
provided by participatory breeding schemes in organic
and low-input agriculture for human consumption and
processing.
The target groups are farmers, consumers and
professional cooks.
SOLIBAM : All Europe and Syria, Mali and Ethiopia.
For the trials on maize organoleptic qualities: Aquitaine
Project start date: March 2010.
End date: March 2015.
Resources
SOLIBAM : The resources of the whole project are
described on the website.
For the work in Aquitaine:
Human resources in Bio dAquitaine: 2 people (1 at
Agrobio Prigord, 1 at CETAB) Total = 0.3 EFT over 4 years.
Total Staff cost = 21,000for 4 years
Total external costs = 27,000 for 4 years (laboratory
analysis, external experts, farmers indemnities ...)
Resources: SOLIBAM Programme = 48,000 for 4
years.
physico-chemical analysis of the grains in the laboratory,
the different nutrients present (proteins, vitamins,
trace elements ...) in the different varieties studied.
- Ability for transformation: the rst observations are
made at the mill, then under real bakery and kitchen
conditions. A partnership with professionals (millers,
bakers, restaurateurs, hotel schools ...) enables
experimentation and observation of the behaviour of
different varieties according to established protocols.
- Taste quality: preparations obtained during the
transformation assays are evaluated in a taste test,
thus integrating the consumer (hedonic preference
test), but also more experienced people (sensory
analysis) in a process of participatory evaluation.
2. Sharing expertise in transforming farmers varieties
for human consumption.
A participatory approach has been developed
involving different stakeholders, from the producers
to the processors and the consumer, in order to share
experiences and know-how. Maize is a cereal that
has a strong historical imprint in the Aquitaine region
through varieties, knowledge, recipes and tales ...
Partners share their knowledge and skills to rediscover
local traditional recipes and create new value for the
different farmers varieties studied.
3. Communication about the interests of farmers
varieties and food expertise.
In order to exploit the obtained results and perpetuate
the know-how gathered, specific communication
actions are organised, aimed at industry (producers,
millers, processors ...) and consumers.
In the framework of this programme, tasting
workshops open to the general public enable
the provision of information to consumers on the
specificities of indigenous varieties: geographical
origin, particularities of these varieties, expertise and
selection of seeds, legislative history ...
Other specific communication activities aimed at
the general public included cooking workshops, the
production of written and audiovisual communication
tools ...
Organising theme days also enables communication
with many different actors on this theme: producers,
processors, consumers. For instance, since 2006, Bio
of Aquitaine has organised an annual event: the Crop
Biodiversity Festival.
Other SOLIBAM partners are working on the
organoleptic testing of other species, such as tomatoes,
or broccoli.
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FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Bio dAquitaine wants to continue developing the
participatory development programme initiated by
SOLIBAM to enhance the value of farmers varieties
for human consumption in Aquitaine.
In order to disseminate the work done under this
programme, a book will be published, combining
traditional recipes of Aquitaine and successful income-
producing experiences from flour and cornmeal
valorisation.
As a result of the SOLIBAM project activities and Bio
dAquitaines communication plan, product demand for
farmers seeds will increase. It is therefore essential
to provide support services for producers to meet this
demand.
At the national level, within the Rseau Semences
Paysannes, a project to create a collective brand to
develop and increase the value of products yielded from
farmers seeds or landrace seeds is under study and
could merge in the coming years.
The rst experiments in milling showed differences
between indigenous varieties of corn concerning
ratios of semolina / our. Qualitative information was
also collected, including the ease of screening: for
example, some fat corn varieties quickly clog the
mills screens; other very hard grains require a second
passage through the mill.
Programme partners conf i rmed, through
appropriate tests, the differences in behaviour during
transformation of the different varieties studied: water
absorption rates, cooking times and evolution of tastes
during preparation. These different behaviours enabled
the determination of appropriate preparation methods
for the different varieties (sweetness, saltiness,
preparation and cooking mode...).
The initial nutritional analysis performed on key
constituents of the grain showed that indigenous
maize varieties have a higher protein and sugar
content than hybrid test varieties. These results will
be correlated with the results of taste tests, as these
two factors affect the transformation and taste of the
nal products. Today several programme partners are
using the studied varieties in their own preparations
and are developing them in the products they sell.
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This work on assessing the qualities of maize populations for human
consumption is the result of a close collaboration between farmers,
millers, cooks, consumers and facilitators technicians. Together, we
recover and develop knowledge and know how, in order to share with
consumers the nutritional and taste interest of the population varieties.
This participatory work enhance the skills and ideas of each of us, thus
nourishing a very exciting working thematic, still not enough documented.
A word to the wise
On the maize organoleptic evaluation: Agrobio Prigord - Rmy LEBRUN
20, rue du Vlodrome, 24000 Prigueux, France
+33 5 53 35 88 18
biodiversite@agrobioperigord.fr
Website: http://www.agrobioperigord.fr/produire-bio/biodiversite-cultivee
On SOLIBAM: Dr Vronique CHABLE - Project Coordinator
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - SAD (Science for Action and Development)
65, rue de Saint-Brieuc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
T +33 2 23 48 70 49
veronique.chable@rennes.inra.fr
Website: www.solibam.eu
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Project leaders from the Gene bank of Slovak Republic
(SR) implemented educational activities in the primary
school St. Maria Goretti in Pietany. The operation
consisted in creating an educational garden with
medicinal and aromatic plants. Project participants
evaluated and collected medicinal plants in order to
provide material for practical demonstrations and
observation activities. These educational activities were
intended to maintain biodiversity in the educational
garden and raise primary school childrens awareness
of the importance of biodiversity conservation.
The educational garden can inspire several similar
activities in the eld of nature preservation.
BACKGROUND
St. Maria Goretti is a primary school in Pietany. A
cooperation agreement between the school and Gene
bank of SR enabled children to visit regularly the
experimental elds used for biodiversity conservation.
The students were very interested in medicinal and
aromatic plants. After discussion with the teachers,
it was decided to plant some medicinal plants in the
schools garden.
METHODOLOGY PROCESS
Project leaders from the Gene bank of SR proposed
the teachers of the primary school st. M. Goretti in
Pietany to show children plant diversity by planting
medicinal species in the school garden such as
Lavandula, Agrimonia, Hyssopus, Melissa, Origanum. For
each species, about 10 plants were planted. This activity
was conducted by the Reverse project assistants and
as a result medicinal plants were planted by 40 school
children. This project enabled a mutual collaboration
with an elementary school, about educating school
children on nature and biodiversity preservation, via
practical demonstrations of medicinal plants growing.
These plantations will encourage observation activities
and the conservation of species.
GROUP)
The promoter of the project is the Plant Production
Research Centre of Pietany.
The target group is composed of children from primary
schools and their teachers.
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INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF AGROBIODIVERSITY 70
EDUCATIONAL GARDEN
MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS AS EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL
FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS
West Slovakia, town Pietany, Primary school of St.
Maria Goretti, 29.4.2010 30.9.2011
RESOURCES
A minimum staff of five people during a year is
necessary. Annual budget for external costs of the
project and funding partners should be approximately
5 000.
The practical result is the creation of garden with
medicinal and aromatic plants. Species such as
Lavandula, Agrimonia, Hyssopus, Melissa, Origanum
were planted on an area of 50 m.
40 children, 2 teachers and 5 gene bank workers
planted 10 plants of each species of Slovak origin.
During the vegetation period, the children cultivated the
plants, irrigated, collected and harvested the plants.
This experimental garden with medicinal plants was
visited by others schools from the region of Pietany.
Two primary schools from Pietany would like to
establish a similar garden with medicinal plants.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
These activities are not only popular with schools, but
also with hobby gardeners in the region of Pietany.
Similar activities will be organised in other institutions
working in the eld of training and education. Near
the Gene bank of SRs premises, the Gardening High
School of Pietany would like to extend their botanical
garden. They are particularly interested in native Slovak
medicinal and melliferous species.
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INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF AGROBIODIVERSITY 71
benedikova@vurv.sk
+421 33 7722311
Education and training activities are not only popular with schools, but also with
hobby gardeners in the region of Pietany. Similar activities should be organised in
other educational institutions. They are interested in native Slovak medicinal and
melliferous species. The dissemination of Slovak native medicinal and melliferous
plant species protects the domestic genetic resources.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project consists in integrating specic measures of
conservation for a Natura 2000 site in the Management
Plan. This site, Ernio-Gatzume, is largely concerned
by agricultural activity and so these measures had
to be confronted and discussed with farmers and
other users. A consultation process was initiated in
order to implicate stakeholders in the preservation of
grasslands and shrubs, in the creation and maintenance
of hedges or improving biodiversity in natural forests,
for instance.
The general objectives of the consultation process
were:
- The involvement of the population in the planning and
management of the Natura 2000 sites;
- The direct information of local population on the
measures to be developed, their justication and the
expected results;
- The direct consultation with owners and users to
incorporate the perspectives and expectations of local
communities in management solutions;
- The identification of social factors and agents
that might be obstacles or success factors for the
implementation of the plan;
- The identication of individuals or groups which are
able to promote the development of the plan;
- Making joint decisions, as far as possible;
- The facilitation of the active involvement of
stakeholders in the management of the site (joint
management);
- The creation of specic means of communication;
- The inclusion of interested parties in the decision-
making process right from the beginning of the planning;
- Making the population aware of the importance of
conserving in particular the Natura 2000 Network, and
Biodiversity in general.
Specific objectives related to agricultural activity
include:
- To increase awareness of stakeholders and local
population;
- To improve feasibility and guarantee the
implementation of conservation measures related to
agriculture.
BACKGROUND
The Habitat Directive specifies that Special
Conservation Areas should be identied, along with the
conservation measures which respond to the ecological
demands of natural habitat types included in Annex
I and of species included in Annex II and present in
those areas (Articles 4.4. and 6.1). In addition, article
2.3 of the Habitats Directive states that measures
taken according to the Directive should take account
economical, social and cultural requirements as well
regional and local characteristics.
However, despite the initiatives carried out, many of
those who are involved are unaware of the Natura 2000
network or how it can affect them, although 90% of
the surface of Ernio-Gatzume is privately owned and
the conservation of the main values of this SAC are
dependent on human activities, mainly livestock and
forestry.
Moreover, nowadays biodiversity conservation requires
the acceptance and agreement of citizens; accordingly
to the white paper on Governance (COM (2001) 428 nal)
and the Aarhus Convention (access to information,
public participation in decision-making, and access to
justice in environmental matters), transposed to the
Spanish legal system in Law 27/2006.
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
A PARTICIPATIVE PROCESS FOR THE BUILDING OF A MANAGEMENT PLAN
FOR A SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION (SAC) OF THE NATURA 2000 NETWORK
WITH EMPHASIS ON AGRICULTURAL ASPECTS
GROUPS)
The Basque government is responsible for approving
the management plan for the SAC Ernio-Gatzume
and therefore, ensuring proper public participation in
the preparation of this plan and the promotion of the
participative process.
Stakeholders, local politicians, rural and regional
development associations, farmers, forest owners,
conservationists and environmentalists, mountaineers,
hunters and local population are the target groups.
Gipuzkoa, Basque Country (9 municipalities).
From February to October 2010.
RESOURCES
3 Experts in participation process, with the support of
experts who make the technical documents
Costs estimated on 12,000 have been covered by the
Administrations general budget.
Results: broad consensus on the conservation
measures. Feasibility of its implementation
- A total of 63 people attended the presentations; 47
people attended the sector workshops;
- Very different proles, mainly livestock and forest
owners and hunters; to a smaller extent, hikers and
mountaineers. Total absence of the tourist sector and
ecological groups;
- A total of 24 contributions to the same number of
technical measures have been made from the forum;
- A total of 7 added suggestions.
Lessons:
- Although having a previous methodological scheme,
each process is a different reality and must be adapted;
- Processes are unpredictable and, thus, it must be
possible to incorporate new possibilities to face new
demands;
- Different levels of participation must be distinguished
(municipal, social);
- There are not many interesting contributions for the
technical team; however, the communication value of
the process is very high;
- The main targets are the people that work in the
area or people whose activity is affected by space
management.
1. Identication of actors and creation of participant
databases after detecting possible actors (in particular
groups, rural development agencies, city councils, etc.).
2. Interviews with potential opinion leaders and creation
of focus groups: agricultural and social development
agencies and sessions at Town Councils. The objectives
of these interviews are to:
- Request information or opinions about the process;
- Obtain valuable information for social participation:
problem forecast, obtaining contact details of people
that may be interested in the process, diagnostic of
existing conservation experiences;
- Analyse expectations, priorities, and detect weak
points and possible threats;
- Obtain information to draw up an informative
document on frequently asked questions and doubts
about Natura 2000;
- Gain the support of the process from these
institutions.
3. Introduction to all interested actors of the
characteristics of the site and explanation of the
process of participation:
- Customised delivery of call (note the work done by
the councils themselves to inform their neighbours
of the beginning of this process.);
- MASS MEDIA IS NOT USED. It should be a diffusion
lined with local realities (municipal boards, rotating
from house to house...);
- Presentation (PowerPoint) providing information
about Natura 2000, focused on specic values of
the space and on the development of participation
process;
- Frequently Asked Questions Document;
- Registration records of stakeholders in the process
(participation is always voluntary).
4. Thematic workshops for the identification of
problems and proposals for action:
- Target group: farmers, forestry and tertiary-use
(hunters, hikers, environmentalists, rural tourism,
etc);
- From a summary document (in accessible language)
of targets and measures.
5. Formal public consultation.
6. Presentation of adopted measures and justication
of possible exclusion of proposals.
7. Final document.
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FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Future actions: we must go further in the design of tools
for a stable and effective participation of organisations
and population for the evaluation of measures and for
the management of the Natura 2000 Network.
What to improve: we must improve participants
training in this kind of process. Although participation
can be considered high, it is necessary to continue
carrying out actions to attract more people. A guide
on participation processes is being developed as well
as a guide that compiles successful interrelation
experiences between the Natura 2000 Network and
people and their activities.
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Effective management and conservation of protected areas is only possible if it involves the owners,
local communities and multiple users of these areas.
The best participative process is the one that adapts to the situation from the beginning and promotes
its development through learning, towards more complex and rich processes in the future.
Marta ROZAS
Basque Government - Directorate of Biodiversity and Environmental Participation
Donostia-San Sebastian, 1
01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
+34 945016957
marta-rozas@ej-gv.es
Website: www.euskadi.net/natura2000
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At rst glance the main instrument for biodiversity conservation at land planning level lies in protected areas. Legal
protection, management plans and management measures contribute to protecting threatened biodiversity in specic
dened zones (6, 7 and 8).
However, there is no valid reason why biodiversity conservation should be limited to protected areas. On the contrary,
biodiversity richness extends beyond these virtual borders and so should its management. Therefore, connection
between protected areas is encouraged, and is recognised as a major contributor to biodiversity conservation (2, 3,
4 and 5).
At a regional level, land planning policies are designed to take biodiversity into account in a coherent territory (1).
Compliance tools and assessment methods have been designed to support their implementation (9 and 10).
Strategies and plans often tackle the issue through the perspective of landscape, which proves to be consensual
enough to defend and promote biodiversity heritage (11 and 12). Similarly, voluntary initiatives may also be successful
when there is a shared approach (13).
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BENEFICIARIES
TARGETED AREAS
Mountains
Forests
Natural areas
INVOLVED OPERATORS
THROUGH THE ACTION
Overexploitation
Soil erosion
OF THE ACTION
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GREEN NETWORK IN ESTONIA
ESTONIA 84
3
UMBRIA REGION ECOLOGICAL NETWORK
ITALY 88
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NATURAL AREAS WITHIN A CITY
FRANCE 92
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UPGRADING MOTORWAY INFRASTRUCTURE
FRANCE 96
11
COMMON LANDS LANDSCAPE
ITALY 118
12
LANDSCAPE CHARTER TO PROMOTE
TERRITORY ATTRACTIVENESS
FRANCE 122
1
LANDSCAPE PROGRAMME AND LAND USE PLAN
GERMANY 80
PROACTIVE AND COOPERATIVE PUBLIC COMMITMENTS
IN FAVOUR OF BIODIVERSITY
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DECLARATION: BIODIVERSITY IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
GERMANY 126
CONTENTS
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AARBE RESERVE: DESIGNATION OF A FOREST RESERVE ZONE
SPAIN 100
7
PLANT MICRO-RESERVES
GREECE 104
8
TERRITORIAL PLAN FOR WETLANDS
SPAIN 108
LEGAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS TO PROTECT AREAS
WITH THREATENED BIODIVERSITY
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DEFINING TECHNICAL CRITERIA
FOR REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
SPAIN 110
10
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORTS
SPAIN 114
COMPLIANCE AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR TAKING INTO ACCOUNT
BIODIVERSITY IN LAND PLANNING
1
CASE STUDY
NUMBER
2 5 13
8 6 7
3 4
11 12
10 9
Bremen Region, Germany
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The landscape programme in Germany is part of
the landscape planning for the whole territory of a
federal state. It is xed in the national law of nature
conservation. The actual landscape programme of the
federal state of Bremen has been running since 1991.
As for the land use plan, this is the basic planning
instrument for the urban development of an entire
town. Both plans are non-binding for the public but
binding for the administration. The preparatory land
use plan for the city of Bremen was drawn up in 1983
and newly published in 2001.
Because these planning instruments were outdated,
in 2009 politicians decided they had to be realigned
for the next ve years. At the moment, the landscape
programme has been developed for the city of Bremen.
It will be prepared later for the city of Bremerhaven.
The new idea is to prepare, combine and integrate
both plans for the city of Bremen simultaneously. In
this way, all aspects of urban ecology, conservation
of biodiversity, habitat connectivity and adaptation to
climate change can be included in the land use plan.
Within the process are many public discussions,
workshops, exhibitions and an internet platform to
involve stakeholders and interested citizens before the
political decisions. The public participation started at a
very early stage of the process.
The new plans are based on much expertise from
external consultants and experts. Related topics can
be, inter alia, urban development, social development,
economic structural change, demographic changes,
recreation, areas of high biodiversity or high natural
value to be protected, the development of a habitat
network, aspects of climate change and adaptation to
the outcomes of climate change through the means of
land planning, soil, water, urban climate and natural
scenery.
The drafts of the plans shall be nished for the rst
consultation of public agencies and the wider public in
autumn 2012. The second consultation is planned for
2013 and the nal decision of the parliament of Bremen
at the end of 2014.
The process of drawing up the plans is a good example
of the integration of the needs of Nature and urban
planning within a public discussion. The integrated
realignment of the landscape programme and the
land use plan makes it possible to x information on
natural values, habitat connectivity and areas of high
biodiversity in the basic plan for urban development.
The expected results are a base for urban development,
the conservation of biodiversity in the state of Bremen
and the implementation of a habitat network.
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REGIONAL LAND PLANNING POLICIES TAKING BIODIVERSITY INTO ACCOUNT 80
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LANDSCAPE PROGRAMME AND LAND USE PLAN
meetings prepared and coordinated by external
consultants.
Target groups are politicians who have to decide on
milestones, members of the different administrations
involved and interested citizens.
Dissemination events have been organised to reach
these targets: exhibitions for the general public,
presentations at public events and workshops, lectures
and discussions with stakeholders. Brochures, folders,
posters and websites have been created.
The new preparatory land use plan and the landscape
programme have been designed for the city of Bremen
(325.42 km) in the north of Germany. The scale is
1:5.000 for biological information and the natural
scenery, the planning scale of the maps is 1:35,000
to 1:50,000.
Start date: 2009.
End date: The final decision of the plans by the
parliament of Bremen is expected at the end of 2014.
Milestone dates: consultation of public agencies and
the public: 2012 and 2013.
RESOURCES
Human resources: For the landscape programme, 3
people from the permanent staff of the Nature and
Water Department and 0.5 external landscape planner
for preparing detailed plans with special information
about natural resources and biodiversity (e.g. habitat
connectivity, breeding birds, roosting and wintering
sites of birds). Additionally external consultants and
experts provided expertise on specic themes such as
local climate, effects of climate change on wild living
animals, habitat connection and evaluation of mappings
of habitats, wild living animals and plants.
Time spent by the team: Each member of the team in
the department worked for about 30 hours per week
on the landscape programme.
External cost: About 110,000 per year for the
landscape programme, especially for external
expertise.
Action funding: The action is funded within the regular
budget of the department.
BACKGROUND
The land use plan has been in place since 2001, although
some specic changes have been implemented later.
The landscape programme dates from 1991. Owing
to German law, both plans have to be updated on the
basis of new data on urban development, inhabitant
structures, demographic shifts, recreation needs,
climate, soil, biotopes and wild living plants and
animals.
The idea of combining and integrating both plans comes
from the fact that not only urban development but all
aspects of urban ecology, conservation of biodiversity,
habitat connectivity and aspects of adaptation to
climate change can be included in the preparatory land
use plan. Also, the results of nature monitoring are
presented in the landscape programme and provide
important information to be included in the land use
plan.
Both plans are prepared on a scientific basis of
information about urban development, social needs,
demographic changes, results of monitoring nature and
external expertise on soil, water, climate, biodiversity,
landscape and public green spaces.
A general principle of urban development was created,
called BREMEN 2020. This was discussed in a broad
manner with politicians and the public through
workshops and lectures. A wide set of information
material was created: exhibition, folders, brochures and
website. The results of this action were implemented
in the further drafts of the plans.
The key steps of urban development (BREMEN 2020)
are the public consultation, the presentation of drafts
of the plans and reections to main stakeholders and
public agencies, a second public consultation and
nally the decision of the parliament of Bremen. Local
decision-makers are frequently informed and must
decide the milestones.
GROUPS)
Promoters: The landscape programme is implemented
by employees of the Department for Nature and Water,
the land use plan by employees of the Department
of Urban Development, both within the government
agency, Senator for Environment, Urban Development
and Trafc). The results and drafts have discussed
in many workshops with stakeholders and public
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REGIONAL LAND PLANNING POLICIES TAKING BIODIVERSITY INTO ACCOUNT 81
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Lessons learnt: The combined preparation of the
land use plan and the landscape programme is a
good opportunity for integrating all aspects of urban
development and preservation of biodiversity as a basis
for communal planning. The wide public discussion
at an early stage of planning will make the required
consultations on the drafts easier. But the whole
process is taking more time than expected.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Now both draft plans and argumentations need to be
completed for the rst public consultation, planned
for autumn 2012. Arguments given in this consultation
will be analysed, discussed and taken into account in
a second consultation with the public and the public
agencies. Finally, the last drafts will be approved by
the parliament of Bremen.
Because there has been a broad discussion with many
stakeholders and the public, there will be a new state
of the art for the urban planning and an opportunity to
integrate natural values and needs for conservation
with urban planning.
The main and new results of the expertise and
discussions are:
- Identication of habitat corridors and creation of a
habitat network;
- Identication of high biodiversity and high natural
value areas;
- Integration of new needs due to adaptation to climate
change in urban development and nature conservation
measures.
These new principles for urban development and
preservation of biodiversity will be applied to both plans
as the basis for future concrete urban land use planning.
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Bremen aims at a better integration of the urban land-use plan and the landscape program by setting
them up jointly. As only the land-use plan is statutory for public authorities, this is an important step
towards implementation of landscape planning. Both plans together cover most of the spatial aspects of
quality of living, so that more people feel affected and take part in the process. Intense communication
with local stakeholders and specic target groups is supposed to create better planning results and
more public support for their implementation.
Dirk HRTER, Coordinator for the landscape program
Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
The Senator for Environment, Urban Development and Trafc
Dirk HRTER, Dipl.-Ing. Landscape planning, Dept. Nature and Water, Unit Landscape planning
Tel. +49 421 361 15981
Dirk.Huerter@umwelt.bremen.de
Henrich KLUGKIST, Dipl.-Biol., Dept. Nature and Water, Unit Protection of Species and Habitats
Tel. +49 421 361 6660
Henrich.Klugkist@umwelt.bremen.de
Tom LECKE-LOPATTA, Dipl.-Ing. Landscape Planning, Dept. Urban Development, Unit Regional Planning,
Tel. +49 421 361 10389
Thomas.Lecke-Lopatta@bau.bremen.de
Websites: http://www.umwelt.bremen.de/de/detail.php?gsid=bremen179.c.4010.de
http://www.bauumwelt.bremen.de/de/detail.php?gsid=bremen02.c.28453.de
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The establishment of ecological networks (Green
Networks) has become one of the most promising
applications through which ecological principles and
biodiversity conservation requirements are integrated
into spatial planning procedures and land use
practices. By adopting the Pan-European Biological and
Landscape Diversity Strategy in 1995, the development
of ecological networks (the Pan-European Ecological
Network) became the priority nature conservation
strategy in Europe. An ecological network is a coherent
system of natural and/or semi-natural landscape
elements congured and managed with the objective
of maintaining or restoring ecological functions as a
means of conserving biodiversity, while also providing
appropriate opportunities for the sustainable use of
natural resources.
Green Network is a new term that has recently
been used in a spatial planning context in Estonia.
Resembling the American term greenways, it
simplies the complex theoretical concept of ecological
networks and describes a network with characteristics
determinable in regular planning practice, including
socio-economic dimensions. Like its American
analogues, the Green Network seems to be attractive
to landscape architects and land-use planners for
channelling recreation and visualising ecological
corridors, especially in near-settlement areas.
According to the Estonian Spatial Plan, the Green
Network is a coherent system of extensively-used
areas in a comparatively good natural state that
helps to maintain the biodiversity and stability of the
environment.
In Estonia, the methodology of designating the
green network (ecological network) states that the
main objective of planning is rst and foremost to
guarantee a naturally and environmentally grounded
spatial structure, which should guarantee sustainable
development in whole country. It is not to dene a large-
scale green surface and leave it out of economic use.
The following main purposes were stated:
- To shape the spatial structure of natural areas in
the most reasonable way, considering ecological,
environmental protection, economic and social aspects;
- To complete functionally the network of protected
areas, connecting them into a complete system with
natural areas;
- To protect valuable natural habitats and preserve
the migration routes of wild animals, and valuable
landscapes;
- To soften, compensate, and forestall the anthropogenic
impact on nature, to contribute to a sustainable
development strategy;
- To offer the possibility of nature-friendly
management, lifestyles and recreation by ensuring
spatial accessibility to natural areas;
- To promote nature conservation outside protected
areas;
- To minimise future conicts of interest incorporating
different sectors (forestry, agriculture, transport,
recreation) through spatial planning;
- To guide settlement and land use;
- To preserve the natural self-regulation ability of the
environment;
- To support international and transboundary co-
operation.
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GREEN NETWORK
DESIGNATING AN ECOLOGICAL NETWORK AT COUNTY LEVEL
BACKGROUND
The Green Network in Estonia is addressed at all three
levels of planning (i.e. country, county and municipality).
The national long-term spatial plan, Estonia 2010,
establishes the basic principles of the Estonian
ecological network by identifying corridors and 12 core
areas of national and international importance.
In 1999, the second phase of county planning
(thematic planning) was initiated. It aimed to dene
environmental conditions for the development of land
use and settlement. The main tasks of thematic plans
included the design of the Green Network and the
denition of valuable cultural/historical landscapes.
By December 2002, each of the 15 counties of Estonia
had to prepare a map of ecological networks on a scale
of 1:50,000, as one of the layers of thematic spatial
planning. For that reason, three methodologies were
devised: one for designing Green Networks, a second
for dening valuable cultural landscapes, and a third
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ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR PLANNING 85
to combine outputs from the previous two. However, it
took until the end of 2007 for all 15 counties to nish
the preparation of these plans.
The Estonian Environmental Action Plan for 2007-2013
sets targets to determine and implement measures for
the Green Network within all municipalities by 2013, in
terms of spatial planning and environmental conditions
and restrictions.
Ecological networks in Estonia are a constituent part
of the Pan-European ecological network. Therefore its
main structural elements and their functions are the
same as those of the Pan-European one. Whatever
its scale (from regional or continental) an ecological
network consists of the following elements: core areas,
ecological (or biological) corridors, buffer (protective)
zones, and stepping stones.
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public is to be included earlier in the process and there
are public discussions over earlier drafts of planning
documents. These legal obligations represent the
minimum requirements for public involvement, and
their success depends on how they are implemented
in practice (e.g. public discussions need a skilled
facilitator to be meaningful and produce a worthwhile
output).
Local people, hunters, environmental NGOs and
ecologists have been heavily involved in planning the
Green Network, nationally and regionally. They continue
to make an important contribution to some of the Green
Network implementation measures, especially in the
EIA process. In addition to the above mentioned actors,
several other stakeholders are affected by decisions on
Green Network issues.
The hierarchy of the spatial planning system is
organised mainly around basic administrative units
in Estonia (i.e. country, county and municipality). The
Green Network is, to varying degrees, addressed at all
three levels of planning. The current overview deals
with designating the Green Network at the County level.
Start date: 1999.
End date: 2007 at the County level, will be continued
at municipal level.
RESOURCES
In every county, the departments of planning and
development were involved, in total 3-5 persons. In
several cases private consultants were involved.
External costs amounted to 40,000-60,000 per county
per year over 5 years, fully funded by the public budget.
The Estonian methodology on designating green
networks could be adopted in different regions,
considering these main stages (Jagomgi, Sepp, 2002):
- Analysis of the initial nature conservation problems;
- Identication of well-dened objectives of the network;
- Denition of the methodological approach for the
designation of the ecological network and criteria for
identifying its structural elements;
- Analysis of existing databases, identifying the location
of relevant data and possible gaps;
- Identication of potential core areas, ecological corridors;
and nally buffer zones and restoration areas if needed
- Designation of implementation strategy.
GROUPS)
At national level, the promoter is the Estonian
Ministry of the Interior. At the County Level, the
County Government is the main promoter (15 County
Governments in total); at municipal level the Local
Government is the promoter.
County governments coordinated the planning of the
Green Network at a regional level (completed in 2007)
and continue to supervise Green Network planning
more locally. Consultants assist local and regional
governments in land-use planning, including the Green
Network. The Ministry of the Environment and its sub-
divisions give advice mainly on considering the impacts
of the Green Network (e.g. Strategic/Environmental
Impact Assessment (SEA/EIA)).
A wide variety of stakeholders representing different
land-use sectors as well as government, commerce
and civil society have an interest in Green Network
issues at regional and local levels. According to
Estonian planning law, local governments are obliged
to specify the land-use conditions for Green Network
areas dened at county level.
Estonian legislation on spatial planning includes
mechanisms for public involvement in Green Network
planning. More specifically, at regional level the
public should be involved in the nal phases of the
planning process. Public involvement includes a
written consultation period in relation to draft planning
documents for the Green Network, followed by a public
discussion. The same is true at a local level but the
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The main result was the methodology for designating
and dening land use conditions of Green Networks at
county level (Sepp, Jagomgi, 2002). The methodology
was implemented in all 15 counties and, by the end
of 2007, thematic plans in scale 1:50000 had been
compiled and approved.
The Green Network plans at county level, dening
Environmental conditions for settlement and land
use, were reasonably commensurable and had
achieved their goal in every county. A wide range of
stakeholders were involved in the Green Network
planning at county and local levels. However, the
tendency for conicts between construction, forestry
and transport stakeholders and local citizens suggested
that key stakeholders were not sufciently involved in
the planning process.
The results indicated that the planning legislation -
especially at municipal level - should be improved in
order to better implement the Green Network concept
- there is a need for practical suggestions as well as
involvement requirements, supported by direct, open
and exible communication.
Conicts arising during the implementation of Green
Network plans at regional or local level suggest
that in some cases the decision-making process
has failed to bring all relevant parties together and
sufciently consider their interests. Green Network
implementation constrains the activities of land-use
sectors, including forestry, mining, peat extraction,
building/construction and transport. Within some
EIA/SEA processes, conflicts of interest between
foresters and municipalities have emerged, as well as
between peat extraction companies on the one side and
environmental authorities, local residents and NGOs
on the other. Similarly, the activities of real estate,
infrastructure developers and transport planners
have in some regions conicted with the interests of
local residents action groups and nature conservation
stakeholders in maintaining green areas.
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Prof. Kalev SEPP
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural
and Environmental Research.
+372 7313777
kalev.sepp@emu.ee
Website: www.emu.ee
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Successful implementation of the Green Network
concept should be achieved mostly through territorial
planning at lower levels (municipal) and setting
conditions for land and other resources usage.
According to the Planning Act, the Green Network needs
to be addressed in each municipalitys comprehensive
plan. The plan should specify the boundaries of the
Green Network delineated in county thematic plans and
lay down requirements for land use within the Green
Network at a local level. Therefore, in coming years, local
municipalities should implement the concept of Green
Networks in their spatial plans. By 2010, the Green
Network had been addressed in 70 comprehensive
plans, representing 30% of municipalities.
In the European Union, a concept of Green Infrastructure
is currently under preparation. The themes around the
connectivity of natural areas and green infrastructures
will attract more and more attention in the coming
years at European level as well as in member states.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Ecological networks are designed to take into account
the complex system of interrelationships that governs
exchanges of energy, matter and organisms in the
environment. The main objective of the RERU (Rete
Ecologica Regionale dellUmbria) project is to create a
multifunctional ecological network able to reconcile the
conservation of ecosystems and landscapes with land
development and territorial management in Umbria.
In order to achieve this objective, an interdisciplinary
research group has been set up. Made up of highly
experienced scientists from both inside and outside
Umbria, the RERU research group has drawn up an
overall picture of the current and potential ecological
and territorial situation of the region. As a result,
specific knots and ecological corridors for some
target species have been dened and represented on
a Geographical Information System.
BACKGROUND
Fragmentation of the natural ecosystems and anthropic
pressure cause the degradation and the reduction
of biodiversity in several territories: in particular,
some animal species cannot survive in the specic
landscapes reshaped by human activities. The main
objective of RERU is to create an informative system
able to correlate the ecological needs of the ora and
fauna with the Territorial Urban Plan, in order to face
urban expansion with appropriate tools, avoiding habitat
fragmentation and connecting policies for protected
areas with global strategies for the conservation of
nature. This would help to integrate the ecosystems
into land planning activity, focus the activities around
the restoration and requalication of ecosystems and
optimise the initiatives for the conservation of nature
and landscapes in the whole territory, even in areas not
covered by environmental protection.
Umbrias 1998 Territorial Urban Plan stated that the
largest terrestrial mammals are the most effective
indicators of the state of the Umbrian landscape
and environment, particularly with regard to the
fragmentation and discontinuity of ecosystems -
six mammals have been considered the most
representative umbrella species with respect to the
Regional Ecological Network: the wolf (Canis lupus
lupus, European wild cat (Felis silvestris silvestris),
badger (Meles meles), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus),
porcupine (Hystrix cristata), brown hare (Lepus
europeaeus).
All the work undertaken during the creation of the
RERU was carried out on the basis of a specific
Geographic Information System. The RERU map is
composed of the following morpho-functional entities:
- Regional units of ecological connection (regional
patches);
- Corridors and stepping stones;
- Fragments;
- Matrix (unselected vegetation by umbrella species);
- Anthropogenic barriers ;
- Urban high sensibility areas.
The data is available online through the regional web-
gis system: www.agriforeste.regione.umbria.it
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UMBRIA REGION ECOLOGICAL NETWORK
SETTING UP A MULTIFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGICAL NETWORK IN UMBRIA
* Matrix
Unselected vegetation by wolf, European wild cat,
badger, roe deer, porcupine, brown hare
* Anthropogenic barriers
Urban areas, roads, railways
* Urban Sprawl High Sensibility Areas
Areas characterised by SIX (Sprawl Index) Index
high values, where there is a majority (over 80%)
of regional areas at present time.
SUPERVISORS AND GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY
Regione Umbria, Direzione Agricoltura e foreste, aree
protette, valorizzazione dei sistemi
Naturalistici e paesaggistici, beni e attivit culturali,
sport e spettacolo.-P. PAPA, Dott. R. SEGATORI, Dott.
ssa M. POSSENTI
Cambridge University e Reading University, UK-Prof.
G. PUNGETTI
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Ecological Network of Umbria Region
RERU- Rete Ecologica Regionale DellUmbria
Legend
*Regional patches
Vegetation selected (habitat) by wolf, European wild cat,
roe deer in continuous patches>=50 hectares and by
badger, porcupine, brown hare>= 20 hectares; matrix
buffer <= 250 metres (wolf, roe deer, brown hare) and
<=100 metres (badger, European wild cat, porcupine)
from the habitat patches (connectivity)
Habitats
Connectivity
* Corridors and stepping stones
Habitat patches< 50 hectares (wolf, European wild cat,
roe deer) and < 20 hectares (badger, porcupine, brown
hare) reciprocally distant (connectivity) <= 250 metres
(wolf, roe deer, brown hare) and <= 100 meters (badger,
European wild cat, porcupine) of linear (corridors) or
dotted (Stepping stones) form, connected (<=250 and
<=100 meters of distance) with Regional patches.
Habitat
Connectivity
* Fragments
Habitat patches < 50 hectares (wolf, European wild cat,
roe deer) and < 20 hectares (badger, porcupine, brown
hare) reciprocally distant> 250 metres (wolf, roe deer,
brown hare) and > 100 meters (badger, European wild
cat, porcupine) unconnected (>250 and > 100 metres of
distance) with Regional patches but surrounded by a
matrix <= 250 meters and <= 100 meters (connectivity).
Habitat
Connectivity
GROUPS)
The Umbria Region is the main public establishment
involved in the project. The coordination of the working
group was carried out by the Directorate of Agriculture
and Forest, Protected Areas, Valorisation of Nature and
Landscape Systems, Cultural Goods and Activities,
Sport and Show Business of Umbria Region, together
with the Universities of Cambridge and Reading (UK).
The Universities of Perugia, lAquila, Camerino, and
Wageningen (NL) were also involved in the work group
for the project.
The targeted persons are the people involved in land
planning at the regional and sub-regional level. They
are committed to RERU indications, as the Umbria
Region adopted the RERU indications as a specic
regional Law.
The targeted area is the Umbria region. The scale of
the action is regional, but this tool can be used in all
cases of land planning, even at sub-regional and inter-
regional level.
RESOURCES
Human resources and external expertise involved in the
project included about 25 people from Umbria Region,
University of Perugia (Italy), University of LAquila (Italy),
Universit of Camerino (Italy), University of Cambridge
(United Kingdom), University of Reading (United
Kingdom) and the Wageningen Research Institute
Alterra (Netherland).
Total cost of the project: about 200,000 (public funds)
A cartographic representation of the territory of
Umbria Region for each category of wildlife was
produced, as an output of the inter-disciplinary activity
of the working groups. This contains eight layers of
information: regional patches-habitat, regional patches
-connectivity, corridors and stepping stones-habitat,
corridors and stepping stones-connectivity, fragments-
habitat, fragments-connectivity, matrix, anthropogenic
barriers. This representation was implemented in a
Geographical Information System.
The validity of RERU has proved to be acceptable and
has been tested by means of investigations carried
out in sample areas of high and low anthropization in
Umbria, and through three-month radio-telemetric
tracking of a wolf tted with a radio-transmitted collar.
The RERU was adopted by the Umbria Region through
a Deliberation Act in 2005.
In conclusion, in the whole region, the ecological
corridors supporting biological permeability were
identified, connecting among them the knots
represented by the Nature 2000 sites. RERU is a strong
planning tool for institutions, professionals and citizens
that works at regional level with the objective of making
interventions without subsuming the identity values
of Umbria identity. The lesson learnt is that only with
a multidisciplinary approach is it possible to reach
important results in terms of the conservation of
nature.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Future activities: the application of the RERU at
the territorial level enables local planning choices
and interventions aimed at the rescue, protection,
maintenance and reconstitution of network
connections: rivers, agro-ecosystems, forestry, and
environmental restoration.
The next steps will be to work on increasing the
awareness of the resident population of the importance
of biodiversity and the awareness of the municipalities
of the importance of RERU as a tool for maintaining
biodiversity.
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ppapa@regione.umbria.it
Raoul SEGATORI
segatori@regione.umbria.it
Umbria Region - Servizio Aree Protette, valorizzazione dei Sistemi
Naturalistichi e Paesaggistici
Via Mario Angeloni, 61
06124 Perugia, Italy
Websites: www.regione.umbria.it
www.agriforeste.regione.umbria.it
CEN Aquitaine- Pau, France
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In 2004, the agglomeration of Pau launched an
inventory programme of natural habitats in partnership
with Cen Aquitaine, the Conservatory of Natural Areas
in Aquitaine Region, along with the implementation of
sustainable development tools for the city (Environment
Charter in 2003, Agenda 21 in 2009). The challenge
was to move from a regulatory approach to an
environmental management approach in terms of the
living environment and territorial development.
The operational objective of this work was to create
an inventory of the natural environments of the city
and implement multi-annual management plans for
major sites.
The long term goal is for municipalities to adopt the
requirements of a landscape charter and take into
account natural areas and linkages between them
in planning documents, in order to develop efcient
ecological corridors.
BACKGROUND
Elected ofcials and technicians of the city wanted to
engage in sustainable development, integrating the
consideration of biodiversity. Cen Aquitaine had been
leading operations in the participative management of
protected natural sites in the surrounding territories.
The environment charter developed in 2003 appeared
to be a useful tool for the agglomeration of Pau, in
order to:
- Establish a coherent and readable strategy of
sustainable development;
- Prioritise actions during the time period;
- Mobilise people in the territory;
- Enhance the attractiveness of the town and its
surroundings;
- Mobilise specic nancial aid for all these purposes.
In this process, the agglomeration expressed at an
early stage its interest in integrating biodiversity in the
sectoral policies of the city (transport, urban planning,
economics ...), starting with the inventory of natural areas.
1. The rst action to engage in is an inventory of the
natural sites in the territory: The natural heritage is to
be identied, described scientically and mapped. At
this stage, priority areas can be dened in order to plan
further implementation;
2. Communication of results to the population: It is
necessary to give information about the results to the
local population and especially to local representatives
who make decisions on land planning;
3. Integration of inventory results into urban planning
(i.e. mapping of some corridors in municipalities Local
Urban Plans);
4. Negotiation of agreements with land owners on
major sites, particularly when these owners are public
authorities;
5. Description of management plans: These plans are
written for each site, in three parts
- Diagnostic of the natural heritage and socio-
economical data
- Challenges and objectives
- Planning of actions for the next 5 years;
ECONOMIC
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NATURAL AREAS WITHIN A CITY:
INVENTORY OF NATURAL AREAS IN AN URBAN AGGLOMERATION
IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A NETWORK OF SITES AND BIOLOGICAL CORRIDORS
6. Implementing management plans: this is supposed
to be scheduled in the document. However, each year,
it is necessary to evaluate what has been done, and
modify actions according to the evolution of the context.
This is a good point at which to share the results with
a local steering committee;
7. Evaluating management plans: the evaluation is
based on indicators that are identied in the plan and
are linked to the objectives (such as surface area under
protection and management, presence and number of
targeted species, number of people visiting the site if
it is open to the public...).
GROUPS)
Promoters of the action are:
- The Agglomeration of Pau: an urban group of 14
municipalities, with a total population of 150,000
inhabitants on a territory of 18,500 ha (density: about
814 inh/km). Competences of this local authority:
Economic Development, Spatial Planning, Housing and
urban policy, Environment, Highways.
- Cen Aquitaine and technical partners such as
birdwatchers, bat specialists, entomologists,
geologists, foresters... Cen Aquitaine is a Non
Governmental Organisation dedicated to protecting
biodiversity with the involvement of the territory
actors. Four major missions: Increasing knowledge,
protecting, managing and enhancing the heritage of
remarkable natural sites, in the Aquitaine Region.
Beneficiary groups include municipalities of
the agglomeration, residents as well as elected
representatives. One of the challenges was to raise
their awareness of the natural heritage of their territory
and to implicate them in these actions.
The territory of the action is the Agglomeration of Pau
situated in the Department of Pyrenees-Atlantiques,
Aquitaine Region, France. The total inventoried natural
areas concern 16 types of variable surface covering a
total of 4,900 hectares (more than a quarter, or 27%,
of the territory).
Start date: 2004.
Milestone date: 2009 (Inventory / Communication
actions).
End date: still in progress in 2011, through the
implementation of management plans of natural sites.
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RESOURCES
Financial resources:
For the first step of the programme, including
inventory, communication actions (5 years - 2004 -
2009), about 72,000, with several sources of funding
mobilised, including Agglomeration of Pau (30,000),
Municipalities (4,000), Aquitaine Region (12,000),
General Council of Pyrenees-Atlantiques (26,000).
Costs details: Inventory: 44,000 / Communication
actions: 28,000.
For implementing management plans (from 2009 until
now, still in progress):
- Design of the management plans of sites : 23,000
to 50,000;
- Implementation of the management plans (5 years) :
257,000 (site of Gan) to 368,000 (site of riparian
willow forests), 790,000 (site of north forest of Pau).
Other funding: for management plans, other
complementary partnerships are solicited (Water
Agency, private foundations).
Human resources:
For the rst step of the programme, including inventory
and communication actions (5 years 2004-2009),
about 2.5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE).
For implementing management plans (from 2009 until
now and still in progress): about 1.2 FTE/year
- Agglomeration of Pau: 0.1 to 0.2 full time equivalent
(FTE) for the last 5 years;
- Cen Aquitaine: Inventory : 0.5 FTE on 2 years;
Communication actions : 0.1 FTE on 4 years;
Management plans of sites : 0.2 to 0.5 FTE for 2 years
each.
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The project has resulted in success so far, with the
inventory programmes and communication having
been agreed by the elected representatives of the
agglomeration. Several municipalities have integrated
their land property into the projects. Biological
continuity is considered and taken into account during
the updating of planning documents.
The difficulties encountered included some
municipalities proving reluctant to involve their land
in the process because they feared jeopardising these
areas potentially affected by other projects.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
- Continuing the transfer of information on the
inventory results;
- Taking action to preserve all the priority sites through
management plans;
- Involving residents in inventories;
- Implementing green and blue corridors in the territory
of the agglomeration.
Successive achievements since 2004:
2004-2005: Inventory of 16 natural habitats of the
agglomeration of Pau, 4,350 hectares in total (i.e. 27%
of the territory), including 7 sites classied as priority
1 (sites of major interest in terms of biodiversity and
natural heritage - 900 ha), 5 sites of priority 2 (600
ha) and 4 sites of priority 3 (350 ha + 2,500 ha forests).
2005 2006: Technical assistance for the protection of
natural areas concerned in urban planning documents.
2006 - 2009: Providing information for residents on the
results of the inventory.
2006: Technical assistance to the manager of the north
forest of the city.
2007: Signature of agreement and implementation of
the Management Plan for the fossil site of Gan.
the Management Plan for the willow riparian forest
(along the main river crossing the city).
the Management Plan for the calcareous grasslands
of Gan and Juranon.
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David SOULET (d.soulet@cen-aquitaine.fr)
Conservatoire dEspaces Naturels dAquitaine (CEN Aquitaine) - Maison de la Nature et de lEnvironnement de Pau
Route de Bordeaux, Domaine de Sers, 64000 PAU, France
+33 5 59 32 16 74
Website: www.cen-aquitaine.fr
Patrick CHAUVIN (p.chauvin@agglo-pau.fr) et Alexia QUINTIN (a.quintin@agglo-pau.fr)
Communaut dagglomration Pau-Pyrnes Htel de France
2 Bis place Royale, 64000 PAU, France
+ 33 8 20 06 40 64
Website: http://www.agglo-pau.fr/
Habitat fragmentation has a major impact on biodiversity and is a direct consequence of the development of urban
areas. Cities administrators should share their experiences in this eld.
The grouping of local authorities is an appropriate scale for conducting this type of operation.
The following tasks must be carried out successively: the identication of natural habitats, raising awareness of
the residents and elected ofcials, and nally the implementation of practical actions to preserve natural sites.
The integration of the connectivity of natural areas must be included in urban planning documents.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
After developing a spatial analysis method for identifying
sensitive motorway sections across its entire network,
in June 2009 ASF* initiated a biodiversity conservation
programme in ve French departments. The purpose
of this programme is to study the regional ecosystems
surrounding motorways to gain an understanding of
motorway impacts and implement upgrades jointly
designed by stakeholders.
BACKGROUND
The Grenelle Environment roundtable is an open
multi-party debate in France bringing together
representatives of national and local government
and organisations (industry, labour, professional
associations, non-governmental organisations) on
an equal footing, with the goal of dening the key
points of public policy on ecological and sustainable
development issues for the next five years. The
Grenelle Environment roundtable was officially
launched on 6 July 2007 although the name Grenelle
comes from the rst conference bringing all these
stakeholders together which took place in May 1968
in the Grenelle street.
The second law (Loi Grenelle Environnement II)
deals with several work packages, one of them being
biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. It notably
urges for the setting up of the Green and Blue Network
through infrastructures that abide by the conservation
of outstanding natural habitats (biodiversity core areas)
as well as the biological corridors that connect them.
It offers a way to conserve biodiversity by maintaining
and restoring their ecological function.
The leading cause of biodiversity erosion is habitat
fragmentation. Connectivity barriers created by linear
infrastructure such as motorways are one contributing
factor. The ASF programme is a full-scale experiment
in restoring habitat connectivity along and across
existing motorways by upgrading them to meet the
ecological needs of the regions through which they
run. This experience is also meant to demonstrate the
feasibility of such projects and build momentum for
conservation programmes.
Several additional investigations were conducted in
order to:
- Analyse habitat connectivity through a spatial analysis
method based on landscape ecology and geographical
information system tools;
- Identify the use by wildlife of existing engineering
structures and the ecological functionality of the green
areas or sides of the motorway;
- Suggest upgrades to restore or create terrestrial
and aquatic habitat connectivity along and across the
motorway;
- Implement projects and conduct environmental
monitoring of wildlife use achievements and
effectiveness.
Upgrading the motorway infrastructure to ensure
that it no longer constitutes a connectivity barrier and
restoring ecological function beyond the motorway
requires dialogue with all of the stakeholders. Broad
consultations were therefore carried out to ensure
the consistency and acceptability of every upgrade
project and to enable local stakeholders to take the
programme on board.
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UPGRADING MOTORWAY INFRASTRUCTURE
RESTORATION OF FRAGMENTED ECOLOGICAL CONTINUITIES
GROUPS)
In each department, a non-profit conservation
organisation and an environmental consulting rm
were appointed to operate the programme.
The programme is overseen by the ASF Infrastructure
Technical Department with the support of a Scientic
and Technical Committee set up for the purpose, which
brings together representatives of businesses, research
institutes, regional and departmental authorities and
government administrations.
A crucial success factor is the participation of ASF
motorway operators and local stakeholders, who
implement the actions.
The pilot programme covers 420km of ASFs 2,633
km network and is being carried out in ve French
departments (Drme, Hrault, Hautes-Pyrnes,
Gironde and Charente-Maritime). The ve departments
were selected as being representative of the full range
of ecological regions and landscapes through which
the ASF network runs. The motorways in these ve
departments vary in terms of their age, environmental
features and trafc. They also differ in the progress
they have made on the Green and Blue Network
programme.
The unit chosen for the study is the department, but
habitat connectivity issues often need to be approached
on a regional or even broader scale.
This investigation and consultation phase of the project
carried out in each of the ve French departments,
started in June 2009 and took 14 months to complete.
Work on the upgrades got under way in November 2010
and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2012.
RESOURCES
ASF is investing 15 million in the programme to cover
ecological studies (1.5 million), design, technical
feasibility and construction of 19 upgrades and
ecological monitoring of the structures built (13.5
million) over ve French departments.
The phase involving the ecological studies required
more than 40 people (including 7 engineers and
technicians from ASF). By January 2012, nearly 100
people had worked on different projects in progress
(design and construction).
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The ecological investigations identied both functional
and interrupted ecological connectivity in the five
departments. The crossings used by wildlife were
surveyed and a study of the strategies used by the
various biological groups to cross the motorway or
to use green areas along the motorway land provided
further useful information. The thousands of recordings
and images collected and the hundreds of captures,
markings and monitoring of specimens made the
characterisation of crossings possible.
The various crossing structure configurations
were studied to gain an understanding of their use
by mammals (including bats), insects, reptiles,
amphibians, and sh. For instance:
- The study of the movements of insects, birds and
amphibians above motorways showed the importance
of the surrounding habitat structures along the
corridors.
- Road kill counts (carried out by vehicle and on foot)
provided qualitative and quantitative data on direct
fatalities over a full year.
- The botanical and wildlife investigations in the green
areas of the motorway land and edges identified
species and stopping places previously unknown in
the departments.
- On average, 20% of the land reserves associated
with these ve motorways have strong or very strong
ecological value as refuges.
These observations about the fragmentation of
ecological continuities lead to consider the need to
carry out works of restoration. Existing structures
have to be improved to allow their use by more species.
Terrestrial fauna cannot cross motorway via a large
number of hydraulic structures because there is no
possibility for dry passage inside them. Therefore, to
mitigate the disruption or reduction of connectivity, ASF
undertook 19 upgrade projects comprising:
- 2 ecoducts to foster passage for most animal
species across the motorway;
- 8 culverts to create pathways for meso- and micro-fauna;
- 4 benches inside hydraulic structures to provide;
passage for animals such as otters and European mink
- 3 conversions of motorway overpasses to dual road /
wildlife crossings;
- 1 fish ladder to restore upstream-downstream
sh passage that can also be used by semi-aquatic
mustelidae;
- 1 experimental project in which daytime backlighting
was installed in a hydraulic structure to eliminate the
light barrier that prevents insects from crossing it; the
project includes a study of its effects.
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*Autoroutes du Sud de la France (ASF) is a French transport infrastructure operator and a subsidiary of VINCI, the worlds leading integrated concession-construction group.
ASF has become the leading motorway network in France and the second largest in Europe
...
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FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The ecological conservation programme made it
possible to develop new skills and a form of project
governance that is fully in line with the Grenelle
Environment Forum (a participative debate organised
by the French government, to which many organisations
were invited to discuss sustainable development
issues).
ASF has decided to extend this programme to cover
all operations carried out as part of its environmental
management system. VINCI Autoroutes has made
a focus on the environment a priority and ASF is
committed to making its motorways more and more
environmentally friendly.
The entire programme has made it possible to create a
basis for exchanging information with the government
about future master plans for motorway concessions
and thus promoting biodiversity conservation. More
broadly, environmental upgrades are a principle
of sustainable development and a way to adapt
infrastructure to the changing needs of regions as
they develop.
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Cdric HEURTEBISE
ASF, Infrastructure Technical Department
9 place de lEurope, 92 851 Rueil-Malmaison cedex, France
+33 4 90 39 96 53
cedric.heurtebise@asf.fr
Website: www.asf.fr
The ASF programme presents a replicable methodology to improve motorways or other types of existing linear
infrastructure.
The lessons learned during the investigation and the technical difculties overcome to implement the projects
must be used by other stakeholders to promote this approach. Ecological monitoring provides encouraging results
and demonstrates that is possible to take practical action.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Aarbe is a communal forest located in Errenteria
(Basque Country) and occupied by extensive areas of
beech wood and the largest oak wood in Gipuzkoa and
Bizkaia, surrounding a reservoir that supplies water
to a population of 400,000. In addition to providing
drinking water to over half of the population of the
Gipuzkoa province, Aarbe is home to fauna and ora of
great interest. It is part of the Aiako Harria Natural Park
and Natura 2000 Site of Community Importance (SCI),
and the designation of 920 hectares of the communal
forest as a Forest Reserve Zone aims to guarantee its
conservation. In the Forest Reserve, 51.22 hectares
are associated with the Aarbe reservoir. This Forest
Reserve Zone will be the fourth in the Aiako Harria
Natural Park.
The aim of the activity is to designate a new Reserve
Zone in the Aiako Harria Natural Park, larger and with
a greater biological value than the three currently
in existence. The administrative proposal for this
designation was put forward in 2010 by the City Council
of Errenteria. It involves:
- Changing the policy of the Natural Park, with
the introduction of active policies to restore and
reconstruct the original characteristics of the mature
forest habitats that centuries ago occupied wide areas
of the Basque Country;
- Integrating this new Reserve Zone in the management
plan for the Aiako Harria Natura 2000 Special Area of
Conservation (SAC).
BACKGROUND
Aarbe is in the South of the Basque Country, on the
western foothills of the Pyrenean mountain chain, in
an area facing the Atlantic Ocean (Cantabrian sea).
Aarbe is part of Aiako Harria Natural Park, declared
by the Basque Government in June 1995 and covering
an area of 6,779 hectares. It is predominantly forest, but
is dominated by large areas of commercial exotic wood,
highly dependent on public subsidies and economically
unstable.
In 2004, the European Union declared this Natural
Park a Site of Community Importance (SCI) ES2120006
Aiako Harria, including it in the Natura 2000 Network.
Conservation objectives are mainly aimed at forest and
uvial habitats. The forest types are represented by
acidophilic beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), where a
wide range of indicators and specic forest species
are distributed, including relict and threatened plants,
ferns and invertebrates associated with mature forests
with a large presence of dead wood. In addition, large
areas of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) are found in
Aarbe, which while not constituting habitats included
in the Habitats Directive possess special relevance for
the Basque Country, as along the Cantabrian coast they
are retreating and are currently quite scarce.
The Aarbe communal mountainside, with a public area
of 1,671.74 hectares, has been since time immemorial
the public property of the City Council of Errenteria,
where the reserve is located, and is registered in the
Catalogue of Mountains of Public Use in Gipuzkoa.
The Forest Reserve Zone will occupy an area of 920
hectares, of which 51.22 hectares are associated with
the Aarbe reservoir, which supplies drinking water
to 400,000 inhabitants. To create the Forest Reserve
Zone, it is the responsibility of the Basque Government
to modify the Natural Parks policy. Similarly, the Aiako
Harria Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Management
Plan - subject to approval - is also being dened by the
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LEGAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS TO PROTECT AREAS WITH THREATENED BIODIVERSITY 100
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AARBE RESERVE
DESIGNATION OF A FOREST RESERVE ZONE
Government. Management of the Natura 2000 Network
corresponds, however, to another regional body, the
Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.
During the period 2005-09, a LIFE-Nature project was
developed in Aiako Harria Natural Park. The creation
of the Forest Reserve Zone has no direct link with this
project, in the sense that it is not derived from it, nor
included in it in any way. However, there is a coincidence
in the land involved in both initiatives, and several of
the actions developed within the LIFE-Nature project
were associated with the improvement of structural
complexity in some of the forest and uvial habitats
present in the area of the proposed Forest Reserve
Zone.
This is a local initiative to conserve biodiversity and it
arises from a process of public participation initiated
within the Local Agenda 21 process. Thus, this action
is envisaged in both the Local Agenda 21 Action
Plan for Errenteria (2006-2010), and the Municipal
Environmental Strategy (2009). The City Council of
Errenteria agreed unanimously to proceed to the
declaration of Aarbe as a Forest Reserve in November
2009.
The methodology was based on the forest and habitat
cartography provided by the Provincial Council of
Gipuzkoa that had been used to identify tree stands
containing habitats of community interest (acidophilic
beech woods, as well as acidophilic oak woods). As a
result, almost 920 hectares were dened as a Forest
Reserve Zone.
In the designation of the Aiako-Harria SAC, the
Forest Reserve of Aarbe was included under the
classication of Natural Evolution Zones, dened
as zones of high ecological value with essential key
functional processes for the whole area, or zones
requiring minimal intervention in order to protect
natural habitats or highly endangered species.
These zones are destined for observing the natural
evolution of natural habitats and the wild species
present in them. In particular, low intensity actions
may be considered necessary to accelerate the
evolution of species towards a more favourable state
of conservation, and slow down threats that endanger
their continuity or ecological integrity. Scientific,
educational or general public targeted actions may
be implemented, provided that they do not affect this
integrity. Among other procedures, the eradication of
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LEGAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT TOOLS TO PROTECT AREAS WITH THREATENED BIODIVERSITY 101
exotic species is permitted, along with the opening up
of small clearings.
In the Aarbe Reserve Zone, activities that may
negatively affect the quality of the reservoir waters,
or that are not scientic, educational or for public use
are restricted. Forestry activities are an exception to
this rule and are dened within the area of ecological
restoration. They aim to improve the state of the native
forests.
GROUPS)
The promoter of the creation of the reserve is its owner,
the City Council of Errenteria.
The actors involved with dealing with formal agreements
with the Basque Government and the Provincial Council
of Gipuzkoa, are the Environment Ofce Manager, the
municipal forest ranger, the cartography technician,
and administrative staff.
Citizens in general and in particular those of the
Donostia San Sebastian region, will benet from
this activity. Among the benets that will be obtained
we should highlight the guarantee of a supply of high
quality drinking water for the population of the district.
Errenteria, Basque Country.
Start date: November 2009.
End date: June 2012 (expected).
RESOURCES
This action requires no specic material or nancial
resources.
Human resources:
- Environment Ofce Manager
- Municipal forest ranger
- Cartography technician
- Administrative staff
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No obstacles have been encountered, other than
opposition by 6-8 local hunters. The hunting sector will
hardly see any reduction in hunting areas, particularly
for migratory or winter visitor birds such as the
woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), or sedentary mammals
such as the wild boar (Sus scrofa) and the roe deer
(Capreolus capreolus). Even so, in the Aiako Harria SAC
there are alternatives for carrying out this activity in
thousands of other hectares outside the Reserve Zone,
within the Natura 2000 site, as well as in hundreds
of thousands of hectares in neighbouring provinces.
Since the whole of the Forest Reserve is on public land
belonging to the City Council of Errenteria, the City
Council decided to continue with the designation that
was approved in a council meeting.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Future actions:
- Integrate the Aarbe Forest Reserve Zone into all
planning and management documents.
- Continue restoring biodiversity values in Aarbe.
What to improve: coordination and collaboration among
public authorities involved could be improved further.
Right now, it is not possible to evaluate the results
of the action, as it is still in progress. The evaluation
will be feasible once the Basque Government nishes
writing the management plan for the Special Area of
Conservation (SAC).
The activity was considered to be positive right from
the beginning by local decision-makers. Among likely
factors for success, the following stand out:
- The fact that the whole Reserve Zone belongs to the
municipality of Errenteria makes its requisition simpler.
- The proposal for the designation comes from a public
participation process linked to the Local Agenda 21
Action Plan for Errenteria.
- The outstanding biological values of Aarbe have
been praised in scientic studies and in management
documents at both local and regional level.
- Aarbe acts as a connection element between Natura
2000 sites in Gipuzkoa and neighbouring Navarre.
- Other public bodies that manage water supplies have
shown widely favourable opinions on the designation
of this reserve.
- Similarly, ecology organisations and the most
important conservationists in the region have expressed
favourable opinions on the new Reserve Zone, in
addition to pressing for an extension of the Natura 2000
site towards land situated north of the SAC, to take in
numerous habitats of community interest and provide
a suitable protection system.
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103
- Value of participatory processes.
- Coordination and collaboration among public authorities is
feasible and positive.
- Land planning serves both as an instrument for the protection of
biodiversity, and to recognise and communicate its values.
Iaki AZKARATE
City Council of Errenteria, Basque Country, Spain
+349 43 44 96 03
iazkarate@errenteria.net
Website: www.errenteria.net
Website of the LIFE-Nature project: http://www.lifeaiakoharria.net
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MAICh- Crete, Greece
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Plant Micro Reserves, PMRs, encompass areas of small
surface area (less than 20 ha) and have a dened legal
status. They aim, ideally in a network form, to protect
a selected sample of each of the main populations of
the rarest, endemic or most threatened plant species,
and to develop plant conservation activities (in situ
conservation, ex situ conservation in seed banks,
re-introduction of species, etc.). At the same time,
permanent monitoring systems are established in order
to record and evaluate plant population uctuations
and tendencies.
Such a patchy network of small protected areas, and
the PMR concept in general, should be viewed as a
management tool complementary to the generally
adopted large site strategy that has recently been
applied within the framework of the European Network
of nature conservation, NATURA 2000.
The project CRETAPLANT: A Pilot Network of
Plant Micro-Reserves in Western Crete (a LIFE-
Nature project) constituted the rst attempt to apply
the innovative concept of Plant Micro-Reserves in
Greece. The project objective was the conservation
and enhancement of populations of 6 threatened
plant species and one habitat of priority (protected by
national legislation, international conventions and the
EU Dir.92/43) through:
1. The establishment of Plant Micro-Reserves areas
with a legal status;
2. Fencing, pathway construction and installation of
informative signs in PMRs;
3. Installation of a permanent monitoring system for
the study of plant populations;
4. Conservation of plants out of the Micro-Reserves,
in the botanical gardens of MAICh and the Forest
Directorate and in the MAICh seed bank;
5. The active involvement of local populations as a
result of increased awareness and appreciation of
nature conservation. Dissemination and collaboration
with the local communities and specic target groups:
local authorities and administrators, shepherds, hikers,
nature lovers, ecotourism operators and eco-tourists,
environmental education instructors, students and
young people in general.
Another goal of the project was the improvement of
the scientic knowledge on the biology, ecology and
detailed distribution of the threatened plants, as well
as the elaboration for the rst time of a long-term
monitoring plan. The purpose of the establishment of
the areas of Plant Micro-Reserves (with a strict legal
status) within the larger areas of NATURA 2000 sites
they belong to, was the creation of an efcient legal tool
for the management and protection of the habitats and
populations of these rare plant species.
Apart from the obvious goal of contributing to the
protection of Western Cretes natural heritage,
CRETAPLANT was a pilot and demonstration project
that aimed also to constitute a useful tool and a
practical guide towards integrated and sustainable
development planning (in the field of biodiversity
conservation), at both regional and national level.
BACKGROUND

Around 1990, in the Region of Valencia (Spain), Emilio
Laguna conceived the concept of the Plant Micro-
Reserve, PMR, as a novel suggestion for the in situ
conservation and management of threatened and
rare plants. It was put into practice in 1994 within the
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PLANT MICRO-RESERVES
CRETAPLANT - A PILOT NETWORK OF PLANT MICRO-RESERVES
IN WESTERN CRETE
context of a relevant European LIFE project. The idea
was successfully implemented, and has been applied in
other regions of Spain, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
The Mediterranean bio-geographical region is the
most bio-diverse in Europe, boasting a high number
of endemic ora on the islands and mountains of the
Mediterranean Sea. Crete is particularly rich in plant
life. However, its plants are subject to threats, primarily
from human activities, such as tourism, farming
(including the grazing of farm animals), uncontrolled
access to important habitats, fires, and habitat
modification through deforestation, drainage and
climate change. Crete has 14 plant species included
in Annex II of the Habitats Directive (92/43) eight of
these have priority conservation status - and the Greek
authorities proposed 38 Natura 2000 sites that include
populations of these plant species.
The 6 target plant species and the target habitat of the
project are all included in the Annexes of the Habitats
Directive, and some of these are also protected by the
Bern Convention, as well as by the Greek national law.
A detailed inventory and mapping process was carried
out for each PMR, which recorded the location and
density of each species. This information was then used
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to develop a management plan for each PMR area, all
of which were already in public ownership.
Long-term monitoring plans were also drawn
up for each species in order to determine the
factors that affect their conservation. Some of the
parameters monitored included: climate conditions;
soil characteristics; interaction with other plants;
the presence of animals; and human activities. The
project established permanent monitoring plots, with
meteorological and environmental sensors.
In collaboration with the Chania Forestry Service, a
warden was also hired to guard each PMR.
The project also collected seeds of target species
in order to study their germination and assess their
viability. The seeds are currently stored in the MAICh
Seed Bank, and seedling nurseries were established in
the MAICh Botanical Garden and the Alpine Botanical
Garden at Omalos (mountains of Lefka Ori). These
seeds and plants can be used to restore and reinforce
the natural populations of the target species.
The visitor centre established at MAICh and the
information centre of the Forest Directorate of Chania
(at Omalos) continue to disseminate the projects goals
and results as well as to enhance the environmental
awareness of inhabitants and tourists.
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...
GROUPS)
Promoters: The Cretaplant project was coordinated
by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
(NKUA) in collaboration with the Mediterranean
Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh) and the Forest
Directorate of Chania (FDC) of the Region of Crete.
Target groups: local administration authorities,
local inhabitants in the areas of the Micro-Reserves,
teachers, school children, students, tourism agencies
(particularly those dealing with alpine tourism and eco-
tourism), mountaineering & climbing groups, general
public.
LOCATION AND TIMESCALE
OF THE ACTIVITIES
The project was realised within the boundaries of three
major proposed Sites of Community Importance (pSCIs
- Natura 2000 sites) of the Chania Prefecture in Western
Crete, Greece. Agriculture, stockbreeding and tourism
are the main occupations of the inhabitants in most of
the wider areas that these sites (and their environs)
cover. The Reserves Network in Western Crete (Chania
Prefecture) comprises 7 reserves (of an area less than
10 hectares each).
Start date: September 2004.
End date: December 2007.
RESOURCES
Human resources: Scientists (Plant Biologists,
Conservation experts, Foresters, GIS experts),
Technicians (Field Assistants), Visitor guide, Gardener,
Wardens.
Time spent by the team: Full time equivalent spent by
the personnel was 8.48 (40 months).
Activity total funding: 931,650
- EU LIFE Programme funding (75%): 698,738
- National funds (25%): 232,912
The results of CRETAPLANT are as follows:
- In situ and ex-situ conservation of the target plant
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species and habitats and protocols for seed storage,
germination and seedling cultivation (more than 60
different seed lots for the target species and other
important plant species of the PMRs collected and
preserved in the seed bank; more than 500 different
germination experiments conducted for dening the
optimum germination protocol for the most important
species of the PMRs);
- Reduction of unintentional human impact by access
control, full avoidance of trampling, minimisation
of the collection of live plant specimens and total
exclusion of grazing (affecting all plants) resulted in
the enhancement of natural populations through the
elimination of browsing pressure on both seedlings
and mature plants;
- Environmentally-friendly approach and specific
interventions of local authorities (increased awareness
of visitors, positive attitude of target groups) through a
huge information campaign:
- Events in 8 schools (in the vicinity of PMRs);
- 2 Student Weeks organised at MAICh (May 2006
and 2007, with the participation of over 1300
students in total);
- 7000 20 page booklets distributed (in Greek and
English);
- 500 large posters distributed to students, schools
and guests of the Visitors Centre;
- 4000 T-shirts produced, decorated with original
coloured drawings of the 7 target plants of the
Project;
- Other events included 3 dissemination meetings
for local authorities, 2 seminars for environmental
education tutors and 1 seminar for ecotourism
operators;
- An experts workshop took place in Chania in
November 2005, with the signicant participation of
20 experts on nature conservation and management
from Greece and 6 European countries;
- A project movie on DVD (in Greek with English
subtitles) was produced for the general public,
illustrating nature conservation and Plant Micro-
Reserves;
- A bilingual (Greek and English) website was
launched in 2005, hosting all CRETAPLANT
activities and additional relevant information;
- More than 10 scientific papers with Project
related activities were presented at international
conferences;
- 1 Visitor Centre with a permanent Project
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PMRs that would cover many and diverse areas in
large regions (for example a network of PMRs all
along Crete or along Greece or in the Mediterranean),
would be more efcient for both the conservation of
the biodiversity and the promotion of ecotourism in
these regions. In addition, a higher involvement of
private land owners in such a network would improve
the dimension of ecotourism development, as is the
case in Spain: in Valencia, the network includes about
250 Micro-Reserves, some on public land but others
on private land whose owners prot from the parallel
development of ecotourism activities in the PMRs.
This kind of project could be easily applied to areas with
botanical richness such as the European Mediterranean
regions.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The CRETAPLANT Project aims to promote alternative,
mild economic activities in the reserves, particularly in
the tourism sector.
The prospects for the coming years, particularly those
concerning the inclusion of PMRs in a framework of
sustainable local development, that would be friendlier
both to local communities and natural habitats, are
summarised as follows:
- Cooperation with tourist agents and alternative
tourism groups (hikers, alpinists, cyclists) in order to
enhance tourists interest and awareness regarding
the natural environment of Western Crete and the
conservation activities that have been undertaken.
- Cooperation with municipalities for the distribution
of information leaets at tourist points.
- Information meetings with other professional groups
(stock breeders, farmers, trade associations) towards
achieving the widest possible social consensus.
- Cooperation with the Management Authorities of
Protected Areas, local authorities and decision-makers
for the expansion of the network of PMRs.
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Exhibition and 2 Alpine Botanical Gardens were
created;
- Improvement of the scientic knowledge about
the target plant species and habitats: Inventory
Report with details for the 6 plants/1 habitat
targets, detailed digital maps and Management
Plans for each of the 7 PMRs, Monitoring Plans
and Monitoring Reports for each of the 7 PMRs and
reports on the genetic diversity for the targeted
plants (after DNA sequencing analysis for more
than 90 different samples);
- Installation of a permanent monitoring system
(including the installation of 9 meteorological
micro-stations);
- Promotion of the PMR concept as an alternative tool
for natural conservation: The project dened the legal
status of PMRs in Greek law, along with the Natura 2000
sites. The proclamation of the 7 PMRs (with an area
of 1to 7.2 ha each) as wildlife refuges was ofcially
approved in 2009 by the regional authority of Crete.
CRETAPLANT was awarded as one of the best LIFE
Nature projects for 2009 by the LIFE Nature Unit,
Directorate-General for the Environment European
Commission.
No political problems arose, as local authorities agreed
to participate in the projects Advisory Committee in
order to be informed and participate in the projects
decisions. Also, local meetings and briengs helped
the project to be understood and accepted by the local
communities. No nancial problems arose either, since
funding was sufcient and the continuation of the PMRs
does not require a signicant cost. Since the PMRs
were established on public land, within the boundaries
of proposed Sites of Community Importance, their
initial status was safeguarded. Moreover the project
dened the legal status of PMRs in Greek law, within
the Natura 2000 sites.
This action was a pilot project in the area of Western
Crete. The creation and expansion of a network of
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The CRETAPLANT experience has taught us all that, apart from the hard work, the secret of success
lies in the widest possible interdisciplinary collaborationa as well as in social consensus and synergy.
Prof. Costas A. THANOS,
Dept. Botany, Fac. Biology, Univ. of Athens,
Athens 15784, Greece
tel. +30-210-7274655, fax +30-210-7274656,
cthanos@biol.uoa.gr
Christini FOURNARAKI, Biologist MSc,
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICh),
Alsyllio Agrokepiou, PO Box 85,
Chania 73100, Greece
tel. +30-28210-35053, fax +30-28210-35001
ora@maich.gr
Website: http://cretaplant.biol.uoa.gr

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The activity consists of developing a territorial planning
instrument to preserve the wetlands in the Basque
Country. The goal of this activity is to preserve and protect
all the wetlands of the Basque Country, without distinction
as to their relevance. The specific objectives are:
1. Guarantee the conservation of each wetland areas
ecological, landscape, productive and scientific/
cultural values
2. Enable the improvement, recovery and rehabilitation
of landscape, fauna, flora and vegetation in
impoverished wetland areas, either due to activities
incompatible with their structure and capacity, or due
to specic negative impacts
3. Establish lines of action that enable given value to
natural resources
To this aim, the Territorial Plan for Wetland Areas
makes an inventory of all of the wetlands within the
Basque Country and classies them among different
typologies. It takes also into account their conservation
value and degree of protection. In those cases in which
they are not included in the Basque Network of Natural
Protected Areas, the Plan establishes the regulation of
uses and activities in accordance with their capacities.
Regulation is compulsory for 19 wetlands considered
very relevant, and in the more than 300 other cases, the
Plan makes recommendations for local authorities. It
can be summarised as follows:
- Inventory of the wetlands of the Basque Country;
- Cartography and mapping;
- Specic recommendations for protection according
to typologies;
- Classication of 18 types of wetland according to
origin and function;
- Compulsory regulation of land uses and activities for
19 wetlands.
BACKGROUND
The wetlands are acknowledged as being one of the
richest and most unique ecosystems but, at the same
time, one of the most fragile in the biosphere. Numerous
protected areas are wetlands. However, regardless
of their individual qualities and the protection which
some of them receive through nature conservation
regulations, wetlands constitute a cultural and natural
heritage of great interest in regard to the functions they
have and the fact that they support numerous human
activities.
In the Basque Country the wetlands were for centuries
considered marginal areas, which should be drained
and recovered for agriculture or in order to allow for
urban growth. Thus the wetland areas have been and
still are - suffering serious damage, fundamentally due
to the pressures of human activities.
The protection that other legal instruments give to
these specic ecosystems is only partial. On the other
hand, in many cases the wetland itself does not have
enough ecological interest to be protected by the
instruments related to Nature conservation. In these
cases, territorial planning could be a useful instrument
to protect the wetlands.
The tools described in Law 4/1990, of 31
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May, on
Spatial Planning in the Basque Country in order to
regulate Territory in the Region are the Spatial Planning
Directives and the Territorial Plans. They represent the
general reference framework for land use regulation.
Therefore, the Territorial Plan for Wetlands was seen
as the ideal tool to identify, inventory, diagnose, dene
and establish the protection and regulation of wetlands,
while respecting their own particular regime, which
has provided them with special protection through
legislation on the conservation of nature.
ECONOMIC
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TERRITORIAL PLAN FOR WETLANDS
The Territorial Plan for Wetlands is the result of a
process of the study and conciliation of different
interests along with the forecasts of other sectors.
This process started formally in March 1998, with
the approval of the project (or advance document)
by the Basque Committee for Territorial Planning.
This advance included technical and informative
documents (inventory, cartography and diagnosis),
justication and proposals. Immediately (April 1998),
the advance was presented to all of the territorial
authorities of the Basque Country for analysis. Thirty-
ve suggestions and/or comments were received. Some
of them were taken into account and the document
modied (November 1998). This modied document
was to be the document for initial approbation. Prior
to the initial approbation, the document was put out
for public consultation and 78 suggestions were
received. After carefully studying and considering each
suggestion, modications arising from some of these
were introduced to the document, which was initially
approved in April 2001. From there to the provisional
approbation, administrative reports were gathered and
Environment and other control committees saw the
proposal and reported on it. The nal approbation was
reached in 2004 by the Decree.
- Field and desk studies: Technical Document;
- Start of the administrative process (1998):
- Advance document;
- Initial approbation (2001):
- Public participation;
- Gathering of suggestions;
- Discussion;
- Drafting the document for the provisional approbation;
- Provisional approbation (2003):
- Reports from Control committees;
- Drafting document for denitive approbation;
- Denitive approbation (2004): Decree 160/2004, of 27
July, by which the Territorial Plan for wetlands in the
Basque Country comes into force.
GROUPS)
The Basque Ministry for Environment and Territorial
Planning was the action promoter.
Target groups are mainly the local authorities and
citizens in general. Local authorities as well as citizens
must abide by the Plan. Local authorities have to apply
it to their authorisations. All of them (local authorities,
different administrations, stakeholders, researchers,
naturalists and the general public) have been informed
through the whole process and invited to discuss
the proposal at different stages by means of direct
109
consultation (to the authorities or the stakeholders)
and/or publication of announcements in the main
newspapers.
The action affects the whole territory of the Basque
Country Region (or Euskadi).
Start date: 1998.
End date: 2004.
RESOURCES
The activity was fully funded by the General budget of
the Basque Country. The multidisciplinary team in the
Department of Environment and Land Planning was
composed of 6 people, working part time on the Plan
during the whole process.
External expertise, mainly for eld studies, was needed.
External costs were 130,000.
The main outputs of the Plan are:
- Inventory of the wetlands of the Basque Country;
- Cartography and mapping;
- Specic recommendations for protection according
to typologies;
- Classication of 18 types of wetland according to
origin and function;
- Compulsory regulation of land uses and activities for
19 wetlands;
- Some restoration projects developed;
- Some research projects developed;
- First actualisation of the inventory (2010).
The encountered problems relate to the reconciliation of
very different interests to reach a minimum agreement
in areas where pressures (economic activities, urban
development) are high. Negotiation has been a means
to overcome the problem.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Future steps for improvements include:
- Monitoring;
- Ecosystem restoration;
- Public use compatible with conservation (education,
tourism);
- Control for preventing irreparable damages.
Better coordination between research and planning is
needed, as well as better communication to the general
public. Of course, funding for restoration projects is crucial.
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The inventory of wetlands is a
basic tool for monitoring and is
crucial for preventing damage.
Territorial planning reveals itself
as a very useful and effective
instrument to protect wetlands.
Urbanising projects have been
given up or modied because of
the Territorial Plan for Wetlands.
Azucena SALAZAR
Direccin de Biodiversidad y Participacin Ambiental - Gobierno Vasco
c/Donostia-SanSebastin 1, 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
+34 (9)45 019544
azu-salazar@ej-gv.es
Websites: http://www.ingurumena.ejgv.euskadi.net/r49-578/es/
www.euskadi.net/biodiversidad

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COMPLIANCE AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR TAKING INTO ACCOUNT BIODIVERSITY IN LAND PLANNING 110
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and hydraulic works, urban development, mining,
energy, etc.). Specically regarding urban development,
they provide preventive and corrective measures for
projects that have to do with urban development
activities.
With the publication of these criteria, two objectives
are pursued:
- To give greater transparency to the process
of administrative decision-making: therefore
stakeholders will be able to know in advance the
criteria by which administrative decisions are made
and apply the preventive and corrective measures given
by the Administration for their projects;
-To facilitate the internal work of the Administration,
particularly the work of public servants responsible for
handling the various environmental procedures.
BACKGROUND
The Region of Murcia, as part of the Mediterranean
area, has a high responsibility for the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity. In particular, an
important (but not exclusive) portion of this biological
richness is related to the environmental conditions of
the South East Iberian arid area, of great peculiarity,
especially in a European context, due to the diversity
of habitats (spatial heterogeneity) and to the extended
human pressure (deforestation, wild res, agriculture,
grazing, etc.).
Murcias Region has an important protected natural
heritage represented by:
- 19 Protected Natural Areas;
- 448,690 hectares of Natura 2000 Network;
- 481,783 hectares of Natural and Community Important
Habitats;
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Requirements for objectivity at the service of
general interest, and the principles of transparency
and participation proclaimed in the State Law on
Legal Regime of Public Governments, coupled with
experience in environmental management at the
regional level, have led to the development of a regional
standard for informing the general public on the daily
work of the regional environmental administration.
A set of technical criteria enabled the regulation
of natural environment aspects (including the
preservation of biodiversity), by establishing denitions
and harmonising standards for developing activities
compatible with the natural value of sites. Some of
these technical criteria include issues related to urban
development.
The technical criteria are classied into three areas:
1. Authorisation approvals: public servants have a
structured system enabling the analysis of specic
regulations affecting each domain of the natural
environment;
2. Specic preventive measures: standards that any
project must meet in order to obtain approval from
the Directorate General for the Environment of the
Regional Ministry;
3. Curative, compensatory and environmental
improvement measures: in this area, we include all
the compensatory measures and incentives to Natura
2000, and measures for the restoration of degraded
areas, transplanting plants, or the creation of useful
elements for wildlife, among other activities.
These technical criteria are applied to different types
of projects having an impact on the environment
(transportation, agriculture, livestock, tourism, marine
DEFINING TECHNICAL CRITERIA
FOR REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION:
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
COMPLIANCE AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR TAKING INTO ACCOUNT BIODIVERSITY IN LAND PLANNING 111
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previously used in the various documents of the
Directorate-General, reports, technical assistance,
environmental impact statements, etc.
3. Diagnosis of weaknesses and opportunities.
In view of the previous inventory, we proceeded to
identify aspects of each topic that should be completed,
specied or even corrected.
As far as possible, updated information available
through the Internet and literature available from the
Directorate General is integrated.
4. Proposal:
Preliminary technical criteria for regulating aspects of
the natural environment.
GROUPS)
The action promoter is the Directorate General for the
Environment (DGE) of the Region of Murcia.
The target groups are private promoters of projects,
technical experts on the environment, and the general
public.
The territorial scope of application of these criteria is
the Autonomous Community of Murcias Region.
Start date: June 2008
End date: ongoing
- 17 Wildlife Protection Areas;
- 23 Flora and Fauna protected species (Community
interest species);
- 18,539 hectares of wetlands;
- 56,455 hectares of Public Forest;
- Ecological Corridors;
- 2,182 km cattle trails, etc.
In order to safeguard the natural heritage of the
Murcia Region, as opposed to the urban development
experienced in recent years, and in accordance with
state regulations concerning natural protection (Law
4/2007, Natural Heritage and Biodiversity), it has
been decided that environmental protection should
prevail over urban planning since natural heritage
and biodiversity play an important social function
through their contribution to the health and welfare
of the people, and their role in social and economic
development.
Therefore, in order to promote the environmental
sustainability of urban development and the
conservation of natural environments, the Directorate
General for the Environment developed a set of criteria.
The development of the technical criteria is based on
the establishment of a set of tools that streamline
the environmental assessment processes for a plan
or project, obtaining licenses and permits, and the
responses on the feasibility and compatibility with the
natural environment of all kinds of public and private
projects.
The key steps of the action are:
1. Selection of subjects for development of criteria.
- Ecological corridors;
- Bands of protection (buffer areas);
- Compensatory measures through the conversion of
forest areas;
- Countervailing measures for the conditions for Natura
2000 (ora, fauna and Habitats of Community Interest);
- Preventive, mitigating and compensating measures
for protected wild ora and fauna;
- Consideration of the natural heritage listed, heritage
trees, geological sites, places of interest to botanists,
wetland inventory, etc;
- Assessment of Community Interest Habitats outside
the Natura 2000 Network;
- Occupation of public forests.
2. Inventory of technical background for each topic.
The sources of information available on the criteria
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FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The success of this activity lies in the knowledge and
implementation of the criteria by the stakeholders, so
communication tools will be improved. Over the next
few years, these technical criteria should be approved
by the autonomous community.
RESOURCES
External cost: 40,000, 100% equity capital from the
Directorate General for the Environment.
Human resources: 10 technical experts from the DGE:
- Project Management from the DGE: 2 technical
experts (part time)
- External Assistance Staff hired: 3 technical experts
(full time)
These criteria provide greater transparency for
the administrative process of decision-making and
facilitate the work of public servants, particularly in the
processing of the various environmental procedures.
From the point of view of the stakeholders, they will be
able to know in advance which criteria will be applied.
These technical criteria include defining areas of
inuence of the Natura 2000 sites and of protected
natural areas, with the established of a minimum
protection distance, enabling stakeholders to know
if their project affects the Natura 2000 network and
therefore requires an appropriate assessment to
determine its implications for the Natura 2000 site.
These criteria enable the establishment of buffer zones,
consisting of strips of land adjacent to protected areas
and Natura 2000 sites, public utility forest and other
natural sites, enabling the attenuation of the impacts
of different activities or projects. These zones are
dened based on the following parameters: 1) Length
of the buffer zones, 2) Width of the buffer zones and
3) Activities allowed in the buffer strip.
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9
COMPLIANCE AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR TAKING INTO ACCOUNT BIODIVERSITY IN LAND PLANNING
It is a good tool for giving greater transparency to the process of administrative decision-making.
Good communication between stakeholders is necessary for the better implementation of the criteria.
C/ Catedrtico Eugenio beda, n 3; 30008 Murcia, Spain
+34 968 228892
http://www.murcianatural.carm.es
Website: http://www.murcianatural.carm.es/web/guest/
visor-contenidos-dinamicos?artId=163819
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This case exposes the experience of preparing impact
reports about how plans and programmes can affect
biodiversity. Reports are issued in application of
Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects
of certain plans and programmes on the environment,
implemented in Spain in Law 9/2006.
These reports regard to the following points:
- Protected natural areas (parks, protected biotopes,
Biosphere reserves, areas of natural interest, and others);
- Locations in the Natura 2000 network;
- Areas of special concern for endangered species of
fauna and ora;
- Special protection areas designated within regional-
level land use plans (i.e. wetlands, seashore);
- Native forests;
- Habitat types of Community Interest;
- Ecological connectivity, according to the regional
network of ecological corridors;
- Landscape.
These reports are part of the administrative procedure
of the environmental assessment of land use plans.
There are no compulsory rules for most of them, so,
usually, these recommendations have no binding force.
BACKGROUND
The antecedents of these reports lie in the
environmental impact assessment of projects. The
Directorate for Biodiversity has established legal
protection for some areas (such as protected areas) for
20 years. Studies to improve knowledge of biodiversity
have also been developed. The impact reports use these
studies to make environmental impact assessments
more accurate.
Reports traditionally include biodiversity elements
(such as protected areas and endangered species).
They underestimate the biological importance of
the remaining territory, resulting in insufficient
understanding of diffuse ecological processes. For
the last fteen years, occupied soil has increased 18
times more quickly than the population in the Spanish
Basque region; if this trend continues, the whole
regional territory will be occupied by infrastructure,
residential areas and areas of economic use. Only
islands of biodiversity would be retained. The
authorities responsible for land planning do try to avoid
urban spreading, but not sufciently. By emphasising
the impact on diffuse biodiversity, the reduction of
soil occupation is encouraged, without involving any
signicant element of biodiversity.
ECONOMIC
ECOLOGICAL
SOCIAL
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORTS
REPORTS ABOUT HOW PLANS AND PROGRAMS CAN AFFECT BIODIVERSITY
In each report, it is considered that the developer of the
urban development or land development plan should
take into account the following sustainability criteria:
1. Justify the need for the plan in relation to its
environmental effects;
2. Justify that the minimum area possible is reclassied
in order to satisfy the needs that have been detected;
3. Uncouple the artificialization of land from
demographic growth. Reduce the rate of articialized
land per inhabitant;
4. Take greater advantage of articialized land before
occupying new land surfaces;
5. Use up all land designated as suitable for urban
development before designating new areas for those
purposes. If an area previously designated as suitable
for urban development in a planning instrument is
deemed to be not suitable later, its designation should be
changed accordingly in the planning instrument itself;
6. Avoid affecting special elements of biodiversity
(autochthonous vegetation, habitats of endangered
species, habitats of community interest, rivers and
streams, wetlands, hedges );
7. Justify in environmental terms the locations chosen
compared to the other alternatives, including the
alternative do nothing;
8. Maintain or improve the overall state of the
biodiversity and its capacity to provide environmental
services. Give priority to the prevention of environmental
damage compared to its compensation;
9. Compensate any effective loss of natural capital
considered to be unavoidable. The following elements
must be dened in the planning instrument:
- Location of compensation based on a study that
denes priorities based on:
- degraded zones which should be recovered
- network of local corridors
- opportunities
- That the area of land where the compensation
measures will take place will be effectively attached
to the total area being designated, for instance, a
plot that will hold uses that will benet the whole
community
- That the cost of the compensation measures is a
cost of the urbanisation of the new sector
- That the compensation measures must be carried
out before awarding building licences;
10. Avoid the generation of new induced developments
and remote urbanisation.
Recently, indicators of environmental objectives
and principles of sustainability have begun to be
incorporated, such as:
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- Area occupied by habitats of interest, both European
and regional;
- Area protected by municipal planning (categories of
Special Protection and Protection of Surface Waters,
wetlands, imposed determining factors);
- Percentage of the articialized area in relation to the
total area in the plan;
- Number of inhabitants per hectare of urban and land
ready for development;
- Area and density of transport infrastructures.
Furthermore, a checklist has been dened, composed
of biodiversity key elements (protected areas, habitats,
species, processes, territorial connectivity and
landscape) based on the environmental information
available in the biodiversity information system of the
Basque Country (http://www.euskadi.net/biodiversity)
and in Geoeuskadi (http://www.geoeuskadi.net). The
consideration of these elements in the plan is assessed.
GROUPS)
The action promoter is the Directorate for Biodiversity,
which is a part of the Environment Department of
the Basque Regional Government. The Directorate
for Biodiversity acts as a consultation body for the
environmental authority in charge of the strategic
environmental assessment and the reports issued from
part of the administrative report on the environmental
evaluation of the plan or programme in question.
The reports will be sent to the town councils, Provincial
Councils, other sector administrations (industry,
infrastructures, etc.) and the Committee on Land
Planning in the Basque Country.
This affects the whole Community of the Basque
Country. Reports are written throughout the year
and their number depends on the number of plans
promoted at different local and sectorial levels. Figures
fell in 2011, with 170 reports. The time taken to process
each report is variable, depending on the complexity of
the plan, and can take between one month and several
years.
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FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The recommendations that are formulated in the reports
issued from the Biodiversity Ofce are not always or
sufciently taken into account by the developers of
plans or by the administrations responsible for their
approval, but we envisage that the insistence on the
need to appropriately consider the conservation needs
of Biodiversity will lead in time to them being better
appreciated.
RESOURCES
In the Biodiversity Ofce, there is a technician with
full time dedication to the elaboration of this kind of
report, who has the external technical assistance of a
consultancy service which costs around 80,000/year
and the sporadic collaboration of other technicians
from the same administrative unit.
There are no direct results of impact assessment
reports on biodiversity. However, expectations are that
these reports improve effectiveness for:
- the compulsory protection of biodiversity elements,
through recommendations that are bound by law;
- the availability of information on unknown biodiversity
elements, for information is not easily available through
other means.
The structure and the contents of the reports must be
reviewed and improved continually, bearing in mind
the experience acquired and the knowledge available.
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Pedro ORTEGA
Basque Government - Directorate of Biodiversity and Environmental Participation
Donostia-San Sebastian, 1
01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
+34 945016961
pedro-ortega@ej-gv.es
Website: www.euskadi.net/biodiversidad
Taking in account diffuse biodiversity elements improves decision-making about land use, and helps to achieve
biodiversity protection.
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Arsial, Italy
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The safeguarding and governance of Tolfa Mountains
was possible thanks to the active participation of
local communities associated with the Agricultural
University of Allumiere (from the Latin Universitas
in the sense of Universi Cives that means the union
of all citizens); the Agricultural Universities are
organisations which preserve common rights dating
from the Feudal Age and today represent a different
development model.
The project is an original way to maintain the presence
of a population in an area considered as marginal.
It also enables the active conservation of a farming
system which preserves agrarian biodiversity in a
natural environment. The operation has the following
purposes:
- to increase the empowerment of inhabitants in the
management of common lands;
- to practice farming and husbandry in harmony with
the natural environment through the introduction of
certied organic farming systems, the conservation of
free grazing pastures, the active safeguarding (on-farm
conservation) of autochthonous animal populations
(Maremmano cow, Tolfetano horse, Roman Latium
Maremma horse, Allumierasco donkey);
- to exploit the Agrarian Universitys directly-managed
organic farm, growing organic durum wheat, and
forage (horse bean, oat, hay) necessary to feed the
Maremmana cattle;
- to recognise, and use for productive goals, the
common social capital (creation of micro enterprises,
cultural valorisation of the skills);
- to enhance traditional quality products, Maremmana
beef (typical breed of this environment, characterised
by lyre-shaped horns, freely raised on poor pastures
rich in spontaneous plants giving peculiar organoleptic
properties to the meat), spontaneous vegetables and
herbs, mushrooms, chestnuts and berries;
- to enhance the contribution of landscape in the
economical development of the area through enlarging
the rural touristic offer (horse riding, archaeological
tours, farm reception);
- to protect the natural biodiversity and in particular the
beech forest of Allumiere. The Mesophyll low forest
of Allumiere Site of Community Importance (SCI)
covers 628 ha at a mean altitude of 428 m above sea
level. The SCI includes a priority habitat, Apennines
Beech Woods, enlisted into the Habitat Directive of
the European Union. The beech forest of Allumiere
is peculiar as it is situated below the usual altitude
for Apennines beech woods (1200-1800 m above sea
level). At this site, peculiar climate conditions enable
us to nd, only 13 km from the sea, a relict of the lost
ice ages.
BACKGROUND
The peculiar common utilisation of the lands that had
been developed in a sustainable way over the centuries
by the Agricultural University of Allumiere initiated this
project.
Before the Unication of Italy, the land was owned by the
Romana Apostolic Chamber, heritage of the Pontical
State and, over the course of centuries, inhabitants were
allowed different additional rights (rewood, berries
and other wild fruit picking, and animal grazing); at
present there is a system of common ownership. The
common organisation management is ruled by National
Law 1927 n. 1766 and National Law 1930 n. 1078. In
1977, the responsibility was transmitted to regions
thanks to Republic President Decree n. 616.
ECONOMIC
ECOLOGICAL
SOCIAL
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DEVELOPMENT OF BIODIVERSITY-LINKED LANDSCAPE HERITAGE 118
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COMMON LANDS LANDSCAPE:
PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT OF A TERRITORY FOR ACTIVE CONSERVATION
OF FARM AND NATURAL BIODIVERSITY
The Agricultural University of Allumiere is a public
institution. The University is an administrative and
management body that is subject to Municipal,
Regional and National Laws. This kind of institution is
called a Land management body. The commons are
the property of the local community residents of the
area. The University is an elective body. The members
of the Directive Board are elected by the commoners.
The electoral base is constituted by all the members
(shareholders). Members of the Agricultural University
of Allumiere are all residents, regardless of voting age
and employment status, and have been permanent
residents of the municipality of Allumiere for at least
5 years. Later, the Universit Agraria obtained a legal
private statute and became autonomous. Its statutes
and norms are subject to approval by the Regional body.
The Grazing Rights (Fida Pascolo) statute rules the
relationships among the entitled to the allowed rights
(Utili essenziali), and these are described by specic
rules that limit grazing areas, grazing seasons, kinds
of animal entitled (donkeys, horses and cows, versus
sheep, goats and pigs, which are banned) and the
administrative requirements.
In 1999, 500 hectares owned and managed directly by
the University organisation were dedicated to organic
farming (however owing to the characteristics of the
territory and for the type of the husbandry, the farm
had been organic ante litteram for 500 years). The
area has a high natural value from the point of view of
vegetation, birds and sh fauna and was appointed as
an SPA (Special Protected Area) in the Birds Directive
and as a SCI (Site of Community Importance) in the
Habitat Directive of the Latium Region. It has been
listed under the Nature 2000 Network, the European
network of sites designed for biodiversity conservation,
and it is protected by the laws ruling the two directives.
Moreover, on-farm conservation of populations of
local breeds of horses, cows and donkeys was started
according to Regional Act 15/2000 (see Good Practice
n2, Chapter 1).
Research on good practice for:
- Best management of the common heritage:
- Exploitation of a organic farm for on-farm
conservation of genetic resources compatible with
the peculiar conditions of the Tolfa Mountains;
- Attribution of pasture elds for 5 years or more
to allow breeders to access the Lazio Rural
Development Plan 2007-2013 (EU FESR);
- Inclusion of requirements present in SCI/SPAs
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DEVELOPMENT OF BIODIVERSITY-LINKED LANDSCAPE HERITAGE 119
and Habitat and Birds Directives in the Forest
Management Plan.
- Increasing empowerment of inhabitants in the
management of common lands;
- Developing and using social capital for production
(creation of micro enterprises and cultural
valorisation of skills).
GROUPS)
- The Agricultural University of Allumiere as a
structure for implementing the action;
- Farmers entitled to University rights;
- The local community;
- National and international tourists interested
in cultural, natural and oenological-gastronomic
traditions;
- Schools of different types interested in studying
biodiversity and environmental protection.
OF THE ACTIVITIES
The Agricultural University of Allumiere is situated
North of Rome in the Tolfa Mountains (Delle Grazie
Mountain, 616 m above sea level) near the Tyrrhenian
Sea, mainly located in the municipality of Allumiere,
but also including parts of the municipalities of
Civitavecchia, Santa Marinella and Tolfa (Rome district).
Total municipality land 9,230 ha; Popul. 4,187
inhabitants; Common lands 6,812 ha; Agricultural
soil 3,939 ha; Forest and semi-natural areas 5,218 ha;
Urban areas 73 ha; SCI 710 ha - SPAs 4,000 ha.
The municipality of Allumiere and foundation of the
Agricultural University of Allumiere were founded in
1826 and became active in 1868 with the attribution of a
large area from the Tolfa municipality (6,500 hectares of
common lands). The Agricultural University of Allumiere
is the largest managing organisation of common
lands in Italy, with a territory of 6,500 to 7,000 ha.
Spring 1999: start of the conversion period of 500 ha to
organic farming with direct management.
RESOURCES
Human resources:
- Local residents: about 5,000
- Inhabitants entitled to undertake cattle-raising: about
150 micro farms
- Staff of the organic farm of the Agrarian University:
approximately 12 full-time employees
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Practical results include:
- An increase in the consumption of local products,
the opening of a direct selling point for Maremmana
breed beef; durum wheat bread and bakery products;
chestnut and spring ower honey; horse-chestnuts
and chestnuts;
- an increase in the diversication of activities linked to
territorial and farm management, characterisation of
local breeds such as the Allumiere donkey, Tolfetano
and Roman Latium Maremmana horses, and on-farm
conservation of local breed Maremmana cow;
- Rural tourism, touristic routes and farm
accommodation, horse riding tourism (riding routes,
horse therapy);
- Education for the schools (educational farms, guided
tours, naturalistic routes);
- Forest management, forest conservation techniques
(periodical coppice cutting), productive utilisation
(trufe and mushroom collection, chestnut tree logs),
production of rewood for domestic use;
- Water source utilisation projects and rational
distribution of water;
- Research on environmental aspects and projects to
increase fruition;
- Pasture maintenance: turnover and enhancement.
The success and validity of the actions carried out have
been acknowledged by external regional and national
European organisations, notably through:
- Organisation of organic production control;
- Adhesion to the genealogical register for the
Maremmana cow;
- Registration in the genealogical register for the
Tolfetano horse;
- Registration in the Regional Voluntary Register of
Regional Act 15/2000 (see Good Practice n2, chapter
1) for the Maremmano horse and the Allumiere donkey;
- Registration in the genealogical register for the
Maremmano horse breed (ANAM Italian breeders
association);
- Proposition of a Protected Origin Appellation for
Maremmana meat;
- Presence of local products on the national list of
traditional products, Ministerial Decree 350/99;
- SCI and Nature 2000 Network sites.
Problems encountered:
The common lands of this area overlap with the Natura
- Administration of the Agrarian University:
approximately 5 full-time employees.
Economic resources (yearly budget of the Agrarian
University) include both ordinary and extraordinary
funds:
Ordinary funds (impact on the budget entry of 70%)
- Agrarian Universitys commoners service institutional
activity has an active yearly budget thanks the
management of the collective heritage. This heritage
is constituted of collective lands which are directly
managed by the Agrarian University and private lands
whose rights belong to the community, better known
as civic uses. These rights are managed by the
Agrarian University for the Municipality of Allumiere.
There is no public ordinary funding for the Common
lands, since they are the common propriety of a
private juridical nature. This doesnt mean that these
lands are private property, nor that they belong to
a public entity but that they belong to a community
of private citizens. So the funds for managing and
administrating the common lands come from the
same common lands, through the revenues obtained
by pastures concessions, wood (for cutting), hunting
and mushroom picking licenses, herb selling, lands
rents, according to consolidated practices of the
collective patrimony which are prescribed by the
current norms. Furthermore, part of the collective
lands is exploited directly by a biological farm whose
contribution increases signicantly the budget.
Extraordinary funds (impact on the budget entry of
30%):
- Agro-environmental Benets of Public Funding (Lazio
Development Rural Plan):
- 214.8 Incentive payments for local breeds (protection
of autochthonous animal genetic resources);
- 214.2 Incentive payments for organic crops and
breeding;
- Regional Law 43/88: nancial support to organisations
managing common lands on the basis of employed staff
and managed landscape;
- EU grants, LIFE programme for interventions aiming
at the conservation of specic habitats in SPAs in a
general context of common ownership (pasture
enhancement and forest heritage safeguarding);
- Regional laws 10/2005 and 472006: nancial support
for SPA areas.
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- To value the material and non-material heritage
of the territory thanks to actions on non-material
issues: research on the social capital of Allumiere
cattle breeders, in collaboration with ARSIAL and the
Psychology Department of the University of Rome La
Sapienza (anthropology and social studies)
- To innovate and transform rules in order to give
more response to common rights necessities, without
upsetting the historical roots: participation in the
EU INTERREG IVC Commons Common land for
sustainable management project, in particular
relating to the good practices proposal on the fruition
of common rights and in the relationship between the
managing organisation and commoners:
www.commons-interreg.eu
2000 area (SCIs and SPAs). The norms stated in Nature
2000 are different to those in the Forest Management
Plan stated in Regional Act n. 39/2002. Nature
2000 and the Habitat Directive 92/43/CEE and Birds
Directive 79/409/CEE set strong limits on grazing and
woodcutting activities, severely limiting the exercise
of the commoners rights which are constitutionally
granted. The fact that the commoners, who have
exercised centuries-old rights, could have limited or
null access to the resources and to the area determines
a loss of traditional activities, and a loss in terms of the
territorys safeguarding, increasing the risk of res and
forest deterioration.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
- To diversify activities linked to farming, thanks to
the introduction of a new multifunctional model: the
realisation of a social farm
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- The common lands, thanks to the absence of fragmentation, are able to guarantee the survival of extensive cattle
breeding through the use of autochthonous breeds and quality production.
- The prevention of environmental degradation is made possible only through active management.
- The market value of a farming product typical of a territory is mainly composed of non-material factors, such as
landscape preservation, considered a main element of development in marginal areas.
- Nowadays, landscape heritage governance is based on the interaction between conservation and economic
and social development, where rural inhabitants continue their activities according to and in respect to available
resources. In this new perspective, well managed commons play a newly discovered role, and represent a valid
instance as well as a good practice.
- Civic uses are the only existing goods in Italian law that are neither private nor public property, but are owned by
a population as a whole and as single commoners. The good is reserved only for the original community, which was
entitled to it as a form of survival. The community preserves the good and rules its utilisation through acts of direct
democracy (users meetings). The conservation of these goods exclusively dedicated to farming and husbandry is
guaranteed through historic customs or by denition in law.
- The historical-cultural values to be saved through common ownership are not only of aesthetic or landscape
value but also represent a particular kind of territorial management. This process conciliates the utilisation of
resources with the safeguarding of irreplaceable goods and enables the participation of the single inhabitant in
decision-making processes involving his own habitat.
Aldo FREZZA (President) and Luigi ARTEBANI (General Secretary)
Universit Agraria di Allumiere
Piazza della Repubblica, 29 - 00051 Allumiere (RM) Italy
+39 0766 96031
segreteria@uniagraria.it
Website: http://www.uniagraria.it/
Massimo TANCA
ARSIAL (Agenzia Regionale per lo Sviluppo e lInnovazione dellAgricoltura del Lazio)
Via Lanciani, 38, Rome, Italy
+39 0686273454
m.tanca@arsial.it
Website: www.arsial.it

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The elected representatives of the Val de Garonne-
Gascogne area have decided to develop and implement
a policy aimed at protecting and enhancing landscapes,
the living environment and biodiversity. The underlying
goal was to increase the attractiveness of the Val
de Garonne-Gascogne area, notably for the young
active population, in order to maintain the population
dynamics of the territory.
First, a landscape charter was developed (in 2008-2009)
with support from a private company specialising in
town planning and landscape architecture (Folla
Gautier). On the basis of a detailed diagnostic,
this charter provided a strategy for the future life
environment of the territory.
A number of activities were then identied, classied
under four themes:
1. Urban planning: for cities and towns that are pleasant
to live in:
- To act for the quality of urban life: residential areas,
economic activities and tourist facilities;
- To consolidate village and city centres as key areas
for social life;
- To restrict areas consumed by new urbanisation;
- To preserve the rural character of villages;
- To enhance the image and attractiveness of town
outskirts and create new centres;
- To counteract the trivialisation of urbanised
landscapes and to reinvent a local character for
urban planning and architecture.
2. Agriculture: for agricultural areas to be part of the
living environment:
- To restore the richness and diversity of agricultural
landscapes, particularly in the plains and hills, to
encourage the adoption of specic farming practices
near developed sites and to stop urbanisation on
farmed hill slopes;
- To exploit the areas of transition between urban
and agricultural zones for the benet of tourism and
local life;
- To encourage a greater diversity of forest landscapes
in the Landes de Gascogne area.
3. Water: for the Garonne river and waterfronts to be
more attractive:
- To encourage the ecological quality and the quality
of landscapes of rivers, lakes and their banks;
- To promote public access to waterfronts;
- To take into account non-agricultural uses of rural
areas (hiking, development of rich and diversied
natural sites...).
4. Roads: to diversify and enhance the travel routes of
the territory
- To show the territory at its best from the major road
and rail trafc;
- To diversify and typify entry points for towns and
villages;
- To rehabilitate crossings in towns and villages;
- To facilitate walking and cycling;
- To enhance the countrys rural heritage.
This is the heart of the policy in favour of landscape
in the Garonne Valley. It is notably reected in all
local land planning strategies, including the SCOT
(scheme of territorial coherence) regulatory land
management document for the Garonne Valley.
Moreover, practical tools have been created to
implement this policy such as a digital herbarium of
trees that are local or well adapted to the territory.
The implementation of this policy was made possible
by the European LEADER programme, which is an
important nancial tool to help to achieve applied
ECONOMIC
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LANDSCAPE CHARTER
PROMOTING THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF A TERRITORY THROUGH ITS PRESERVED
LANDSCAPE HERITAGE
local activities, such as: planting local species of trees,
creating sales of local farm products, and rehabilitating
crossings in towns.
By preserving and increasing diversied landscapes,
this policy helps to protect and increase biodiversity by
supporting activities in favour of biodiversity, e.g. the
reintroduction of natural hedges and copses.
BACKGROUND
First the elected representatives of the Val de
Garonne highlighted the need to develop activities
aiming to increase the attractiveness of the territory.
The enhancement of the varied local landscape seemed
a good way to achieve this goal.

At the same time, the work undertaken to carry out
the Val de Garonne SCOT (scheme for territorial
coherence) land planning document underlined
that preserving and enhancing landscapes were
an opportunity to increase the attractiveness of the
territory.
As a result, the elected representatives decided to
conduct a global reection on landscapes at the large
scale of the territory Pays Val de Garonne-Gascogne.
The project to promote the attractiveness of the area
by enhancing landscapes was dened, targeting three
major objectives:
- To raise awareness of landscapes, via cultural and
scenic events;
- To improve the living environment and to enhance the
image of the landscape heritage;
- To manage, monitor and support the transformation
of the landscape.
In 2008 this project was approved by the European
LEADER programme, thus receiving 1,400,000 from
the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
(EAFRD) to implement it.
In a search for coherence and the implication of local
actors, the development and implementation of the
landscape policy is based on a threefold process:
1. Dialogue: this enabled the denition of the strategy
outlined for the application to the LEADER programme
(via the Development board and working groups). It
has also been used in the preparation of the landscape
charter, through thematic workshops.
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2. Raising awareness: an essential step to ensure
political involvement in the landscape policy. This
enabled all elected ofcials and local stakeholders
to become aware of the importance of landscapes,
including the attractiveness of the territory. It resulted
in the organisation of the Transversal landscape: 3
days for elected members to discover landscape and
the lines of the landscape charter, and a symposium on
landscape entitled What role for landscapes in local
development policies?.
3. Design and implementation of an action plan:
resulting from the two previous stages, the action
plan aims to manage, monitor and support the
transformation of the landscape, and at the same time
to set goals for maintaining a quality landscape.
GROUPS)
The Pays Val de Garonne-Gascogne is the promoter
of the action. This is the association of local public
entities: the Val de Garonne agglomeration, the
Community of municipalities of the Coteaux et Landes
de Gascogne and the municipalities of Casteljaloux,
Fauillet and Montpouillan.
Many dissemination activities aimed at the elected
representatives and also the general public have
been conducted in order to present and implement
this landscape policy, and also to divulge the funding
possibilities offered by the LEADER programme:
minutes of the symposium on landscape; a web page
dedicated to SCOT and the LEADER programme; an
information leaet about the LEADER programme for
potential project leaders (mayors, farmers, inhabitants)
1,000 copies; a newsletter about the SCOT land
planning regulatory tool with a focus on landscape
(27,000 copies); a set of illustrations on local species
of plants (mostly trees) as a practical tool to implement
actions according to the landscape policy; and many
press articles.
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...
The main challenge was to underline the theme of
landscape and give it a prominent place within the
concern of elected members of the local authorities.
For this purpose, political support, funding related
to the LEADER programme and the emergence of
the SCOT land planning document have played an
essential role. As a result:
- Some elected members took up this issue and placed
it at the heart of the debate, enabling the denition of
a landscape policy. Notably, the 3 Co-Presidents of the
Pays, the President of the SCOT and the Presidents
of local tourist ofces have been a crucial driving force.
- Members of the Programming Committee of LEADER
(decision-making body of the programme) play the
role of spokesperson for the activities and guarantee
respect for the objectives.
- The cross-disciplinary nature of landscapes
(related to the economy, housing, environment ...)
enabled associating this topic at every stage of the
implementation of the SCOT land planning regulatory
tool.
The main issue relates to the administrative burden
imposed by the LEADER programme, which somewhat
slowed the implementation of the strategy.
This landscape policy appeared to be a good approach
to dealing with different problems like biodiversity
preservation, because the theme of landscape is quite
consensual.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The success of the rst actions should reinforce the
credibility of such a policy around landscape. This
success should also help to increase the intensity and
impact of the activities.
Finally, the aim is that the Pays Val de Garonne-
Gascogne be recognised as a pilot area for
enhancement of the landscape, at the national or even
the European level.
Today discussions have been initiated on the creation
of land monitoring, a landscape observatory (including
80 viewpoints, to follow the transformation of the
landscape), an atlas of biodiversity and a policy in
favour of organic farming.
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The location of the activity is the territory of the Pays
Val de Garonne Gascogne, a 1,220 km rural area
involving 58 municipalities and 60,000 inhabitants,
situated in the Eastern part of the Aquitaine region.
Its landscapes combine the valley of the Garonne, the
Marmande hinterland, the lands of Pechs and the
Cocumont hills.
Start date: January 2008 launch of the LEADER project
To promote the attractiveness of the area by enhancing
landscapes (application presented in 2007, approved
in 2008 by the LEADER programme).
Milestone date: 2009 Local Landscape Charter -
Summer 2009, launch of the SCOT Val de Garonne
End date: in progress.
RESOURCES
Staff: equivalent to 2 people full time.
External costs cover:
- Expertise for carrying out the Landscape Charter
(80,000 before tax) and Transversal landscape
conference and symposium: 5,725 (before tax);
- Various communication actions linked to the
landscape policy.
All of these actions were financed at 80% by the
LEADER programme, with the following breakdown:
55% of EAFRD, 12.5% of Aquitaine Region funds and
12.5% Lot-et-Garonne Department funds.
Moreover, actions carried out by towns, farmers,
associations or citizens, in the framework of this
LEADER project to promote the attractiveness of the
area by enhancing landscapes, can also generally be
co-nanced up to around 80% by public funds.
To date, the main result is the collective awareness
about the importance of landscapes for the development
and attractiveness of the territory. In addition, some
landscape improvement activities have already been
conducted.
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Clment INFANTI
Pays Val de Garonne Gascogne
Maison du dveloppement
Place du march BP 305
47213 MARMANDE CEDEX
+33 5 53 64 96 62
cinfanti@cc-val-de-garonne.fr
Website: www.vg-agglo.com (see LEADER section)
ttz Bremerhaven, Germany
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
2010 was the international year of biodiversity.
Therefore several activities have been undertaken
in Germany. One of them was the development of a
declaration regarding the protection of biodiversity
in urban spaces. The declaration is a voluntary self-
commitment for cities, municipalities and counties and
it is part of the implementation process of the national
Strategy on Biological Diversity at a communal level.
The participating German cities and municipalities
accepted the challenges and the need to strengthen
local biodiversity by signing the declaration.
The declaration comprises suggestions regarding
how German cities and municipalities can act in a
biodiversity friendly manner in the following areas:
- Green and open spaces in settlement areas, e.g.:
- Development of intelligent urban planning
concepts; which integrate compact constructions
such as an appropriate population density and
urban greening in settlement areas;
- Organic maintenance of public green areas
inter alia with the greatest possible reduction
of pesticides and fertilisation and less frequent
trimming;
- Species and biotope protection, e.g.:
- Involvement in the development of biotope
connection systems (corridors) and protected
areas;
- Protection of ecologically sensitive areas from the
inuence of genetically-modied cultivated plants
and pollutants.
- Sustainable use, e.g.:
- Promotion of environmentally compatible forms
of agriculture and forestry;
- Development of intelligent public transport
concepts to avoid the extension of trafc areas
and the associated fragmentation of natural areas
which are close or within settlement areas;
- Raising awareness and cooperation, e.g.:
- Promotion of sustainable and environmentally
friendly tourism concepts;
- Strengthening of educational work and the range
of information on local biodiversity e.g. forest
nursery schools, school gardens and natural trails
in urban green spaces.
With their signing of the declaration the municipalities
have committed to preserve and strengthen local
biodiversity within their capabilities.
BACKGROUND
Biodiversity is threatened. All over the world almost
two thirds of all ecological systems and animal and
plant species are classied as threatened. In addition
to this, there is a great loss of genetic diversity with
unforeseeable effects on future generations (e.g.
food and health). In Germany, more than 70 percent
of the natural habitats are endangered. The national
and international efforts to decelerate or stop the loss
of biodiversity are as yet inadequate. Therefore it is
necessary to increase efforts from all actors on all
levels to preserve biodiversity.
Cities and municipalities have a special position,
because they represent the political level which is
closest to the people. Their broad tasks of planning
and administration and the decisions involved play an
important role for preserving the local biodiversity. They
also have the possibility of raising public awareness of
issues of biodiversity at a communal level.
ECONOMIC
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PROACTIVE AND COOPERATIVE PUBLIC COMMITMENTS IN FAVOUR OF BIODIVERSITY 126
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DECLARATION: BIODIVERSITY IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
Aspects of biodiversity will be taken into consideration
during the urban development of German cities and
municipalities. Requirements for preserving local
biodiversity will be included in communal decisions.
But the cities and municipalities can only pursue these
targets, given their nancial situation, with support
from the federal and state levels and therefore they
emphasise a cooperative approach. The signatory
municipalities work towards the implementation of
nancial frameworks and basic knowledge in order to
maintain biodiversity systematically.
The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation,
the German Environmental Aid Association and 30
municipalities developed the declaration in close
cooperation,. Together they identied four core areas
where cities, municipalities and counties can tackle
activities to preserve biodiversity on their local level.
GROUPS)
The promoter of the action is the German Federal
Agency for Nature Conservation and the German
Environmental Aid Association.
Target Groups are cities, municipalities and counties
in Germany.
Every city or municipality in Germany which wants to
implement actions in the eld of biodiversity is invited
to sign the declaration.
Start date: 01/02/2010
End date: on-going
RESOURCES
The required nancial resources for the development
of the project were provided by the German Federal
Agency for Nature Conservation and the German
Environmental Aid Association. The precise costs
involved are not published.
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PROACTIVE AND COOPERATIVE PUBLIC COMMITMENTS IN FAVOUR OF BIODIVERSITY 127

As a result of the cooperation between the German
Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the
German Environmental Aid Association, in partnership
with 30 municipalities, the declaration Biodiversity in
cities and municipalities was published on May 22,
2010 . This self-commitment from the municipalities
to act proactively was signed, in the meantime, by
more than 211 municipalities, cities and counties (as
of September 2011). Well above the expected number
of municipalities have declared their readiness to
integrate biodiversity preservation as a fundamental
principle for their future urban development.
The very positive response from the municipalities to the
declaration Biodiversity in cities and municipalities
testies the strong interest in this subject and the
willingness of numerous municipalities to join in an
alliance for biodiversity.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The declaration is the start of a long-term process.
The signatory municipalities have expressed their
willingness to join in a communal alliance for
biodiversity. This alliance should represent a platform
to support inter-communal cooperation and the
exchange of information and knowledge as well as the
dissemination and initiation of good practices in order
to implement the national strategy for biodiversity.
The opening event of this alliance was on February
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, 2012. It provided members (65 of the 211
cities, municipalities and counties which signed the
declaration showed their interest to become a member)
with several support activities, e.g.:
- annual workshops on the subject areas of the
declaration (Green and open spaces in settlement
areas, species and biotope protection, sustainable use,
raising awareness and cooperation);
- regular newsletters for the members;
- creation of surveys and synopses, which are essential
for the members.
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Cities, municipalities and counties play an essential role in biodiversity protection. Over 200 of them have signed
declarations showing their willingness to bring tangible improvements and to implement the National Strategy
on Biological Diversity on a local level.
Theresia LUCKS /Umweltschutzamt
+49 471 590-2528
Theresia.Lucks@magistrat.bremerhaven.de
Websites:
http://www.kommunen-fuer-biologische-vielfalt.de/
http://www.biologischevielfalt.de/
http://www.bfn.de/

128
Tourism is a highly dynamic sector that can represent a real threat to biodiversity. Although there is little regulation
in this sector, regional strategies can help to conciliate conicting forces which oppose tourism development with
biodiversity conservation (1).
However, on a small-scale, some tourism, such as ecotourism, is based on the observation and understanding of
nature and even contributes to raise visitors awareness of the subject of biodiversity (5, 6, 7 and 8).
Furthermore, many examples demonstrate that biodiversity conservation, development and promotion can serve
tourisms purposes and vice-versa. For instance, in protected areas, developing biodiversity-friendly tourism may
yield income and positive returns, as regards site management (2, 3 and 4). In some cases, agri-tourism is based
on cultivated biodiversity (9 and 10) whilst the heritage value of biodiversity is often the driver of cultural tourism
activities (11, 12 and 13).
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BENEFICIARIES
TARGETED AREAS
Mountains
Forests
Natural areas
INVOLVED OPERATORS
THROUGH THE ACTION
Overexploitation
Soil erosion
OF THE ACTION
2
MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL PARK OF SAMARIA
GREECE 136
3
QUALITY LABELS FOR TOURISM IN PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS
SPAIN 140
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NATURE ON TOUR: PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
ITALY 144
9
BLACK PIG: INCREASE IN VALUE OF A LOCAL BREED
ITALY 156
10
APICULTURAL ROAD: BEEKEEPING EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY
SLOVAK REPUBLIC 160
1
REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR CONSERVATION
AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY IN TOURISM
SPAIN 132
11
GOURMET MUSEUM OF HERITAGE VEGETABLES
FRANCE 162
12
PARCHINMOSTRA- TOURING EXHIBITIONS
ITALY 164
13
EXCURSIONS WITH HISTORICAL PEAT BOATS
GERMANY 166
CONTENTS
5
AQUITAINE NATURE DAYS:
EDUCATION AND DISCOVERY OF BIODIVERSITY
FRANCE 146
6
ALVIANO LAKE: ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
AND BIRD WATCHING
ITALY 150
7
DISCOVERING VULTURES, LOCAL ECOTOURISM INITIATIVE
FRANCE 152
8
GEOCACHING@NATURE
GERMANY 154
ECOTOURISM FOR ATTRACTING VISITORS AND BIODIVERSITY
AWARENESS RAISING
1
CASE STUDY
NUMBER
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8 6 5 7
3 4
11 12 13
10 9
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Regional Strategy for the Conservation and
Sustainable Use of Biodiversity foresees the elaboration
of an Action Plan about Biodiversity in tourism. The
specic objectives of this plan are:
- To incorporate principles of sustainability and
conservation as a quality criterion of tourism activity;
- To combine the development of tourism with land
zoning at local and regional level and biodiversity
conservation policies.
Key objectives of the whole Regional Strategy are:
- To foster cooperation among stakeholders;
- To integrate biodiversity into sectoral policies;
- To create mechanisms for natural resource
management;
- To promote research, knowledge and training on
biodiversity;
- To foster communication and education for
biodiversity;
- To articulate policy and nancial instruments;
- To promote interregional cooperation;
- To integrate biodiversity conservation in municipal
policies.
BACKGROUND
The Region of Murcia, as part of the Mediterranean
area, has a high responsibility for the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity. In particular,
an important (but not exclusive) part of this great
biological richness, unique in Europe, is related to
the arid conditions in the Iberian South East. It has its
origin in the diversity of habitats (spatial heterogeneity)
and in the traditional human activities of the last
centuries, having low-intensity disturbances such as
deforestation, wild res, agriculture, grazing, etc. The
loss of biodiversity also concerns areas with less severe
conditions from the point of view of water availability,
such as the mountains of the interior, which provide
shelter and represent the distribution limit of many
species, some of them endangered.
The tourism sector has had a growing development
in the Region of Murcia. Residential urban growth
on the coast has led to the demise of large tracts of
ecosystems that are particularly valuable for their
rarity (salt marshes, sand dunes) and environmental
perturbations on some coastal mountains and in
particular on the Mar Menor lagoon.
Urban growth is a corollary to the demand for efcient
means of transport and services, involving bigger
road infrastructures and more facilities impacting
environment. The explosion of the summer population
in the coastal areas increasingly pressurises water and
energy resources, increases waste production and
threatens terrestrial and marine habitats.
On the other hand, there is an emerging rural tourism
market whose main appeal lies in the enjoyment of
well preserved natural areas. This alternative tourism
provides an important opportunity to promote rural
development and could easily contribute to the reduced
deterioration of natural areas.
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REGIONAL STRATEGIES FOR RECONCILING TOURISM AND BIODIVERSITY 132
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REGIONAL STRATEGY:
TARGETING CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY IN TOURISM
The Regional Strategy has its origins in the Spanish
Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Use
of Biodiversity (approved in December 1998), which
emerged as an institutional response to the demands
of the Convention on Biological Diversity (ratied by
Spain in 1993). The purpose of the Regional Strategy
is to apply in the Murcia Region the principles of
the Convention on Biological Diversity, which are to
promote a exible framework enabling integration
of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
in plans, programmes and sectoral policies, thus
establishing a long-term policy.
According to the requirements, guidelines,
recommendations and commitments of the United
Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the
European Biodiversity Strategy (1998), and the Spanish
Strategy on Biological Diversity (1999), the Regional
Directorate General for the Environment started in 2000
to draft a document for a regional strategy.
This document was presented to the civil society of
Murcia on November 2001. It was a starting point
for a debate in which many people, institutions,
organisations and social sectors participated. The main
objective of this process was to nd consensus and
collect commitments in order to face the regional policy
challenges for conserving and using of biodiversity
sustainably. Contributions to the debates greatly
enriched the regional strategy document, by facilitating
the incorporation of basic data, guidelines and opinions
on the need to conserve biodiversity.
The Regional Strategy was presented in November 2003.
GROUPS)
The promoter is the Directorate General for the
Environment (DGE) of the Region of Murcia.
The targets of this strategy are the Regional Public
Administration, mainly the General Directorate for
Environment, but also regional ministries and other public
administrations (municipalities, state), as well as civil
society (social institutions, economic and civic actors).
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REGIONAL STRATEGIES FOR RECONCILING TOURISM AND BIODIVERSITY 133
The territorial scope of application of this Regional
Strategy is the Murcia Region.
Start date: June 2000.
End date: November 2003.
Almost three years have been necessary since the
beginning of the technical work, including 6 months
for the public participation process.
RESOURCES
Human resources:
- 16 technical experts for the preparation of technical
documents;
- About 150 people have studied the document and
have provided ideas and items for discussion within
the public participation process.
Total costs = 131,000, including:
- Cost of technical assistance: 24,000;
- Cost of the design and development of a process for
public participation: 107,000
Indirect costs for regional Administration: 70,000
100% of funding comes from the equity capital of the
Directorate General for the Environment
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and homogenise the quality of tourist destinations
promoted by the Tourism Institute of Spain
- Finally, the Sierra Espua Regional Park, the
municipalities involved, nature conservation
organisations, tourism industry groups and local
tourism operators, have applied to join the European
Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECTS). The ECTS
is accredited by the Europarc Foundation (grouping
the Protected Areas of 38 European countries), and
is a proposal for better integrating the principles of
sustainable tourism in Protected Areas. It has been
developed by European representatives of protected
areas and tourism entrepreneurs. This voluntary
approach commits the signatories to implementing a
local strategy for sustainable tourism.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Encouraging the revision of the Regional Strategy in
order to determine its achievements, providing the
necessary financial instruments to implement the
proposed measures and proceeding with the denition
of the action plans.
LESSONS LEARNT
Although the Regional Strategy was approved, its
results have not yet been evaluated. The Action
Plan about Biodiversity in Tourism has not yet been
formalised, but has provided general guidelines for
policies, for instance in the development of the Tourism
Master Plan of the Region of Murcia 2006-2012. Other
examples that can be mentioned as achievements in
the development of approaches integrating biodiversity
conservation in tourism activities:
- Protected Areas have become more and more
attractive and are one of the most popular tourist
destinations. To incorporate an element of added
value, the Protected Areas in the Region of Murcia
have made an effort to achieve the Q distinction
for touristic Quality and other quality certicates, to
improve services and information for visitors. Two
of our Regional Parks have been certied by the Q
Quality: the Sierra Espua and Salinas y Arenales
de San Pedro Regional Parks
- Furthermore, the El Valle visitor centre (in the
Carrascoy y El Valle Regional Park) has obtained
SICTED Certication, which is a system to improve
It is necessary to intensify debate procedures, enabling the participation of many people, institutions,
organisations and social sectors. The main objective of this process should be to nd consensus
and provide commitments to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
30008 Murcia, Spain
+34 968 228892
Websites: http://www.murcianatural.carm.es
http://liferayagri.carm.es/web/guest/estrategias/-/journal_content/56_INSTANCE_9GoI/14/84596
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30008 Murcia, Spain
+34 968 228892
Websites: http://www.murcianatural.carm.es
http://liferayagri.carm.es/web/guest/estrategias/-/journal_content/56_INSTANCE_9GoI/14/84596
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Forest Directorate of Chania - Decentralised Administration of Crete, Greece
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Samaria was declared a National Park by Royal Decree
781/1962. The declaration aims to protect natural
heritage and ecological balance, whilst also offering the
opportunity for environmental education and recreation
for visitors.
The management of visitors is of great importance, as
Samaria National Park is considered a valuable genetic
species reserve (plant and animals) which is used as a
kind of databank from which material is occasionally
drawn for the so-called ex-vitro protection of species in
botanic gardens, sperm banks and zoos. The ultimate
goal is the protection of biodiversity in all its forms
(genetic, species, ecosystems, landscape) as well as the
education of visitors in knowledge about and respect for
nature. The National Park aims to become a pilot case
study for its visitors, who will apply the knowledge they
gain during their visit to their consequent life.
Every year an approximate number of 160,000 visitors
travel through the gorge. They have the opportunity to
visit three Thematic Information Centres (Xyloskalo,
Samaria and Agia Roumeli), to observe information
posters and to read leaets related to the natural
resources of the area.
Management of the area is undertaken within the
regulations for absolute protection and the removal of
all traditional activities (crops, livestock, logging, etc.)
apart from beekeeping, for which a special licence is
required. Visitors are allowed to enter if they follow
specic regulations. However, recent management
tends to allow minimal human interference, especially
in the areas in which humans used to live for centuries.
Core and buffer areas follow specic legislation for
protected areas.
The objective is to have the minimum possible effects
from human actions on the natural resources and
biodiversity of the core area of the National park.
Nature should be allowed to follow its course without
any interference. In the buffer area, where specic
works and activities are allowed, nature should be
also minimally affected. Environmental legislation
should be strictly followed and all interventions are
undertaken with great care.
The National park and its management should serve as
a pilot case for green activities and tourism.
No changes in biodiversity or natural resources have
been detected so far; however monitoring programmes
have been initiated by the Management Body of Samaria
National Park that will indicate any possible changes.
BACKGROUND
Samaria was declared a National Park by Royal Decree
781/1962. The National park is characterised by a rich
biodiversity, a high degree of endemism in fauna and
ora, distinctive geological congurations and specic
landscape features. It is also a place with a strong and
important anthropogenic environment (history, special
songs, traditions, etc.).
Distinctive species of fauna found in the area are:
the Cretan wild goat (Capra aegagrus cretica), the
largest mammal of the island, the Cretan wildcat
(Felis sylvestris cretensis) and a species of mouse
(Acomys minous) which is considered to be rare. The
rich bird population of the area includes 69 species,
with Gypaetus barbatus among others. The area houses
172 endemic species and subspecies, while 97 of them
are endemic to Crete and 24 are specically endemic
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BIODIVERSITY-FRIENDLY TOURISM MANAGEMENT IN PROTECTED AREAS 136
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MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL PARK OF SAMARIA
(steno-endemic) to smaller areas. Some of the most
distinctive species are: Cephalanthera cucullata, Nepeta
sphaciotica, Bupleurum kakiskalae and Zelkova abelicea.
Core and buffer areas follow specic legislation for
protected areas.
- The core area:
The entrance to the National Park is controlled by
specic rules and regulations:
The Park can be only accessed from two entrances:
its Northern entrance (Xyloskalo) and the Southern
entrance (Agia Roumeli). The Park ofcially accepts
visitors from May 1st till October 15
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am until 4.00 pm. Visitors can walk along the main
footpath. Walking outside the main footpath requires
a special licence.
The following actions are prohibited:
1. Destroying or removing any Park installation;
2. Cutting trees, bushes and uprooting, collecting
plants and seeds;
3. Collecting and transporting plant, soil and rewood;
4. Lighting res;
5. Smoking in all areas apart from the recreational areas;
6. Camping and staying during the night in the Park;
7. Any domestic animals without a lease;
8. Displaying boards and signs;
9. Hunting animals;
10. Removal or destruction of all nests, eggs and
newborns, as well as any disturbance or destruction
of wildlife;
11. Swimming in Park rivers and streams;
12. Disturbing other visitors;
13. Dumping waste in areas other than the waste bins;
14. Damage to the geological formations and cultural
monuments;
15. Grazing of domestic animals;
16. Setting up beehives without a licence from the
Forestry Service.
The Park wardens are accustomed to applying all the
above regulations.
The protection of biodiversity is also ruled not only
by the national park rules but also by all relevant
legislation applied to protected species (endemic
species, wild goats, forest land, etc), since the National
Park has also been declared a wildlife refuge, with even
stricter legislation for the protection of wildlife.
- The buffer area:
In the surrounding buffer zone rules are less strict,
since human interference is more evident and
present. However, there are limits on the activities
that can be undertaken: only traditional activities that
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BIODIVERSITY-FRIENDLY TOURISM MANAGEMENT IN PROTECTED AREAS 137
have been in practice for centuries are allowed. Any
new installation and activity should go through an
environmental auditing process to assess its effect on
the environmental balance, and many are rejected.
Management actions regarding extensive parks such as
the Samaria National Park require strong prioritising
of necessary activities, especially taking into account
the restrictions and activities allowed within each zone;
provident actions in order to ensure the adequacy of
nancial and human resources for the overall function
of the Park; insurance of effective cooperation with
all levels of authority (local, municipal, regional,
national); constant adaptation to the daily challenges;
and continuous presence of staff from all levels of
management (scientists, administrative personnel,
warden, drivers etc.).
GROUPS)
Promoter:
The management of the National Park has been until
recently solely undertaken by the Forest Directorate of
Chania and specically by the Department of Protection,
Administration and Management of Forests and Public
Prosecutor. Since the establishment of the Management
Body, the management and administration issues of
the National Park are nowadays undertaken by both
authorities, in a cooperative and closely linked way.
All actions and activities undertaken within the Park
by both authorities comply with the suggestions of the
Management Plan of the Park and the subsequent
Regulation for Administration and Actions. The key
factors addressed by the Management Plan aim primarily
to protect and preserve biodiversity and also to provide
recreation and environmental education to visitors.
The Decentralised Administration of Crete plays an
essential role in administration and management issues
since it has the sole responsibility for the protection of
all forest areas in Crete and also participates in the
Board of the Management Body of the Park, with an
assigned representative.
Target groups:
All management and administration activities within
the boundaries of the National Park are aimed at local
communities located within its borders and all visitors
to the White Mountains zone, and also the whole
municipality of Chania and subsequently the entire
island of Crete. The nancial aspects of the management
activities, in particular, have a direct impact on the
sustainability and well-being of the entire island.
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The National Park of Samaria, which includes the
gorge of Samaria, is located in the White Mountains,
in the prefecture of Chania in the South-West of Crete.
It includes one of the largest gorges in the Balkans,
Samaria Gorge, with a total length of 13 km.
The area of the National Park is 48,480 km and covers
a specially protected area, i.e. the core of the Park.
Its buffer zone is about 256,775 km and includes the
wider area of the White Mountains and its coastal
zone. This area has been designated as a Site of
Community Importance (SCI -GR4340008), according
to Directive 92/43/EEC, while the core of the Park has
been designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA-
GR4340014) according to Directive 79/409/EEC.
Start date: 1962 is the primary date when the
establishment of the National Park took place and
1999 is the year the Management Body of the Park was
initially included in the decision-making and action-
taking processes related to the Park.
RESOURCES
Human resources
The Department of Management and Administration of
the Forest Directorate of Chania has about 10 people as
permanent personnel (who are employed by the National
Park), and about 25 people are employed seasonally.
The Management Body of Samaria National park
employs 5 people and also has an administrative body
of 11 people designated from different bodies that are
involved with the National Park.
Time spent by the team
The main work is undertaken during the spring and
summer. However, a great deal of administrative work
is done over the rest of the year by the permanent
personnel. The duration of the peak season related
to the management of the Park is approximately eight
months per year. The remaining four months are mainly
dedicated to administrative and maintenance issues.
Costs
- Personnel, permanent and seasonal: approximately
500,000 per year.
- Fire preventive measures: 200,000;
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- Construction and reconstruction of infrastructure
(signs, warden posts, information material, etc):
100,000;
- Studies on monitoring the endemic species (ora and
fauna), the estimation of daily re risk, the estimation
of the population of wild goats, GIS, etc.: 100,000;
- Management plan for the National Park: 80,000.
Other expenditures
Fire brigades run daily surveillance in order to prevent
and combat any re incidents.
Civil Protection agencies run continuous monitoring of
the area with remote cameras.
Meteorological agencies have a meteorology station to
monitor environmental conditions at Xyloskalo.
Universities and other research centres and Institutes
run individual research programmes.
Action funding
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change,
Decentralised Administration of Crete and E.U. Funding
The annual budget from the entrance fees is directly
transferred to the Green Fund of the Ministry of
Environment, Energy and Climate Change. There is no
direct allocation of this budget to the National Park. The
Ministry approves the transfer of a budget to the National
Parks administration authorities according to need.
Local municipalities also gain money from the National
Park income, since 30% of the annual income goes to local
municipalities that have borders with the National Park.
The gorge of Samaria, due to its uniqueness, has
gained both national and international recognition.
Besides its declaration as a Greek National Park, it is
also a NATURA 2000 site.
Internationally, it has been nominated as a Biosphere
Reserve by UNESCO (1981) - a designation given for
the proper management of areas that are important for
their natural and cultural heritage.
In addition, the National Park of Samaria has been
nominated as a European Diploma site by the Council
of Europe (CoE), because of its exceptional character
as an area since 1965. The title is granted after a
thorough assessment of the area and its management
and lasts only for a period of five years. Renewal
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Management of extensive and multi-landscaped areas is complex and requires constant adaptation to
scientic ndings, technological advances, stakeholders opinions, nancial matters and legal issues.
A key factor in maintaining a positive management attitude is to recognise all incoming issues (threats,
danger, demands, nancial problems, etc.) related to the administration of a Protected Area, as challenges
and not directly as problems.
The Samaria (White Mountains) National Park is one of the earliest designated areas in Greece. Thus, years
of accumulated scientic and empirical knowledge within the different aspects of site management, makes
this case study a useful model for those involved in matters such as sustainability, nature preservation and
the integration of multidisciplinary approaches in management.
The National Park of Samaria (White Mountains) aims to become a pilot case study for its visitors, who will
apply the knowledge they gain during their visit to their consequent life.
Implementation of conservation and sustainability at
habitat level gives a more complicated picture. Current
legislation is still facing implementation difculties.
National Park management bodies are still without real
legal power and nancial resources.
Specic Environmental Studies that include regulations
on land uses are still mostly kept on paper. European
legislation is incorporated into the Greek legal system,
however, the elaboration of all issues regarding the
establishment of the NATURA 2000 network moves
very slowly.
Management of a National Park involves a greater
number of experts than those found in Forestry Service.
Thus, it was a requirement that management was
given to a Management Body that would incorporate
all stakeholders. This was achieved recently with the
formation of the Management Body of the National
Park of Samaria. However, this still does not have
a permanent budget and must apply annually for
its income. Nowadays, the Forestry Service and the
Management Body of the Park, in its current form, are
working closely and have established a cooperative
scheme which seems to have had a positive effect on
the overall protection and preservation processes.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The recently completed and updated Management
Plan of the Park, based on newly addressed scientic
findings and current technological advances, has
renewed the effective and realistic actions needed
to be taken in order to ensure the preservation and
sustainability of all elements within the Park.
Proposed measures such as the extension of the Parks
borders, a clear determination of zones with different
degrees of protection and management activities
directly related to the multidisciplinary role of the Park
have been assigned.
is given by a further decision of the Committee of
Ministers following a new independent assessment
on the recommendations of a group of specialists.
The follow up of the CoE in the implementation of its
recommendations and/or conditions is performed by
each years annual reports submitted to the Council
of Europe and the five year on-the-spot expert
assessment. The latest renewal was awarded in 2009.
A study on the population of wild goat (a protected
species that resides in the Park) has shown a total
number of 800 animals in the area of the Park. Their
population does not seem to be affected by the visitors,
however constant monitoring of the goat population is
needed. Other biodiversity parameters, such as the
population of protected and endemic species, are also
going to be monitored. Preliminary research, especially
on plant species, has shown no effect of tourism. This
is particularly the result of the restrictions in the six
month period when no entrance is permitted and
Nature seems to recover.
Nevertheless, constant and organised monitoring of
species, ecotypes, visitors and activities is required
in order to estimate potential threats and danger.
The role of local communities and cooperation with
local stakeholders is vital, since these people are
the direct consumers of the landscape and also have
the knowledge and main responsibility to ensure the
sustainable continuum of the wildlife within the Park.
Encountered problems and means used to resolve them
Regarding the biodiversity conservation at species
level, even though most international and European
legislation has been incorporated into the Greek legal
system, work is still needed on the conservation of rare
and endangered priority species.
The effective and straight-forward implementation of
specic Action Plans is necessary.
Coordination among various authorities and
stakeholders including locals support is needed.
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Polymnia SKALAVAKI
Head of the Forest Service,
Decentralized Administration of Crete
Forest Directorate of Chania
+30 28210 84200
ddchania@otenet.gr
Websites: www.samaria.gr
www.crete-region.gr/samaria/el/home.html

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respects and preserves the natural, cultural and social
resources for the long term, and which contributes in
a positive and equitable way to the economic progress
and to the full development of the persons who live,
work or stay in the protected areas.
On the other hand, the UNE 187002:2008 Protected
Natural Areas standard, developed by the Spanish
State Secretariat for Tourism in collaboration with
the Europarc-Spain foundation, establishes the
requirements that a PNA should full, in relation both
to the facilities and equipment available for public use,
and to all the necessary processes for the provision of a
quality service in the area of public use. The Q mark is
the most visible element of the Spanish Tourist Quality
System and is common to any activity related to tourist
services or products.
BACKGROUND
The Basque Network of PNAs is a key instrument in
reducing the loss of biodiversity in this Region, supports
the sustainable development of high ecological
value areas and has the ambition to disseminate
environmental values among citizens. Nevertheless,
its management has lacked standardised systems that
guarantee specic levels of management quality and
encourage a dynamic of continuous improvement.
In recent years, the development achieved in specic
quality control tools for PNAs has allowed the
undertaking of the project of a Strategy for Quality in
the Basque Network of Natural Protected Areas. This
project aims to assess and implement those quality
systems in the Basque Country.
Representatives of the Provincial Councils (who are
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Basque Network of Protected Natural Areas (PNA)
is formed by areas which, because they comply with
certain of the conditions outlined in Law 16/1994,
relating to Nature Conservation in the Basque Country,
provide environmental, landscape and/or relevant
cultural values, and also have a specic instrument of
protection. A Strategy for Quality in the Basque Network
of Natural Protected Areas has been developed. This
strategy applies to the typical PNA working spheres:
conservation of biodiversity, public use and social and
economic development. Given this working framework
and in relation to public use and social and economical
development, the European Charter for Sustainable
Tourism (ECST) has been chosen as a tool for promoting
labels and certicates that link products or sectors to
the objectives of PNAs. On the other hand, a quality
system for management in Tourism services is also
being implemented.
The aim is to implement socioeconomic actions in the
inuence areas of the PNAs through the implementation
of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism for
innovative management and investment in tourist
and economic promotion. Prior to this, a quality
system for management in Tourism services is being
implemented, the UNE 187002:2008 Protected Natural
Areas. During the timescale of the Strategy (until
2015), this UNE standard is intended to apply to all
the PNAs of the Network, whereas the ECST is being
implemented only in Valderejo Natural Park.
The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in
Protected Areas (Europarc Federation) commits the
signatories to put into practice a local strategy in
favour of sustainable tourism, dened as any method
of development, facilities or tourist activity which
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In parallel, the implementation of the Spanish Tourist
Quality System for Protected Natural Areas entails:
- Testing and diagnosis;
- Training and sensitising human resources;
- Actions required to comply with the Regulation;
- Production of documentation system (quality manual,
operational procedures, registers, indicator systems);
- Internal auditing.
The development of documentation for the quality
system in PNAs is based on four stages: 1) Launch
(During this phase, a rst self-diagnostic exercise is
carried out using a self-evaluation tool); 2) Development
(a variety of operational procedures are developed,
identifying the processes which should be incorporated
in the system and detailing the specic activities within
these processes); 3) Consolidation (a quality manual
is created and followed by the identication of areas
of improvement); 4) Continuous Improvement (the
nal stage of implementation requires the successful
completion of the certication audit). Once certication
has been obtained, an annual monitoring audit is
conducted, and the certication renewed periodically.
GROUPS)
The promoters are the Provincial Councils (of Alava,
Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa) and the Basque Government.
Target groups, apart from the general public, are the
management staff of the PNAs, and companies related
to environmental services and tourism.
Location and timescale of the activity
The action affects the Protected Natural Areas in the
Basque Country Region (or Euskadi)
Start date: 2010
End date: 2015
Resources
This project was equally funded by the three Provincial
Councils and the Basque Government. The working
team supervising the strategy is composed of 5 people,
working part time on the Strategy during the whole
process. The different actions within the Strategy (Q and
ECST) are developed by the staff of the management
bodies. The company, IKT, acts as Technical Secretariat
and coordinates all the actions.
responsible for the management of the PNAs in each
Province) and of the Basque Government (responsible
for coordination), together with a technical secretariat
(IKT) formed a working team at both decision and
technical levels in 2009 to deal with the Strategy.
The starting point was an assessment to analyse
whether the PNAs would t the requirements of the
UNE-187002:2008. The implementation of the standard
started with five Parks (Pagoeta, Aralar, Urkiola,
Gorbeia and Valderejo). In addition, a previous study
on the Implementation Framework of the European
Charter for Sustainable Tourism was carried out in
2008. Valderejo was chosen to be the candidate for
adhesion to the European Charter for Sustainable
Tourism because it really represents an example of
social and economic revitalisation resulting from the
declaration of the Park, at the beginning of the 1990s.
Before that, depopulation had reduced some villages
to ruins, but the ones that survived are now living
on the income provided from tourism. Ethnographic
museums, rural hotels and restaurants work side by
side with agrarian cooperatives and livestock breeders
and, as a result, they are now prepared to join the
project of getting the ECST.
The main objective of the European Charter for
Sustainable Tourism is to generate tourism that
respects the sustainable development principles,
guiding PNA managing bodies and companies in
sharing a process for dening a strategy.
To join the ECST, Valderejo Natural Park must:
- Distribute information on the ECST within the Region
in order to obtain stakeholder agreement on the
submission of the application;
- Work on the compilation of the application form for
a sufcient period of time to gain the involvement
of stakeholders. The form includes a diagnosis of
the region under the aspects required by the ECST,
a strategy and a five-year action plan, allowing
continued progress in observing the ECST principles.
The complete process must be participative, involving
all tourism-related parties in the protected area;
- Send the application form to the EUROPARC
Federation;
- EUROPARC assesses the application and sends an
auditor to the protected area to verify the accuracy of
the diagnosis, the commitment of the stakeholders and
the feasibility of the action plan;
- EUROPARC nally grants or denies certication
of the protected area.
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Quality Systems offer advantages to the managing
bodies as well as to the users of the Protected Natural
Areas. Among others, their benets are:
- Improved management, leading to excellence;
- Improved efciency of management tools;
- Greater levels of user satisfaction;
- Recognition on the part of the tourism sector and
the visitor;
- Use of the quality marks as an instrument for
promotion and popularisation;
- Guaranteed quality of products and services;
- Active visitor input in service improvement;
- Increased condence in staff professionalism;
- Services adapted to meet users expectations and
needs.
The ECST is more than that. It is, in short, a working
method, a planning tool, a specific commitment
by managing bodies, tourism companies and tour
operators, as well as an assessment process and a
European brand of excellence in sustainable tourism
development.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
To continue the Strategy for Quality and to monitor its
evolution.
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Quality Systems offer advantages to the managing bodies as well as to the users of the Protected
Natural Areas.
The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism is a working method, a planning tool, a specic
commitment by managing bodies, tourism companies and tour operators, as well as an assessment
process and a European brand of excellence. in sustainable tourism development.
Teresa ANDRS
Hazi, Corporacin del Gobierno Vasco para el desarrollo rural y marino.
Unidad de Consultora
Granja Modelo
01192, Arkaute, lava
+34 (9)45 003278
tandrs@hazi.es
Websites: http://www.hazi.es
http://www.ingurumena.ejgv.euskadi.net/r49-u95/es/contenidos/plan_programa_proyecto/
calidad_enp/es_doc/indice.html
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Arsial, Italy
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Nature on Tour is a programme aimed at involving
several Protected Areas of the Lazio region in actions
and activities for the improvement of local tourist
services.
The objectives of the programme are:
- Knowledge of the natural values of the Lazio Region
through landscape and territory interpretation and
environmental education;
- Increased of accommodation facilities, traditional
handcrafts and agricultural products made in a
sustainable way;
- Discovery of hidden places which are often preserved
by parks for their authentic identity and biodiversity
heritage.
The programme is composed of several coordinated
and synergic activities such as:
- Educational Tours: tour operators specialising
in sustainable tourism and journalists from travel
magazines are invited to experience the beautiful
natural areas of the Lazio Region and gather for a B2B
trading workshop;
- The routes of the parks: ve guided itineraries,
supplied with specific road signs and information
posters along a minor road connecting parks and
natural reserves of the region, promoting new routes
for discovering historical, environmental and cultural
assets. Besides this, guidebooks are provided for each
itinerary, in addition to the dedicated website www.
naturainviaggio.it;
- Training courses for the quality certication of local
tourism operators;
- Target analysis;
- Building a shared process for a Nature on Tour
quality brand in order to qualify tourism structures
through the Ecolabel certification concerned with
sustainable practices.
BACKGROUND
The regional protected areas system of the Lazio region
(about 79 protected areas: regional parks, regional
reserves and natural monuments), is mostly composed
of economically marginal territories, with problems of
depopulation and accessibility, but also some urban
and peri-urban parks around the city of Rome.
The programme was created and coordinated by the
Regional Park Agency with the involvement of the
Protected Areas System, including in its strategy
local stakeholders and domestic and foreign tour
operators. Furthermore, the Agency has broadcast
a wide advertising campaign aimed at regional and
foreign citizens. The process aims to lead local
tourism operators to a gradual improvement of their
performance in terms of sustainability.
GROUPS)
The action is implemented by the Regional Park Agency
(which belongs to the Lazio Region) in partnership with
the management institutions of the single protected
areas.
Various groups of economic operators whose activities
are localised in the protected areas are targeted, as
well as visitors, from Italy and abroad, who come
and enjoy protected areas, natural environments and
landscapes.
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NATURE ON TOUR
PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN THE NATURAL PROTECTED AREAS
OF THE LAZIO REGION
The territory does not cover the entire Region, but the
main natural parks and reserves and their surrounding
areas.
The programme started in 2004 when the first
Educational Tour took place at the natural reserves
of Monte Rufeno and Marturanum, and the natural
parks of Monti Simbruini and Monti Aurunci. The
programme is still in progress, although dedicated
nancial resources have been cut off.
RESOURCES
Human resources employed in this activity belong
mainly to the Sustainable Development Department of
the Regional Park Agency (3 people) and the protected
areas system.
The launching of the programme was made possible
through the Docup 2000-2006 European Union funds
and APQ7 ministerial agreement.
Cost assessment:
- Educational Tour: 45,000 (per Tour)
- The routes of the parks: 750,000
- Training courses for tourism operators: 20,000
- Target analysis: 20,000
- Nature on Tour quality brand: 30,000
- Ecolabel certication assistance: 10,000
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The project started a few years ago and is still in
progress. It has by now produced positive effects and
raised a lot of interest throughout the districts in which
the actions have been accomplished. It is however
difcult to completely assess the exact outcome at the
moment.
As a result, we consider that:
- About 14 tour operators from different countries
attended the 2010 Educational Tour and the Buy
Nature tourist workshop held at the Santa Scolastica
monastery in Subiaco in the majestic surroundings of
the Simbruini Mountains Park;
- About 220 tourism operators from regional protected
areas attended training courses on sustainable
business management;
- 5 tourist structures have been selected and assisted
to obtain Ecolabel certication.
Nevertheless, it has been difcult to link minor tourism
stakeholders and local tour operators specialised in
environmental tourism.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
It is not possible at the present moment to give further
information on the future of the action due to lack of
nancial budget.
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Nicoletta CUTOLO
Agenzia Regionale Parchi (ARP)
via del Pescaccio 96/98 00166 Roma, Italy
cutolo.arp@parchilazio.it
+39 0651687366.
Websites: www.arplazio.it
www.parchilazio.it, www.naturainviaggio.it
- This case study aims to inform general public of the
values and specicities of the different areas and provides
another tool for tourists.
- This experience has produced wider knowledge on
marginal territories for domestic and foreign tour
operators.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Aquitaine Nature Days are an annual event
organised since 2008 by the Aquitaine Region in the
framework of the Aquitaine Nature Network, a
network of managers of remarkable natural sites (such
as CEN Aquitaine, the Conservatory of Natural Areas in
Aquitaine Region). The Aquitaine Nature Days occur
in May during 5 days (including a weekend), at the time
of National Nature Day in France.
During the Aquitaine Nature Days, around 150 events
are offered for free to the general public (and more
specically families) in 50 remarkable natural sites.
The events consist of eld-based activities to attempt to
raise public awareness of ecological issues (including
biodiversity preservation). The activities offered vary
from site guided tours to fauna/ora watching, hiking,
exhibition, cooking workshops Five lms dealing
with ecological issues are presented in ten different
cinemas (for free or less than 6.50). Each lm showing
is followed by discussions among the audience and
lmmakers, naturalists and managers of natural sites.
In addition, five ecotourism routes are presented
to visitors in different areas in Aquitaine. These
ecotourism routes encourage visitors to broaden their
local discoveries and to visit organic farms, cultural
heritage sites or sports structures. The visitors are
invited to eat in labelled restaurants which propose
caf de pays or assiette de pays, which are meals
containing locally-produced products of good quality,
and to stay in eco-labelled accommodation (hotels,
hostels or campsites).
Aquitaine Nature Days aim to show the general public
Aquitaines natural richness and to raise awareness
about nature and biodiversity.
Moreover, the organisation of the ecotourism routes
helps different local actors (managers of sites, local
facilitators, service providers of hostels, restaurants,
museums, sporting activities, organic farmers) to learn
how to work together better. This contributes to building
long-term partnerships and developing local ecotourism.
BACKGROUND
In 2005 the elected representatives of the Aquitaine
region highlighted the need to improve actions for
protecting biodiversity and to compensate for the lack
of an existing network linking managers of natural sites
at the regional scale.
As a reaction, the Aquitaine Nature Network was
created in 2006 to improve the exchange of good
practices between managers of remarkable natural
sites (in 2011, 20 organisations and 86 natural sites
were involved). The network also aimed at raising
public awareness of the richness of the local nature
in Aquitaine and why/how to preserve it through
informative and consciousness-raising activities.
The Aquitaine Nature Days were then created in 2008
to improve communication towards the general public.
They aimed at highlighting the richness/diversity of
nature in Aquitaine for the general public through visits
and specic activities organised by members of the
Aquitaine Nature Network.
The ecotourism routes were created in 2009 to highlight
the diversity of assets (environmental, cultural and
gastronomic) of the landscape of the territories and to
underline good approaches such as organic agriculture
and environmentally-certied accommodation. The
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AQUITAINE NATURE DAYS:
LOCAL PLAYER PARTNERSHIP TOWARDS EDUCATION
AND DISCOVERY OF BIODIVERSITY
objective was to attract more visitors to the Aquitaine
Nature Days.
Project Leader Team = Aquitaine Region +
Communication consultancy company + MOPA
(the Federation of Tourist Ofces and Territories of
Aquitaine) + UMIRHA (the Union of Hotel businesses
in Aquitaine) + 3 representatives of the managers of
Aquitaine Nature Network.
The usual process for organising the Aquitaine Nature
Days is:
- The managers of remarkable natural sites prepare
specic events for the Aquitaine Nature Days;
- The ecotourism routes are chosen according to the
events proposed at the different natural sites;
- Within these selected areas, pubs and restaurants
are selected and branded caf de pays or assiette
de pays (involving the use of local produce and
regional specialities) in collaboration with the MOPA;
environmentally-certied accommodation is selected
by UMIRHA, cultural sites are selected (e.g.: the House
of Prune, a castle) by MOPA, based on proposals from
local tourist ofces and other local actors involved in
tourism;
- The ecotourism routes are consolidated;
- Tools are created to attract visitors (passes and
contests to win gifts) and to assess participants
satisfaction (satisfaction survey);
- Meetings are organised to inform local actors involved
in the ecotourism routes and to gather their ideas;
- Communications tools are produced (programme
event, evaluation forms );
- Aquitaine Nature Days (5 days);
- The results of the Days are assessed;
- The relevance and efciency of the evaluation tools
are assessed.
GROUPS)
Action promoter: The Aquitaine Region organises these
days in partnership with the members of the Aquitaine
Nature Network (who are managers of remarkable
natural sites - more than 20 organisations in 2011),
the MOPA (Federation of Tourist Ofces and Tourist
Territories of Aquitaine), the UMIRHA (Union of the
Hotel businesses), the APCA (Association of Local
Cinemas).
Target groups: General public and family audience
(some activities are dedicated to children) as well as
service providers and local economic players.
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OF THE ACTIVITIES
This initiative takes place in the Aquitaine Region, in
remarkable natural sites and areas with particular
territorial dynamics. There are ve different ecotourism
routes, each located in one of the five different
departments of the Aquitaine region.
Start date: 2008 Launch of the Aquitaine Nature Days
Milestone date: 2009 launch of the ecotourism routes
(in addition to the visits to natural sites and the lm
shows).
End date: in progress. The Aquitaine Nature Days are
run every year.
RESOURCES
Human resources involved in the organisation of the
Aquitaine Nature Days:
- Aquitaine Region: 2 people work part-time on the
organisation of the Aquitaine Nature Days (including
the ecotourism routes) helped by a communication
consultancy company;
- Aquitaine Nature Network members = Time spent
by managers and workers of the remarkable natural
sites of the Aquitaine Nature Network to organise
activities and visits on their sites (voluntary work);
- MOPA (Federation of Tourist Offices and Tourist
Territories of Aquitaine);
- UMIRHA (Union of Hotel businesses in Aquitaine);
- ACPA (Association of Local Cinemas in Aquitaine).
A communication consultancy company is in charge
of preparing, coordinating and communicating the
event. This represents all the external expertise costs,
funded by the Aquitaine Region (230,000 in 2011). They
include:
- Development of communication tools: posters, event
programmes, journal, graphical display unit for the
Aquitaine Nature Network website;
- Project coordination, coordination of the partners,
facilitation of meetings;
- Public relations (space buying ), video reports,
broadcasting rights for lms, public prizes (posters).
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know why they decided take part in the event (what they
are interested in? What convinced them to come? etc.).
Two tools were developed in 2011 to address this gap: a
survey was sent to the public and restaurants, and an
Aquitaine Nature Days passport was given to visitors
to count and record the routes they travelled. However,
very little feedback has been observed, suggesting
this is still some room for improvement and increased
involvement;
- Organisation: local actors (hotel and restaurant
owners ) should be more involved in the organisation
of the Aquitaine Nature Days (in launch meetings for
instance) in order to improve the possibilities offered to
participants and to improve the quality of the welcome.
Moreover, there are only a few relevant regional lms
about biodiversity protection;
- Political: sounder commitment from local mayors
should be expected, especially when Aquitaine Nature
Days activities take place in/near their town. Better
targeted communication is necessary to reach this
objective.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
In order to improve the involvement of stakeholders and
communication, a new process has been set up in 2012
regarding the design of the ecotourism routes: a call
for proposals will be disseminated among stakeholders
through the MOPA to select the most relevant projects.
Furthermore, some other natural sites, partners of
the Aquitaine Nature Network, have claimed to be
interested in joining the Aquitaine Nature Days.
The number of natural sites involved in the network
is therefore likely to increase, although this may
complicate the organisation.
Quantiable results:
- In 2011, 5,000 people participated in a guided tour
to visit the natural sites of the Aquitaine Nature
Network;
- At least 2,000 non-guided visits (such as ecotourism
routes) have been registered (but this gure is certainly
under-estimated since there is no comprehensive
counting device to assess the attendance of non-guided
tours).

Qualitative results:
- Enhanced environmental education (local and
general) of the visitors;
- Raised public awareness about ecological issues
(including biodiversity preservation);
- Improved image of the Aquitaine Nature Network
and local players involved in its organisation;
- Development of cross-disciplinary work between local
players and development of local eco-tourism (long
term).
In general, local decision-makers are pleased with the
Aquitaine Nature Days and are very supportive of the
initiative. The cross-disciplinary work involving various
local players (managers of sites, local facilitators,
service providers of hostels, restaurants, museums,
sportive activities, organic farmers ) has proved to
be very relevant as a successful rst step to adopting
habits that are more respectful of biodiversity. However
some criticisms have emerged, highlighting that
improvements are required on three levels:
- Assessment of the action: There is a lack of
available tools to assess the impact of the activities,
e.g. evaluating the exact number of persons who take
part in the Aquitaine Nature Days including the
ecotourism routes. Moreover it would be relevant to
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Sophie KERLOCH
Rgion Aquitaine
Croix des Fontaines, 14 rue Franois-de-Sourdis,
33077 Bordeaux, France
+33 5 57 57 80 00
sophie.kerloch@aquitaine.fr
Website: www.sites-nature.aquitaine.fr
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF)s management
of the Alviano Lake Oasis is considered to be one
of the most effective in promoting ecotourism,
environmental education and the conservation of
biodiversity in Umbria. The wetland is well organised
for environmental education and bird watching: there is
an educational laboratory specialising in water wildlife,
many observation sites, one tower and one room for
outdoor lessons and observations. There are many
ecosystems such as the most important ooded forest
of the Umbria Region, ponds, ood plains and small
islands where different kinds of herons nest.
BACKGROUND
Alviano Lake is an articial lake constructed in 1965
by damming the Tiber River. The main reason for the
creation of the lake was to produce renewable energy
and provide water regulation of the Tiber River to avoid
ooding in Rome. In few years the ecosystem of the
place developed into a real wetland with very shallow
water frequented by thousands of birds. In 1978, the
Alviano lake Reserve (about 900 ha) was funded by the
Province of Terni to protect nesting and migrating birds
and unique wet ecosystems. Since then, this protected
area has been managed successfully by the WWF.
In Italy, in order to protect biodiversity, the WWF
manages more than 100 oases and natural reserves.
Each oasis protects a small area of biodiversity, a
unique heritage of the colours and sounds of nature!
The WWF carries out specic environmental education
programmes in Italian schools; therefore the Alviano
lake Oasis is well known by regional and national
schools.
The network of protected areas covers a wide range
of habitats: a mosaic of precious and unique habitats,
ora and fauna.
The Oases are not just sites for the protection of nature.
They are places where injured wildlife can recover,
where nature trails offer ample opportunities to watch
wildlife from dedicated hideouts, where research is
on-going, and where people can discover the wonders
of nature.
GROUPS)
The area is managed by the WWF through an agreement
with the Province of Terni; Alviano Lake is inside the
River Tiber Regional Park, the management of which
is under the control of the Protected Areas Service of
the Umbria Region.
The target groups are: 1) Birdwatchers 2) people who
want to spend their leisure time in nature (families) 3)
children from ve to eighteen years old.
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ALVIANO LAKE
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND BIRD WATCHING
IN THE TIBER RIVER REGIONAL PARK
Alviano Lake is located within the Tiber River Regional
Park in the south east of the Umbria region, close to
the Lazio region border. This location is one of the most
important Natura 2000 sites (Special Protected Areas)
in Umbria.
RESOURCES
The WWFs management of the protected area is
founded by the Province of Terni with an annual Grant of
about 50,000. In addition, Alviano Lake Oasis attracts
8,000 paying visitors per year.
The management of Alviano Lake is an example of good
practice in sustainable tourism based on the high level
of staff knowledge, especially on birds, biology and
environmental education. Visitors are increasing year
by year, coming from Umbria, Italy and other European
countries.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
To create a large and comfortable visitor centre.
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Dott. Alessio CAPOCCIA
Localit Madonna del Porto, Guardea (TR), Italy
+ 39 744/ 903 715 (mobile), +39 333/7576 283 (Oasi)
lagodialviano@wwf.it
Websites: http://www.wwf.it
http://www.wwf.it/alviano.nt
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This ecotourism initiative aims at discovering vultures
in the French Basque country. It consists of a three-
day tour for a small group (up to 10 participants). The
cost per person amounts to around 250 per person.
The participants stay in environmentally-certified
accommodation and the restaurants where they eat,
the shepherds who guide them and the food producers
they meet (cured ham from Oteiza, chocolate factory
in Laia) are selected according to high-level quality
standards.
BACKGROUND
In the French Basque country, some species (like
vultures) are very controversial, as they are considered to
be incompatible with local human activities. Ecotourism
is relevant as it is a way both to generate economic
activity in a territory and to preserve biodiversity, the
main topic of the tour. These eco-tours demonstrate to
service providers (hostels, restaurants ...) that tourists
can come and spend money just to see vultures. So
it proves that it is in their interest, and that of local
development, to preserve vultures. The global objective
is to change peoples attitudes towards vultures.
- Friday: meeting at Idiartekoborda Bed & Breakfast
from 5.00pm. Dinner and presentation of the eco-tour.
- Saturday: discovery of one of the oldest colonies of
griffon vultures in the French Basque Country and
observation of local fauna. Sandwich break during the
trek. Visit to a sheep farm and cheese tasting. Dinner
in a traditional Basque cider-works.
- Sunday: observation of fauna during a mountain trek
on the crests of Idiartekoborda. Sandwich break during
the trek. Visit to a traditional chocolate factory. End of
the eco-tour around 5.00pm.
GROUPS)
Action promoter: LPO Aquitaine, the French
representative of BirdLife international, a global
partnership of conservation organisations dedicated to
bird conservation, bird habitat conservation and global
biodiversity protection.
The eco-tours are sold by a travel agency which shares
the same values as LPO and identies the targeted
tourists perfectly.
Target groups include:
- Tourists, to show them the interaction between
scavenging birds and pastoral activities
- Service providers (hostels, restaurants ...)
- Local elected representatives, who have been
informed of this eco-tour activity so that they can
replicate this idea.
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DISCOVERING VULTURES
LOCAL ECOTOURISM INITIATIVE IN THE FRENCH BASQUE COUNTRY
French Basque country, Aquitaine region.
Start date: 2008.
End date: in progress: once a year.
RESOURCES
Human resources:
- 1 guide from LPO Aquitaine, for 7 days (3 days for
the tour + 3 days for preparing the tour + 1 day for
administrative details)
- Staff from the bed and breakfast and from the
restaurant
- 1 shepherd (for visits)
- 1 chocolate maker (for visits)
External costs include the price of sandwiches.
In 4 years, 6 eco-tours have been run, totalling 38
participants.
- 2008: 1 Eco-tour organised = 10 participants (1 person
on waiting list)
- 2009: 2 Eco-tours planned, 1 tour cancelled due to lack
of participants = 1 tour organised with 8 participants
- 2010: 2 Eco-tours organised = 1 with 10 participants
- 1 tour dedicated to beginner photographers with
6 participants
- 2011: 1 Eco-tour organised = 4 participants.
In 2011, a new coordinator took over a little time
before the eco-tour. This explains the communication
difculties and the relatively small number of bookings
that year.
With so many activities during the eco-tour, it is
sometimes difcult to t everything into the short
timescale, which may compromise the smooth running
of the tours. Maybe the visit to the chocolate factory
should be limited to tasting.
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FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The topic of the eco-tour was originally dedicated to
vultures. In 2012, it has been extended to endemism
and mountain fauna (the external contributors remain
the same).
In 2012, two new eco-tours have been set up in the
Aquitaine Region:
- The estuary of the Gironde River, a migratory stop
between the ground and the ocean, from 27 to 29
April, consists of observing birds of the estuary and
discovering prestigious areas. Accommodation is
planned in Blaye in a vineyard chteau.
- Butterflies and orchids of the Lot-et-Garonne
Department, from 11 to 13 May, offers the opportunity
to observe the orchids and insects of the dry grasslands
with an expert from Cen Aquitaine (the Conservatory
of Natural Areas in Aquitaine). Accommodation is
organised in Courbiac in a medieval chteau.
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Laurent COUZI
laurent.couzi@lpo.fr
and Mathieu SANNIER
mathieu.sannier@lpo.fr
LPO Aquitaine, 109 Quai Wilson, 33130 Bgles (France)
+33 5 56 91 33 81 or +33 6 82 70 88 30
Websites: http://lpoaquitaine.org
http://lpoaquitaine.org/public_html/images/stories/documents/pdf/Sorties/vautours%202012.pdf
ttz Bremerhaven, Germany
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Geocaching can be best described as a modern form
of outdoor treasure hunting or a paper chase. In brief,
a small container called a geocache is hidden. The
geocache usually contains many little treasures and
a registration document. The coordinates of the hiding
place are posted on the internet. Participants enter
these coordinates into a GPS device in order to nd
the geocache. Once found, they can take something
from the geocache and have to leave something of
equal or greater value in return. They also sign the
registration document before returning the geocache
to its original location. There are different kinds of
geocaching, from the easiest kind of geocache
which is easy to nd, to caches which can only be
found with special equipment like diving or climbing
equipment. But they all have something in common:
they associate fun with being outdoors and on the track.
In this way people can discover unknown regions or
learn something new about their own region and the
animals and plants which live in it. A geocaching route
can be a good way to raise the number of visitors to
cities, communities or national parks and to inform
them in a fun way about the local ora and fauna and
the importance of the local biodiversity.
The aim of geocaching@nature was the implementation
of a geocaching route combined with a nature trail
in Bremerhaven. As in classical geocaching games,
participants have to nd places, on foot or by bike,
where containers are hidden. In each container there
is a riddle which is about nature and landscape of
Bremerhaven. If the riddle can be solved, it will lead
to the next container by providing the coordinates.
Thus knowledge about the local environment can be
increased and sensitivity towards nature conservation
and environmental protection can be raised.
BACKGROUND
Geocaching is a very popular leisure activity and a lot
of people are so-called geocachers. An employee of
the environmental agency, who is also a geocacher,
introduced the idea to create a geocache route in order
to attract children and young people to go out and learn
something about their environment.
At the beginning, the action was implemented as a
communal project, by a project team consisting of
employees of the environmental agency, the institute
for extended education for teachers, the land registry
ofce and IP SYSCON (software and system vendor of
geographical information systems). The land registry
office and IP SYSCON identified different spots in
Bremerhaven suitable for integrating a geocache tour.
The longitudes and latitudes of these points are the
basis for the tour and need to be entered in a GPS
device.
The implementation of the geocaching route in
Bremerhaven took one year. In addition, the route has
to be checked every year to make sure that the metal
signs still exist and are undamaged.
GROUPS)
The environmental protection agency of Bremerhaven
was the main driving force for implementing a
geocaching project in Bremerhaven. The agency lends
GPS devices to those participants who do not have their
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GEOCACHING@NATURE
own or who just want to try rst before they buy one
for themselves.
The offer is addressed especially to school children and
teenagers aged from 11 up to 16. It is also of interest
to families, hikers and tourists.
The geocaching route is in total about 34 km long and
is spread out over Bremerhaven city. One part of the
route starts in the Northern part of Bremerhaven and
ends in the city centre. The second part goes through
several areas of the city centre.
Start date: 01.04.2008.
End date: on-going.
RESOURCES
The overall costs of the geocaching@nature project
amounted to 15,000. At the beginning of the summer
season the Environmental Agency spent about 2000
for advertising purposes and maintenance and repair of
the metal signs. The costs were covered by budgetary
funds.
The environmental protection agency of Bremerhaven
has created a 34 km long route through the city which
is divided into two parts. The North route is themed
Nature under the influence of humans. Starting
from the CT4 container terminal via Speckenbtteler
Park to Fehrmoor, it ends at Geeste River in the city
of Bremerhaven. The thematic focal point of the
South route is On the trail of climate change. This
route guides its participants from the Klimahaus
Bremerhaven to other nearby places which deal with
issues of climate change. Thus, people can learn about
the biodiversity of their region and the causes and
consequences of climate change.
The geocaching@nature route was the first route
at the level of a municipality and the city council
of Bremerhaven was impressed by the project.
Furthermore this project has also an advertising effect
for the environmental agency of Bremerhaven.
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The rst problems which need to be solved were the
materials used for the information boards. At rst they
used small metal signs which were simply inserted in
the ground. But soon these metal signs were destroyed
or stolen. So the environmental agency decided to use
a small concrete foundation with a metallic socket.
They placed these sockets in hidden places where
the probability that the sockets can be discovered by
uninvolved people is low.
When the geocaching@nature project was presented
at conferences or meetings, some stakeholders had
the opinion that school groups would have a negative
impact on the ecologically sensitive areas. But the
pupils proved to be well-prepared by their teachers to
behave carefully.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Geocaching was invented in the USA around the year
2000. Since then, the number of geocaches has grown.
By now there are over 1.3 million active caches and
over 5 million geocachers worldwide. So the future
prospects, that more people set out to nd caches
and learn something about interesting areas of
Bremerhaven that are really worthwhile protecting, are
very promising. Every year the environmental protection
agency of Bremerhaven runs events in partnership with
the institute for extended education for teachers (e.g.
get-to-know events for students). An additional route
was created in 2010 called the climate route, which
is shorter and which aims to raise interest in the topics
of climate/climate change mitigation and adaptation.
This route follows the mission statement of Klimastadt
Bremerhaven (climate city Bremerhaven). The city
of Bremerhaven has several R&D institutions such
as the AWI (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and
Marine research), Klimahaus Bremerhaven 8Ost
and many institutions for renewable energies (off-shore
technologies, wind energy).
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The feedback from the classes and teachers is very important for the project. In our case, the feedback was positive
and so we were motivated to develop another route with a focus on climate change and the associated challenges.
Theresia LUCKS
+49 471 590-2528
theresia.lucks@magistrat.bremerhaven.de
geocaching@magistrat.bremerhaven.de
Websites: www.bremerhaven.de
www.geocaching.bremerhaven.de
Arsial, Italy
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project shows how an agri-tourism farm, Le
Fontanelle, can improve agro-biodiversity using
animal autochthonous genetic resources:
- Restaurant services are based upon oenological and
gastronomic traditions of Central Italy;
- Menus vary according to the season, and preparations
are made from fresh products (extra-quality meat
selected from on-site cattle production).
It emphasises using local breeds in an organic farm
production system and especially the local ancient pig
breed Suino Nero del Reatino, which is an animal
genetic resource protected by the Lazio Regional Act
(see the 2nd case study in chapter 1). This local breed
belongs to the Apulo - Calabrese black pig group.
The rearing of Suino Nero del Reatino represents
the on-farm conservation of a threatened animal
genetic resource and aims to introduce organic farming
principles in dynamic conservation methods: grazing
surfaces (4 animals/ha) should be composed of more
than 30% of elds that include natural trees (oak trees
and apple trees) and crop rotation should be applied in
order to preserve phyto-sanitary status. On the farm,
6 sows produce about 50 to 120 piglets a year, all of
this local breed.
Animal agro-biodiversity valorisation is based on
meat processing in the farm butchery, using ancient
and family recipes to prepare black pork sausage and
typical cold-cuts. Products are sold directly by the
farm butchers and for agri-tourism cooking. The farm
satises the needs of a demanding oeno-gastronomic
clientele using genuine ingredients and products.
There is an increase of interest in local meat products
and in the traditionally-worked different cuts of pork.
Many other genuine ingredients, such as cheese and
wine, are supplied by highly qualied local producers.
Recently the farm started breeding the horse Cavallo
Agricolo Italiano from Tiro Pesante Rapido (TPR),
a breed from the North of Italy, and has became a
reference in the centre of Italy (since 2001 this breed
has been under the protection of Regional Act n.
15/2000). The farmer is going to use TPR horses to
carry agri-tourism guests in antique carriages.
Goals of the Le Fontanelle action:
- Valorisation of old local breeds such as the Suino
Nero del Reatino and the Cavallo Agricolo Italiano;
- Promotion of agricultural based local products;
- Increased diversication of agri-tourism activities;
BACKGROUND
Valorisation of animal genetic resources through agri-
tourism is the central theme of several experiences
in Central Italy. One of these is Le Fontanelle agri-
tourism in Contigliano, 500m above sea-level, near
Rieti. Another is the Cooperativa Grisciano, created
in 1981 to enhance job opportunities in a depopulated
mountain area (in Rieti district); it aims to develop
organic farming and husbandry, therefore preserving
the environment. The farm is situated in Parco del
Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park (natural
protected area).
The Le Fontanelle farm is located in the Valle Santa,
Rieti district in Central Italy, one hour away from Rome.
For many generations these elds (10 ha in hills and
12 ha in mountains) have been exploited through
environmentally friendly agricultural practices and
cattle breeding. In the 1980s, Mr. V. Marchetti took over
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BLACK PIG: INCREASE IN VALUE OF A LOCAL BREED
ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES USED TO ENHANCE TOURISM IN CENTRAL ITALY
his fathers farm, which has been in his family for nearly
ve generations, and continued goat, cattle and horse
breeding. He wanted to apply organic farming principles
and participated in ALPRROB (rst Association of Lazio
Organic Farmers and Breeds). In 1992, he decided to
open the farm butchery for direct sales of beef, pork
and lamb meat. The animal nutrition is mainly based
on self-produced grass and forage, according to the
disciplinary rules of organic farming; any external
suppliers for complementary foods should be certied
organic from the surrounding area (Rieti Valley and
Sabina). In 2002, new activities began: agri-tourism and
the renovation of the stable and the butchery.
The ARSIAL activity operating under the Protection
of autochthonous genetic resources of agricultural
interest Lazio Regional Act n15/2000, promotes the
on-farm conservation of threatened animal genetic
resources (see the 2
nd
Good Practice in chapter 1).
In 2005, ARSIAL published a historical study The pig
breeding history in Rieti district (M. Tanca and P. Cirioni).
The traditional cold-cuts (guanciale, lardo stagionato
al maiale nero, lombetto della sabina e dei monti della
laga) produced using old processing methods and the
local breed black pig Suino Nero del Reatino, were
registered in the Regional Repertory of Traditional
Products (D.M. 350/99) by ARSIAL.
Enhancement of agrobiodiversity products:
- All meat products are from organically bred farm animals;
- Farm butchery;
- Meat processing using ancient and family recipes.
Tourism and Agrobiodiversity:
- Farm products for direct sales and used in agritourism
cooking;
- Respond to the oeno-gastronomic demand for local
products;
- Networking with places in nearby towns (especially
in Rome).
Conservation, valorisation and tourism:
- Valorisation of ancient local breeds such as the Suino
Nero del Reatino and the Cavallo Agricolo Italiano;
- Special cooking one day per week, such as an event
like Serata del Gran bollito, tutti i venerd (the big
boil, every Friday night!).
Tools:
Press articles, Website, Email, Flyers, Posters.
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GROUPS)
Le Fontanelle Farm is composed of farm activities,
butchery and agri-tourism additional activities.
The partners involved are:
- purchasing support groups (GAS)
- typical local restaurants
- catering groups
- green economy laboratories in social places
Le Fontanelle farm is located in Contigliano (500 m
sea-level), inside the Valle Santa, district of Rieti in
Lazio Region, Central Italy.
Start date: 2005
End date: on-going
RESOURCES
Human resources include the family-run business farm
and seasonal farm workers for:
- Breeding activity: 3 hours/day, all year.
- Butchering activity: 3 hours/day, all year.
- Agri-tourism activity in winter (2 days/week) low
season and in summer every day (July-August).
Average annual turnover: 140,000
Funding is provided through:
- Lazio Rural Development Programme (Public funding);
- Agro Environmental Measures:
- 214.8 Incentive to pay for the protection of animal
resources (economic support to the resource keepers
for on-farm conservation);
- 214.2 Incentive to pay for organic crops and breeding;
- Rural Competitive Measures:
- 112 Incentive to pay for the employment of young
farmers;
- 113 Favouring early retirement for farmers;
- 121 Farm improvement.
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Farm improvements:
- Farm butchery: renovation and construction of a
meat-dripping room, 2 cold storage rooms and a
maturing room;
- Farm: purchase of a farm tractor conforming to safety
standards;
- Agri-tourism activities: building 6 bedrooms for
guests;
- EC brand achievement.
We hope that the country will benet from:
- Agricultural activities;
- Collective farmers initiatives;
- Network development for a local food chain (local
production and distribution, km 0);
- Better relationships between farmers and public
bodies interested in agricultural activities.
- Further diversication of agri-tourism activities.
- Increase of interest in local meat products; in
particular there is an increase in demand for typical
cold-cuts from the butchery shop of the Suino Nero
del Reatino black breed pig.
- Use of local products, such as cheese and wine,
produced by other highly qualied local farmers in the
Sabina area.
Le Fontanelle farm received a certificate from
Slow Food and won special competitions such as the
National Organic Cold Cuts Competition.
The organic farming certication process has not been
maintained, as it entails excessively complex and time-
consuming procedures for very little production. Le
Fontanelle farm decided not to certify its breeding
livestock because its value is characterised by the use
of local breeds, traditional recipes and local process
(km0 distribution). The organic certication doesnt
improve its economic value. In this case, it could be
benecial to adapt the organic certication and control
system to small farms.
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Vincenzo MARCHETTI and Rossella DI MAULA
lefontanelle@tiscali.it
Website: http://www.agriturismolefontanelle.com
For a farmer like me agricultural activities are satisfying.
Our greatest satisfaction is to achieving our goals while being in tune with people and our environment.
(Le Fontanelle farmer).
Agro-biodiversity conservation and valorisation experiences using autochthonous animal genetic resources in farm
production are enhanced through organic farming, on-farm butchery and agritourism.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In Kalnica, apiculture is traditional activity. The Slovak
Beekeepers Association, situated near the town of Nov
Mesto nad Vhom, contributed to creating a beekeeping
educational pathway called J. M. Hurban. The path
was opened in October 2009, with 8 sites over 8.5 km.
The main objective is to establishment an interest in
beekeeping, particularly among young people, and
to present the latest knowledge and experience in
beekeeping issues.
During 2010, PPRC Pietany became involved in the
creation of the beekeeping educational pathway by
transferring scientic knowledge on the conservation
medical plants biodiversity.
The targeted objectives of this action are multiple:
- Preservation of national heritage, reduction of genetic
erosion;
- Raising and enriching the specific diversity of
apicultural medicinal plants;
- Improving the awareness of stakeholders;
- Promoting tourism in connection with education;
- Development of the region.
BACKGROUND
The village, Kalnica, is in the Trencn Region, situated in
the Povask Inovec mountain area (8 km East of Nove
Mesto nad Vhom), a well known tourist destination
(grass skiing, winter skiing). 1,036 inhabitants live
in this village situated at an altitude of 215 m and
covering an area of 2,640 ha. In phyto-geographical
terms, the lower part of Kalnicas territory belongs to
the Pannonian ora. The composition of the landscape
and ora is extremely valuable. Kalnica has extremely
favourable climatic conditions for the development of
fruit growing and high-quality vineyards.
Based on many years of cooperation, the Gene Bank of
SR was approached for the provision of medicinal plants
for planting the J.M. Hurban beekeeping educational
pathway. The origin of the idea comes from:
- Identication of good practices in natural heritage
preservation;
- Identication of good practices in the sustainable use
of biodiversity for the development of the region;
- Application of good practices into the management
of local communities;
- Transferral of knowledge and experiences to the
general public;
- Increasing the diversity of ora in this region.
METHODOLOGY
During 2010 and 2011, PPRC Pietany - Gene Bank of SR
was involved in planting out different medicinal plants
on the educational beekeeping pathway. The education
pathway contributed to enriching the representation
of species of medicinal and melliferous plants in this
locality. These medicinal plants were grown from seeds
with a country of origin of Slovakia, obtained from Gene
Bank SR. 10 species of medicinal and melliferous
plants were planted; 15 plants from each species. The
planting out was organised with the participation of
the pupils and teachers of an elementary school in
Kalnica and 5 staff from Gene Bank SR. These activities
provided educational material, promoted regional
tourism and were helpful for regional beekeepers. The
diversity of ora in this region will be increased by the
planting of medicinal and melliferous plants along the
J.M. Hurban beekeeping educational pathway.
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APICULTURAL ROAD
IMPROVING THE FIRST BEEKEEPING EDUCATIONAL PATHWAY IN KALNICA VILLAGE
GROUP)
The promoter of the action is the Plant Production
Research Centre Pietany, Gene Bank of SR.
Target groups are the general public, students and
schools, as well as specialist beekeepers. Target
groups were reached after many years of cooperation
between Gene Bank of SR and regional beekeepers.
Kalnica - June - December 2010 - planting out and
cultivation of medicinal and melliferous plant species
Kalnica - March - October 2011 - planting out and
cultivation of medicinal and melliferous plant species.
RESOURCES
For achieving these activities, a minimum staff of 5
people during a year is necessary. The annual budget
for external costs and funding partners should be
approximately 10,000.
Human resources involved in the action are the general
public, research workers, students and beekeepers.
Time spent:
- Staff of Gene Bank SR:
Two days per month (June-December 2010)/8 hours
per day, in total 112 hours
Two days per month (MarchOctober 2011)/8 hours per
day, in total 128 hours
- Kalnica beekeepers:
2010 January-December 2010, 4 days per month/8
hours per day/ in total 384 hours
2011 January-December 2010, 4 days per month/8
hours per day/ in total 384 hours
External costs are supported by PPRC Pietany,
Kalnica village, and volunteer beekeepers.
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The observed results include:
- Enriched and increased specic ora diversity in
Kalnica region through planting out medicinal and
melliferous plants (5 species/15 plants);
- Improved awareness of the stakeholders;
- Development of tourism in the region during the
summer;
- Creation of training courses for 35 students;
- Dissemination of the research results for the general
public for 48 participants (leaets).
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Objectives for the future include:
- Continue to teach and learn about the importance
of diversity in medicinal and melliferous plants for
specialised beekeepers and for the general public;
- Continue to plant out medicinal and melliferous
plants on the education and apicultural pathway.
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benedikova@vurv.sk
+421 33 7722311
Education and training activities in tourist areas should result in an increase in visits. Similar activities should be
organised in schools and other interest groups among the general public. The creation of educational pathways with
interesting native plant species could increase the local diversity of plant species and conserve cultural heritage.
These activities are easily applicable in other regions.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Oh! Lgumes Oublis
(Oh! Forgotten vegetables) is

a tourism attraction directed towards the protection
of the biodiversity, organic farming and history of food
practices, for children and families, with a focus on
Heritage Vegetables and Fruits. The visit is developed
around a vegetable conservatory, a gourmet maze
which explains vegetable consumption through the
centuries: from prehistory till tomorrow. There is also
on site Auroch breeding (Bos primigenius), a solar
power supply for the farm, a cannery; the visitors
can purchase local produce in the snack bar, and the
cannery products are also available.
The price of a visit is 6.5 to 9 , depending on time and
size of visitor groups.
BACKGROUND
In the mid nineteen seventies Bernard Lafon created
the concept of Heritage Vegetables in memory of his
grandmothers crazy soup and the herbs that she
used. Beside the farm he has developed a vegetable
soup cannery, and also the Chteau de Belloc Farm
Park which was newly developed at Saqdirac and
on the 1st July 1995. Here are grown and developed
several hundred of forgotten vegetables, plants and
fruits such as wild nettle, dandelion, sorrel, ground
cherry or amour en cage, elderberries, Prigord
verjuice, patty pan, potimarron squash, purslane ...
Since the nineteen sixties, due to the widespread of
transport, industrial concentration, the requirements
of productivity and storage, the general drift from the
land, fashions and commercial demands, numerous
varieties or species of ancient fruits and vegetables
have disappeared from our tables and we have tried to
nd them to utilize them again.
The creation of this site has required a lot of research
and experimentation in order to revive species and
varieties of heritage vegetables. Therefore, much of
work was organized around alimentation history to
explain the cause of their disappearance. Each time, it
was necessary to nd the methods of production, the
old recipes, but also origin and history of these plants.
INVOLVED ACTORS (PROMOTER AND TARGET
GROUPS)
Bernard Lafon is the promoter of this project. During
the last 30 years, he has regularly worked with cooking
media, but also with botanists, sociologists, historians,
gardeners and farmers. Based on self-fertilizing
varieties and special grafting techniques, he has
worked on the biodiversity movement which reached
its greatest extent at the end of the last century, with
large circulation of books and catalogues.
The orchard has been created in partnership with
the Aquitaine Regional Plant Conservatory. It brings
together local varieties of apples, pears, cherries,
plums, peaches, and other little fruits that were grown
in the past.
Together, they have created a garden concept for a
sustainable development!
Today, this tourism development is targeted mainly to
children, school groups and families.
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HERITAGE VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY AS A PROMOTING TOOL FOR TOURISM 162
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GOURMET MUSEUM OF HERITAGE VEGETABLES
The Chteau de Belloc Farm Park is located 11km
from Bordeaux, in the Aquitaine Region, France. It has
a regional/national inuence thanks to the tourism
interest in the area.
Start date: Oh! Lgumes Oublis
was created in
1977 by Bernard Lafon and today it is one of the most
popular sites to visit in France on the organic farming
and food biodiversity uses.
RESOURCES
In terms of resource, it was necessary to acquire
funding from several banks and other loans in order
to nance the investment for this project, but also to
train teams and employees.
For the tourism activities 3 fulltime people are
employed, for running the site (farm production,
cannery, farm shop) another 11 full time people are
employed.
With the help from the media and journalists, this
project has created awareness for the concept of
heritage vegetables. The creative actions imagined
allowed to give notoriety to the products, develop a
brand and to generate income in order to increase
activities on the farm.
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HERITAGE VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY AS A PROMOTING TOOL FOR TOURISM 163
These ideas and actions were taken up again by
many farmers, throughout France and other foreign
countries. With its Bienvenue la Ferme (Welcome
to farm) and Organic Labels, the Chateau de Belloc
Farm Park has become in a few years a major
tourism attraction in South-Western France. It claims
to be the rst French tourist site focused on organic
food and education of taste. It is ranked among the
rst 40 most beautiful French kitchen gardens, and has
been visited by more than 350,000 people mainly from
France, Germany and England.
The principal ideas that we drew from this farm: it is
possible to educate children to the environment and to
taste with fun. But we also learn that agri-tourism and
a farm shop could be an excellent way of development
for a cannery on farm and a farmer!
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
In front of stakes of ecology, sustainable development,
nutrition and public health, many projects are possible
for the future. During the next tourism season: we will
create a restaurant formula with meals available on
site, and also new direct sales on Internet.
Heritage vegetables history is continuing but will
always look to the beginning for its future.
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Our experience seems interesting to share, because it answers to many modern challenges for
education, environment and economic purpose: it is necessary to create other sites and actions to
create a real sustainable development in industrial countries.
Bernard LAFON
Chteau de Belloc, 33670 Sadirac, France
Tel +33 556 306 100
bernard@alimenthus.com
Websites: www.ohlegumesoublies.com
www.ohlegumesoublies.com/eng/index-fr.asp
www.alimenthus.com
Arsial, Italy
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
ParchinMostra is a programme of touring exhibitions.
It promotes and popularises our regional natural
values, by creating events to raise the awareness of
citizens (including students) and tourists of our most
important environmental issues and resources. For
each exhibition, local communication is carried out.
In almost three years of the project, ten exhibitions took
place:
- Five photographic exhibitions, of naturalistic pictures
or more artistic pictures;
- Two exhibitions of naturalistic paintings (realised for
the artistic prize, Premio Naturarte);
- Three exhibitions of naturalistic discoveries on
Latiums wildlife and environment, supported by texts,
pictures, video, interactive material and microscopes.
At the moment ve exhibitions are being displayed
through our regions natural protected areas:
- Wild Lazio, an exhibition of naturalistic photography
showing the most intact natural areas of Latium;
- Herbario Magico, a photographic exhibition dedicated
to magic plants used centuries ago for medical
treatment: some of the pictures use 3D technologies;
- Verso Sud, a photographic exhibition focused
on Southern Latiums natural landscapes and
archaeological monuments;
- BiodiversiLazio, an exhibition on biodiversity
showing natural discoveries from Latiums wildlife;
- A exhibition of naturalistic paintings on the theme
Natural and agricultural Latium.
BACKGROUND
The Latium Regional Park Agency (ARP) is the rst,
and so far the only, agency in Italy entirely dedicated
to the regional system of natural protected areas. The
Agency was established in 1993 and since then has
assisted the management bodies of natural protected
areas in different elds of activities such as biodiversity
conservation, capacity building and environmental
education.
The idea of ParchinMostra was initiated in 2009
in the attempt to create a useful tool for parks and
local administrations to promote the environmental
resources that they manage.
These exhibitions are mainly directed at local citizens
and students, who often need to be encouraged to
discover the beauty of their territory and its unexpected
resources of their territory; but they can also be a
valued help in attracting visitors to some areas of Lazio
normally not paid so much attention by tourism.
The programmes secondary purpose is also to
liven up towns and villages that protect important
natural values. The exhibitions, in our opinion, are an
opportunity to take advantage of underused existing
buildings in rural areas. These buildings are generally
underemployed but are very beautiful: this initiative
gives local populations the opportunity to visit the
exhibition and to take possession of the buildings.
First, our working group discussed the choice of
topics to be dealt with, and consequently, the type of
exhibitions that were easiest to organise and the most
attractive ones. We planned three types of exhibitions:
naturalistic paintings exhibitions, photographic
exhibitions, and more elaborated displays focused
on naturalistic discoveries, illustrated by in-depth
articles, pictures, interactive games and microscope
presentations.
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PARCHINMOSTRA - TOURING EXHIBITIONS
The subsequent steps were:
- Elaboration of the project and creation of each exhibition
with the cooperation of established professionals
- Communication to the parks about the availability of
the exhibitions;
- Collection of requests from the protected areas or
other kinds of public administration;
- Conduct of surveys to check or verify that the location
chosen could satisfy the features required: indoor
spaces, security of exhibited material, etc.
- Planning the agenda;
- Collection of feedbacks from each protected area that
hosted an exhibit. In the rst year, for example, this
stage enabled us to gather information about the best
future locations.
GROUPS)
ParchinMostra has been designed and managed by
the ARP - Agenzia Regionale Parchi, a structure within
the Regione Lazio whose aims are to coordinate and
manage policies, programmes and actions involving
all regional protected areas.
The target groups of ParchinMostra are first of
all stakeholders such as schools, social centres,
environmental associations, and, in general, all citizens.
Also particular targets include: a) local administrators,
exhibitions being in fact an additional way to
promote local territories; b) naturalistic artists and
photographers, whose productions are then exhibited.
The activity has a regional scale: touring exhibitions
are installed in the visitor centres of protected areas,
in dedicated halls within naturalistic museums, or
alternatively in recently restructured historical palaces
in town and rural centres.
ParchinMostra started in April 2009 and is still on-going.
RESOURCES
During the first two year of ParchinMostra, five
employees of ARP worked on the project.
External funds: about 160,000 including external
found (70,000 from Agenzia di Sviluppo - BIC Lazio)
RESULTS

The expected results are:
- An increase in awareness on environmental issues
amongst citizens
- An increase in the understanding of natural protected
areas values, activities and aims
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- An increase in the attractiveness and liveliness of
towns and rural villages that host the exhibitions
Positive results:
- Increase in demand for each exhibition: 12 requests
(average) in the first year of the project (for 4
exhibitions), as against 15 requests (average) in the
second year of the project (for 4 exhibitions);
- Increase in the number of institutions that have
requested the exhibitions: 27 in the rst year, 39 in
the second year. Currently, exhibitions are set up in 52
different locations;
- Total number of sites hosting the exhibitions in less
than 3 years: 93 (average 9.3 per exhibition).
LESSONS LEARNT
- Less is better: the larger the exhibition, the bigger its
problems (transport and assembling costs grow as do
difculties in nding suitable locations, etc.);
- Diversity is good: by realising very different kinds of
exhibition you will be able to arouse the interest of a
wider range of local administrations and citizens;
- A good exhibition is a good promoter of itself, or the
importance of word of mouth;
- The central role played by local referents or the
careful choice of your contacts (that can really make
the difference!);
- Local communication is crucial: if it is well done, you
can bring the exhibition even to the most decentralised
location and it will be a success.
Problems encountered
- Lack of personnel working on the project (two of the
ve people who started ParchinMostra no longer work
on the project);
- (Sometimes) lack of local communication;
- An exhibition doesnt always turn out to the best: its
success also depends on the location chosen;
- (Sometimes) limited opening hours and days of the
exhibitions are caused by a lack of local staff;
- It is not simple to obtain precise data feedback about
the visitors and schools involved;
- Insufcient funds for the continuation of the project.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Currently ve exhibitions are being displayed through
our region. Considering the requests, three of these
will run again for most of 2012.
A new naturalistic exhibition about the birds of the
wetlands has already been funded and is in the design
phase. In addition we have collected some ideas and
plans for new photographic exhibitions.
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The opinion of our working group is that ParchiMostra is
a programme that is easy to replicate in other contexts. It
is essential to create exhibitions that can be modulated and
adjusted according to local needs and the chosen location. This is
a typical project requiring attention and management experience
for the preparation and launching of each exhibition; but once
it is engaged, less involvement is needed for the exhibition to
continue. Something to remember: the expressions on the faces
of people reading the label on our exhibits: Si prega di toccare
(Please, touch it).
Fabrizio PETRASSI fpetrassi@regione.lazio.it
Mariapia PIERMARINI mpiermarini@regione.lazio.it
Agenzia Regionale per i Parchi - Regione Lazio
Via del Pescaccio 96/98 00166, Roma, Italy
+39 651687388
Websites: http://www.arplazio.it
http://www.parchilazio.it
Bremen Region, Germany

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Historical peat boats are rebuilt by a cooperative of
unemployed people (funded by the European Social
Fund ESF) and excursions are organised for the
public in the peaty and swampy lowlands of Northern
Germany. This is an example of how historical boats
can be rebuilt and used to show people a landscape of
high natural value without disturbing it.
Since 2007, the boats have been managed by an
employment initiative, called TORFKHNE Bremen.
During this time, 4 reconstructed peat boats were
bought. Now they give work to 8-15 unemployed people
per year and train them to organise boat trips, repair
boats and give explanations to customers during the
trips. They explain the history of the use of peat and
bogs and life in the bogs and swamps around the city
of Bremen.
The excursions go through a specic landscape of
high natural value. Wetlands are used as grassland in
a nature friendly way and house many meadow birds
and rare plant species. Therefore, people understand
the natural value of this landscape. Explanations are
also given on the historical use of peat, the colonisation
of the bogs and swamps in the 18
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and the biodiversity of today.
This action therefore has social benefits but also
benets of raising awareness towards biodiversity and
the natural values of the region of Bremen.
BACKGROUND
In 2001, a shipyard specialised in rebuilding historic
Hanseatic boats also reconstructed a peat boat. These
boats were in former times (from the cultivation of
the bogs and swamps around Bremen in the mid 18
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century) the only means of transport from the bogs
to the city of Bremen. Inhabitants of the villages in
the bogs transported peat for heating to the town and
obtained money, food and other goods in exchange. This
form of transportation ended in 1900 when a railway
was built. Later, people in the town used coal, oil and
gas for heating the houses instead of peat and this
branch of trade ended.
In the surroundings of Bremen, in the region of
former peat bogs called the Teufelsmoor (Devils
bog), the rst trips were organised in the 1980s with
reproductions of historical peat boats. Since 2007, an
employment initiative has started trips from the city of
Bremen. Since 1983, this has been a new branch within
an employment initiative that gave work to unemployed
people. They have many different units for nearly all
kind of professions and try to give people work and help
them to get a permanent job. In 2007, they founded the
initiative for the peat boats.
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EXCURSIONS WITH HISTORICAL PEAT BOATS
The project started from the interest of the employment
initiative in running a historical peat boat in Bremen.
Now it is a professional group composed of skippers
and volunteers who organise and run the trips, give
information about history, landscape and natural values
and handle and repair the boats.
Many of the former employed members of TORFKHNE
Bremen are still working there as volunteers. The eet
of boats has increased up to 4 boats now.
GROUPS)
The action promoter is an employment institution that
trains people to build historical peat boats, organise
boat trips and give explanations about historical use of
peat and bogs and life in the bogs and swamps around
the city of Bremen.
The target groups are tourists, interested people, clubs,
companies, etc.
The boats cruise through the Blockland and Wmme-
Area in the north of Bremen; the port is in the centre
of Bremen.
The start date of this activity was summer 2007.
RESOURCES
Human resources: There are about 8-12 people in a
job-creation scheme, 2 permanent employees and
many volunteers.
Time spent by the team: Full time during the summer
season, less in winter time.
Action funding: The project is supported by the
European Social Fund (ESF), the Federal Employment
ofce, regional social funds and sponsors.
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During the season from April to October, some on
thousand people took part in the excursions. In 2011, 43
trips were scheduled with 350 people and 15 chartered
trips with about 2,000 participants. So the project has
high touristic value, but also raises awareness of the
importance of regional biodiversity and history of peat
and bogs.
Now the project has four peat boats of their own and
can rent one or two more if needed.
8-12 former unemployed people are engaged per year.
The project lacks funding because the excursion fees
do not cover all the costs. So they are trying to obtain
new sponsorship and governmental aid. They get a lot
of idealistic support but not so much nancial support.
FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
The project has been growing over the years and new
ideas have appeared.
From 2012, TORFKHNE Bremen has been organising
excursions with school classes from the rst to the
sixth class about various themes: the history of peat as
fuel for heating in the 18
th
and 19
th
century; getting peat
as fuel to the city of Bremen; the history of colonisation.
Since 2011, they have been taking trips with a story-
teller who tells stories of the poor and hard life of
former times in the bogs.
Finally, they want to cooperate with a nature
conservation organisation (a local branch of German
Friends of the Earth) to organise natural excursions.
Moreover, a small exhibition in the harbour of peat
boats with different kinds of peat and typical plants of
the bogs and swamps is foreseen.
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Ullrich MICKAN, Facility manager
Torfkhne Bremen,
Stavendamm 8, D-28195 Bremen
+49 421. 37 87 75 89
mickan@bras-bremen.de
info@torfkaehne-bremen.de
Website: http://www.torfkaehne-bremen.de
PHOTOS CREDITS:
1. Environmentally-friendly farming regional programme: CRA
2. Regional Act for agro-biodiversity conservation: Map= ARSIAL-SIT; ARSIAL-STQ
3. Microbial biodiversity and soil health: C Garbisu (NEIKER)
4. Environmental study guidelines: DG Environment Regin of Murcia
5. Dry calcareous grasslands preservation: CEN Aquitaine
6. Landscape management plan for farmers: EMU V.Kuusemets; EMU K.Sepp; EMU M.pik
7. Agri-food landscapes: M Askasibar (PAISAIA)
8. Farming and protecting snails: K. Koukos (Helix Far)
9. Natural biodiversity in vineyards: E Maille Agrobioperigord
10. Preserving a cultural heritage: CVRV Pietany
11. Potato genes: JI Ruiz de Galarreta (NEIKER)
12. Archeologia Arborea tree collection
13. Breed conservation: = E. UGARTE (NEIKER)
14. Seed houses concept: Agrobioperigord
15. Designation of origin for agro-biodiversity
16. Collective Mark Natura in Campo: Lazio Region - ARP (Regional Park Agency)
17. Landrace seeds event RENABIO: ReseauSemences Paysannes
18. Agro-biodiversity in Trasimeno Lake: Trasimeno
19. The taste of landraces: Agrobioperigord
20. Educational garden: CVRV Pietany
21. Public participation in biodiversity conservation: CVRV Pietany
1 Landscape programme and land use plan: archive SUBV
2. Green network in Estonia: EMU V.Kuusemets; EMU E.Pildid
3. Umbria Region Ecological Network: R.Segatori, MAICh
4. Natural areas within a city: CEN Aquitaine
5. Upgrading motorway infrastructure: ASF
6. Aarbe Reserve: Designation of a Forest Reserve Zone: I. Azkarate Prez
7. Plant Micro-Reserves: MAICH
8. Territorial plan for wetlands: A. Salazar
9. Dening technical criteria for Regional environmental regulation: DG Environment Regin of Murcia
10. Environmental impact assessment reports: P. Ortega
11. Common lands landscape: Contrada Allumiere Association; ARSIAL-STQ; Allumiere Agrarian University
12. Landscape charter to promote territory attractiveness: Pays Val de Garonne-Gascogne
13. Declaration: Biodiversity in cities and municipalities: Umweltschutzamt Bremerhaven
1. Regional strategy for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in tourism: DG Environment Regin of Murcia
2. Management of the National Park of Samaria: Forest Directorate of Chania
3. Quality labels for Tourism in Protected Natural Areas: T. Andrs
4. Nature on tour: Promotion of sustainable tourism: Lazio Region - ARP (Regional Park Agency)
5. Aquitaine Nature Days: education and discovery of biodiversity: ONCFS RNN Ares
6. Alviano Lake: Environmental education and bird watching
7. Discovering vultures, local ecotourism initiative: Mathieu Sannier LPO Aquitaine
8. Geocaching@nature: Umweltschutzamt Bremerhaven
9. Black pig: increase in value of a local breed: Le Fontanelle
10. Apicultural road: beekeeping educational pathway: CVRV Pietany
11. Gourmet Museum of Heritage Vegetables: Bernard Lafon
12. ParchinMostra-touring exhibitions
13. Excursions with historical peat boats: Henrich Klugkist
Find all Reverse documents on our website:
www.reverse.aquitaine.eu
This project is conanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
and made possible by the INTERREG IVC programme

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