News from the Italian Parks
Main Features
Europarc support the Project for the Eradication of the Rat from the Island of Montecristo
(07 Feb 12) Last Friday, after gathering in Alberese in the Maremma Regional Park offices (Tuscany), Europarc Federation Coucil has expressed its support towards the activities of Black rat eradication from the island of Montecristo, belonging to the Arcipelago Toscano National Park, in Italy.
Europarc Federation represents over 450 organizations responsible for the management of most of Europe's protected areas in 37 countries; Federparchi is its Italian branch. Europarc's aim is to bring together dedicated professionals, government agencies, decision makers and supporters to increase effectiveness in conserving and enhancing natural and cultural heritage on land and sea for the well-being and benefit of current and future generations. The long-term Europarc's approach of conserving biodiversity implies to take action against the threats that put at severe risk the future of native species and habitats in Europe.
According to current scientific assessments (e.g. published by IUCN), alien species are one of the main threats for the biodiversity in the world; their presence is particularly alarming and damaging in insular systems, where alien species put at serious risk of survival the populations of native autochthonous species. Countries that have signed and implemented the Berne Convention (1979), the Convention on Biodiversity (1992), the "Habitat" Directive (92/43/EEC) are required to handle the problem of alien species and promoting concrete actions to control this threat as well. Where alien species are firmly established, eradication is the most effective measure that can be taken to reduce risks to biodiversity loss.
In the Mediterranean, the Black rat is the most common alien species unintentionally introduced in the islands and now it is now firmly established and widespread. Programs for the eradication of this species from the islands have been conducted successfully around the world, as far as they have been widely demonstrated eradication results in terms of biodiversity protection. In the case of the Black rat, eradication is a consolidated practice of intervention, since it ensures the conservation of biodiversity, without being hazardous for other autochthonous species.
For these reasons the EUROPARC Council has expressed its support towards the activities of Black rat eradication from the island of Montecristo, and hoping that the success of these initiatives, for the management and conservation of biodiversity, can be repeated in similar contexts.
Moreover, EUROPARC Council has also welcomed that the methodology, that has been developed by experts with national and international experience and that has already been adopted on Montecristo Island, hence in a National Park, also limits the possible impacts and includes activities to prevent and monitor the effects that may threaten other native species.
Europarc Federation represents over 450 organizations responsible for the management of most of Europe's protected areas in 37 countries; Federparchi is its Italian branch. Europarc's aim is to bring together dedicated professionals, government agencies, decision makers and supporters to increase effectiveness in conserving and enhancing natural and cultural heritage on land and sea for the well-being and benefit of current and future generations. The long-term Europarc's approach of conserving biodiversity implies to take action against the threats that put at severe risk the future of native species and habitats in Europe.
According to current scientific assessments (e.g. published by IUCN), alien species are one of the main threats for the biodiversity in the world; their presence is particularly alarming and damaging in insular systems, where alien species put at serious risk of survival the populations of native autochthonous species. Countries that have signed and implemented the Berne Convention (1979), the Convention on Biodiversity (1992), the "Habitat" Directive (92/43/EEC) are required to handle the problem of alien species and promoting concrete actions to control this threat as well. Where alien species are firmly established, eradication is the most effective measure that can be taken to reduce risks to biodiversity loss.
In the Mediterranean, the Black rat is the most common alien species unintentionally introduced in the islands and now it is now firmly established and widespread. Programs for the eradication of this species from the islands have been conducted successfully around the world, as far as they have been widely demonstrated eradication results in terms of biodiversity protection. In the case of the Black rat, eradication is a consolidated practice of intervention, since it ensures the conservation of biodiversity, without being hazardous for other autochthonous species.
For these reasons the EUROPARC Council has expressed its support towards the activities of Black rat eradication from the island of Montecristo, and hoping that the success of these initiatives, for the management and conservation of biodiversity, can be repeated in similar contexts.
Moreover, EUROPARC Council has also welcomed that the methodology, that has been developed by experts with national and international experience and that has already been adopted on Montecristo Island, hence in a National Park, also limits the possible impacts and includes activities to prevent and monitor the effects that may threaten other native species.
Protected area: Diverse | Fonte: Federparchi
© 2024 - Parks.it