News from the Italian Parks

The monthly update during the staff meeting, which took place on the 20th of March, highlighted that the "Praterie" project's actions are positively proceeding in respect of both the schedule and the development perspective.


The Action C3 - Concertation activities to optimize the pastures management - is going to close, with the appointments on the 27th and 28th of March, the second phase of the territorial participatory meetings, with the aim to enhance the contents of the guidelines for the harmonization of the grazing regulations, starting from the first draft drawn up by the University of Perugia according to what emerged in the previous meetings. For this reason it has been announced that the plenary participatory workshop to take note of the draft by the subjects involved in the process, will take place on the 16th of May.

As far as the Action C1 is concerned - distribution of the watering troughs - the planning of the first enclosures by the Racollo lake, as well as the planning of the renovation of the Banconi spring are being completed: the works will start in early summer.

Regarding the Action C4 - Control of the tourist flow - it has been started the planning of the Racollo parking area and of the paths that will connect the hotel in Campo Imperatore with the Duca degli Abruzzi mountain hut, Sella di Monte Aquila and Sella del Brecciaio, with a total length of 4 km.

Concerning the Action E1 - spread of best practices and management inputs - during the first months of 2014 recorded 9 visits to as much breeding farms, besides the 90 visits carried out in 2013.

Regarding the Action C2 - implementation of structural actions to foster the homogeneous grazing on the pastures - it has been published the ranking of those who are entitled to the tensile structures that will be given to the breeders until they are available. The 29th of March is the deadline of the public notice regarding the expression of interest of the breeders who would like to receive the free loan of the materials for the building of high altitude pens for veals and horses.

As far as the Action E2 is concerned - information and service centers - the project for the organization of the Help Desks has been presented.

Furthermore, the staff meeting has positively accepted a research doctorate presented by the University of Rome "La Sapienza", which provides the study of the plant species' presence in the territory of Campo Imperatore, because the aim of the research could support and complete the assessment on the grassland as well as pasture conservation following the actions implemented with the Life+ project.