Isonzo Rivermouth Nature Reserve (Staranzano - gorizia, Italy)

Description of the Protected Area

The area lies along the last 15 km of the Isonzo River, including the mouth and a considerable portion of shallow sea, In the North east Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia). The Mouth of the River Isonzo is a coastal wetland at the northernmost corner of the Adriatic Sea (and of the Mediterranean Sea) where the vast lagoon system of about 100,000 hectares (which includes the Po river mouth and the lagoon of Venice) meet at some point the first rocky cliffs of the Illyrian limestone area (Classic Karst). The area, in the upper part is mostly limited to the river- bed (with emerging gravel islets) and limited floodplain portions. In the lower part it widens, covering agricultural surfaces along the river course and more important, a vast area including (from south to north): shallow marine tidal areas with sand/gravel islets, salt marshes, brackish marshes, mudflats (partially covered by eelgrasses carpets), reed beds, riverine woods, recently re-flooded fresh water marshes, plain wood etc. An area of about 100 hectares has been restored (period 1989/90 to 2001) from arable and land to freshwater temporary wetland, including permanent wet meadows, reedbeds, wooded areas, etc. The site regularly hosts relevant waterfowl numbers and rare animal and plant species. It also represents a very important eco-tourism, educational, research and bird-watching resort at an international level, which is regularly visited by more than 50.000 people/year, both along terrestrial routes and by boat. The Nature Reserve is also included in Natura 2000 sites and Ramsar area.

Management system

The Reserve is managed by the Muncipality of Staranzano, leading the management body of the nature reserve in which other 3 municipalities are involved (Grado, Fiumicello - Villa vicentina, San Canzian). The scientific body of the nature reserve is the Biological Station of Cona Islands (SBIC).

ECOSYSTEMS conservation and MANAGEMENT MEASURES

Biodiversity and ES conservation measures

The area is a Regional Nature Reserve (Riserva Naturale Regionale Foce dell’Isonzo) instituted in 1996 by Regional Act n. 42/96, according to the rules of national law on protected areas n. 394/92. It moreover falls in two declared Natura 2000 areas: a Special Protection Area for birds (SPA) [Last Legal Act: D.M 19 giugno 2009 Elenco delle Zone di Protezione speciale (ZPS) classificate ai sensi della Direttiva 79/409/CEE] and a Site of Community Importance (SCI) for other important species and habitats [Last legal act: D.M. 30 marzo 2009 Secondo elenco aggiornato dei siti di importanza comunitaria (SIC) per la regione biogeografica continentale in Italia ai sensi della Direttiva 92/43/CEE]. SPA and SCI areas, which cover the same surfaces, are named Foce dell’Isonzo - Isola della Cona, with code IT3330005. The SPA/SCI area is wider and does not coincide totally with the Regional Nature Reserve (even if most part of this one lays within the boundary of SPA/SCI surface itself), and includes a smaller marine area and about 100 hectares of cultivated land.

The whole proposed site (Nature Reserve) is included into the Important Bird Area IBA063 Foci dell’Isonzo, Isola della Cona e Golfo di Panzano (2,742.31 hectares). An approved management plan already exists and has been already implemented. There are also: an approved Conservation and Development Plan (a sort of Nature Reserve zoning legislation)⁽¹⁾ and a Nature Reserve Rulebook which purpose is compose nature conservation with local human activities. Salt meadows and restored swamps controlled grazing with horses and cattle; trimming and/or mowing wet meadows and pastures; surface water level control in restored areas to favour waterfowl; control actions on alien species (Amorpha fruticosa - False indigo -, Myocastor coypus -, , etc.); collaborations with some private land-owners. Controlled grazing and trimming/mowing favour various open habitats and important and related target plant species as: Allium angulosum (Mouse garlic), A. suaveolens (Fragrant Onion), Cirsium canum (Queen Ann’s Thistle), Orchis laxiflora (Loose Flowered Orchid), O. palustris (Marsh Orchid), Plantago cornuti (Cornut Plantain), Plantago altissima (Tall Plantain), Carex divisa (Divided Sedge), Orchis and Ophrys species (Orchids and Spider-orchids), etc. Water level control favours others (Ranunculus circinatus - Fan-leaved Water Crowfoot -, Rumex palustris - Marsh Dock -, etc.).

Application of ESS approach and related activities

The management system of the Reserve, which main goal is its preservation, guarantees the delivery of eco-system services such as air quality, soil conservation, conservation and improvement of biodiversity as well as its dissemination also through the collection of vegetable seeds.

Furthermore, particular attention is given to recreational educational activities for schools and general public in order to guarantee the delivery of eco-systemic services in the cultural and recreational field. For this purpose there is a Visitor Centre area at Isola della Cona, which includes three buildings. Two of them are adapted as bird and landscape watching facilities. The largest building has a museum (with dioramas, aquariums, underwater views etc.), shop, laboratories and offices for the staff and the Research Station “Isola della Cona” (SBIC), bar etc. The surrounding area is provided with screened footpaths and hides and horse structures. As the site is one of the most important birdwatching sites in Central Europe e Northern Mediterranean region, there are a lot of facilities for it. Environment education and guidance activities are regularly lead by specialized staff, specially (but not only) dedicated to schools. The “Cona Island Wetland Centre” area is an example of an environmental sustainable/friendly structure. Since the year 2006, it became energetically self-supporting, as it is served by a photovoltaic plant, a thermo-solar one and a short supply chain biomass plant for heating.

premises, equipment and other tools for the ecosystems management

The Reserve is scientifically managed directly by SBIC (see above), which began its activity in the year 1996. Regular fauna (mostly birds but also other zoological groups) monitoring has been performed since 1989. Main researches are: monitoring flora and fauna, monitoring invertebrates, support to researchers, cooperation with other international research institutes etc.

Involvement of stakeholders in the management system

The main SHs in the protected area are the Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia and local municipalities. Four local municipalities are members of the Managing Authority Board supported by the scientific committee SBIC-Stazione Biologica Isola della Cona (Biological Station). As regard the operative management of the protected area, the private company is directly involved in the management system with special regards to educational and recreational activities. Indirectly, the SBIC is involving the Academia in research activities and the managing authority is involving voluntary associations in conserving and cleaning the environment.

ecosystems MANAGEMENT MEASURES: best practices

IMPRECO PILOT ACTION

BALANCING TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN CULTURAL ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND REGULATION & MAINTENANCE (BIOTIC) ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN THE ISONZO RIVER-MOUTH NATURE RESERVE

Cultural services

Balancing trade-offs between Cultural Ecosystem Services and Regulation & Maintenance (Biotic) Ecosystem Services

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