Environmental improvement and biodiversity conservation in green areas on an Apennine woodland.

The evolution of hill and mountainous territory in the North Central Appenines as a result of the abandonment of land for agricultural purposes has encouraged the progressive plant growth over these green areas with consequent reduction in biodiversity. In this context we find the infestation of Pteridium aquilinum which further narrows down the natural resources of abandoned land which is now of faunal interest. This issue has been examined by the ‘Laghi di Suviana e Brasimone’Regional Park (Bologna Italy) through environmental improvement programmes with faunistic ends, clearing and ploughing of pastures and planting of sward-mixtures. The conservation and restoration of the green areas and the up keeping of a well balanced wood to pasture ratio facilitate the management of wild ungulates and hence a reduction in damages to cultivations. The experimental samples taken regard the study of vegetation, botanic composition, the floristic richness and biodiversity before and after the intervention efforts. A substantial decrease in fern presence has been observed as well as an increase in biodiversity and a further 300% increase in pasture value. These results confirm the effectiveness of the action taken and the importance of maintaining a continuous programme of pasture management through annual clearing of vegetation.