Habitat improvements with agronomic treatments for ungulates in an area of central Italy.

Research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different environmental improvements in order to recover areas encroached by Pteridium aquilinum for wildlife in Tuscany. The habitat improvements were represented by a simple cutting and a harrowing, followed by the sowing of a mixture of forage species. The two agronomical interventions were also compared with the surrounding natural areas that received no treatments. The results show a greater presence of forage species in the areas restored with agronomic managements, compared to the natural surfaces. Improved areas also presented a marked improvement in floristic richness and in biodiversity, as testified by the Shannon index.