Conservation and management of wetlands in the Upper Adriatic: renaturation interventions in the natural reserve of Valle Cavanata
The project aims at defining a number of interventions to be carried out in adjacent protected areas characterized by similar environments, enabling a comparison of the different methods used and the results obtained, thus acquiring clear indications as to the most suitable management techniques to be used. This type of intervention has produced favourable synergic results on the conservation of bird species that use these coastal wetlands as resting, wintering and nesting areas. With reference to the Regional Natural Reserve of Valle Cavanata (Gorizia - Italy) and to the Natural Reserve of the Bay of San Canziano (Koper - Capodistria- Slovenia) renaturation activities are carried out in order to create new environments that are typical of coastal saline lagoons which can offer the most suitable environmental conditions to the presence of particular animal species. Research, monitoring and results dissemination activities are then developed jointly, following individual recovery actions. The project aims at safeguarding biodiversity in the cross-border area, through the regeneration of deteriorated areas and the development of environmental education programmes and sustainable tourist options. The initiative is based on the cooperation and the exchange of experiences between the authorities that are responsible for the management of the protected areas, with a view to building a network of coastal protected areas in the Upper Adriatic.