Case study:LIFE08NAT/IT/000352 CRAINat
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Project overview
| Status | In progress |
|---|---|
| Project web site | http://www.lifecrainat.eu/ |
| Themes | Habitat and biodiversity |
| Country | Italy |
| Main contact forename | Tommaso |
| Main contact surname | Pagliani |
| Main contact user ID | |
| Contact organisation | Consorzio Mario Negri Sud |
| Contact organisation web site | http://www.negrisud.it |
| Partner organisations | |
| Parent multi-site project | |
| This is a parent project encompassing the following projects |
No |
Project summary
The project "Conservation and recovery of Austropotamobius pallipes in Italian Natura 2000 sites", whose acronym is CRAINat, was funded under the EU LIFE + 2008 program. CRAINat provides for the implementation of specific actions for the protection and conservation on the species Austropotamobius pallipes (also known with its common name of white clawed crayfish), species in a high conservation priority, included in Annexes II and V of Directive 92/43/EEC "Habitat".
The project includes over 60 actions and will be carried out in the same time in two geographical areas, northern Italy (Lombardy Region) and central Italy (Abruzzo Region, Provinces of Chieti and Isernia and National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga), within more than 40 SCI.
The initiative is the natural continuation of previous projects also supported by EU's LIFE program; its mean objective is the preservation / increasing of native crayfish populations through actions that will be realized in nature and actions of ex situ conservation.
In fact, in addition to reconnaissance of the watercourses in the SCI of Lombardy, Abruzzo and Molise territories, activities will be carried out on genetic characterization, monitoring actions and containment of non-native species, maintenance actions, habitat restoration, as well as specific actions to spread young individuals in suitable surface water bodies in the involved SCIs.
In the Lombardia region of northern Italy, two crayfish reproductive plants were restored for breeding white-clawed crayfish. A total of 4 466 juveniles were reared in these plants and released into nine rivers. This was complemented by habitat restoration work at seven sites, and the creation of three pools suitable for the conservation of the species. Two new crayfish populations were established and three restocking activities were carried out in Lombardia, through the successful translocation of reproductive crayfish individuals.
In central Italy, three reproductive plants were restored by the project, which together produced a total of 5 276 juvenile crayfish that were released into rivers. Two source areas were created, in the Gran Sasso Monti della Laga Park and in the Sirente Velino Regional Park (Abruzzo region), where a total of 212 juvenile crayfish were released. Habitat restoration work was carried out in three areas. However, the presence of crayfish plague (Aphanomices astacii), a fungal disease, caused the deaths of many crayfish and stopped project activities in central Italy for a significant period, while the relevant authorities and stakeholders worked together to plan necessary interventions.
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Supplementary InformationEdit Supplementary Information
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