Freedom of movement for animals
Stretching from Lago Maggiore in the North to the river Po in the South, the Ticino river cuts through the heavily industrialized North Italian plain, forming a biological connection between the Alps and the Appenines - one of the biggest ecological corridors in Europe. But what does that mean - and why is it important?
"Animals and species need a set of specific environmental conditions for their survival", explains Franco Mari, wildlife expert in the Parco Ticino. "If these conditions change in one location - for example due to human pression or climate change - animals cannot live there anymore, so they start to migrate to other, more suitable places. Even plant populations can move by spreading their seeds over neighbouring territories."
In highly developed regions such as the Po plain, however, moving animals encounter many, sometimes unsurmountable obstacles. Forest and fields are separated by expressways and railways, rivers blocked by large dams, airports attract nocturnal birds from their migratory routes. Whereas some animals are capable to cross a street in a few seconds, others never reach the other side.
The Ticino river and its surrounding forests form a long stretch of largely undisturbed forests and waterways, but also here, roads, railsways and dams are present. Now, one of the major task for the park management is to recreate and extend the ecological corridor function of the park. "Green bridges" traverse big motorways, dams are being equipped with fish ladders. Reintroduction programs for fish species, otter, roe deer and black storks are planned or have been realized.
The next goal is the connection of the Ticino Park with other nature reserves in Northern Italy and Switzerland. "We have identified dozens of possible small corridors along small streets, fields and riverlets. If these lines are renaturalized, planted with trees, we can create a good corridor network". But before that happens, some more decision makers have to understand that freedom of movement is probably not only a right for humans.
17.10.2005 19:18h
More Articles
|
More Stories about Valle del Ticino
More Pictures of Valle del Ticino
The Tour's Biospheres
Which biospheres have been or will be visited?
Basic Informationabout Valle del Ticino (UNESCO site)
Map of Italiawith the location of Valle del Ticino (UNESCO site)
|
Article
