31/08/2017 The drought of 2017

In recent months, some of the possible effects of climate change have also been observed in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park: a devastating drought, fires, puddled lakes, large rivers flowing in their wholeness. In July, ISPRA (Institute for Higher Protection and Environmental Research) published the annual report on "CLIMA Indicators in Italy for 2016". The report explains that in addition to the annual average temperature increase (+ 1.35 ° C) over the average of recent years, 2016 fell by 6% precipitation. For 2017, due to the high droughts experienced during the summer, there is a further worsening of these indicators.

With the WetFlyAmphibia project in the summer of 2017, it took extraordinary steps to save some Yellowbelly toad’s breeding sites, which were heavily affected by this long drought.

A rescue operation was carried out at Acquaviva in the town of Santa Sofia (FC). In this site there are drinking water tanks in which the presence of Yellowbelly toad has never been recorded due to the impossibility of amphibians to enter and exit the tanks. With the LIFE WFA project at the beginning of 2017, they were placed inside the tanks some stone stairs and, thanks to this small intervention, last spring was laid the first eggs. Unfortunately, drought has dried water in the tanks, so Park’s technicians and forestry carabineer have intervened to save the tadpoles that were born, collected and transported them to another site with a good water reserve where they could complete their metamorphosis.

12/5/2017- LIFE & Forest: On the 18th and 19th of May, 2017, LIFE WetFlyAMphibia will be present at the LIFE & Foreste initiative

17/02/2017- Meeting with the farmers of the pastures of Emilia-Romagna

It was held at the headquarters of the Community of the Park a meeting with the dealers of the State Property pastures of Emilia-Romagna Region, as part of the action C1.

The meeting was an opportunity to inform dealers of the pastures on the project and initiate the planned measures for the conservation of target species, with particular regard to Apennine yellow-bellied toad.

They will indeed be those who run the state-owned pastures and still operate a trade agro-pastolare inside the Park to make direct interventions for the conservation of species.

This will involve them directly on this action and raise awareness on the issues of conservation of amphibians in the project over the entire Park 

02/11 / 2016- LIFE WetFlyAmphibia in the training days of the group of Mountain Environment Protection of the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano)

Presentazione del progetto. Foto: Marcello Miozzo

Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October, the group of Mountain Environment Protection of the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) made a detailed visit of the National Park, the LIFE WetFlyAmphibia project, was presented and illustrated together the Eremita and MIPP LIFE.

The CCTAM (Central Commission for Mountain Environment Protection) of the CAI (Italian Alpine Club) was established in 1984 and is committed to the protection of mountain environment and to develop a suitable mountain culture. 

The group that had the basis to the refuge of Pian Rocchi in Fiumicello (FC) had the opportunity to know in depth the various projects to safeguard biodiversity in the National Park, including the LIFE WetFLyAmphibia which was presented in the theoretical session Saturday being also part of the "biodiversity games" organized by the park.

Visita alle aree di intervento. Foto: Marcello Miozzo

Sunday was held a guided hike in the project intervention areas in Bucine and Campora areas (FC). Participants had the opportunity to observe different types of intervention, including the renovation of fountains, the recovery of wetlands and the creation of new areas. In the excursion they were also attended by technicians of the project LIFE Eremita who explained the project tracking methods.

The two days were a great opportunity to the dissemination of the project between persons which may constitute communicators of it.

Gruppo TAM in visita alle aree d'intervento. Foto: Marcello Miozzo

24/10/2016 - The interventions of Action C1 have began

The work on the reconstruction of the Wetlands Metaleto and Prato al Fiume (Eremo di Camaldoli) and Podere Stradelli have began.

I confini del SIC IT5180018 con le aree di intervento

In these areas will be implemented operations for the restoration or creation of wetlands for amphibians, associated with interventions on vegetation to improve the lighting conditions of the sites.

The Metaleto area (s.l.m. 898 m) is located near the Monastery of Camaldoli, in the town of Poppi (AR). CFS will actuate on two locations: the first concerns the arrangement of a wetland and the second the implementation of a dual-function fountain (for watering horses and wetland for amphibians).

The area of ​​Prato al Fiume (1060 m s.l.m.) is located near the Eremo di Camaldoli, in the town of Poppi (AR). It is a meadow inside a fir and beech forest that, in time, has greatly reduced the free space compared. Interventions of CFS are of three types: reconstitution wetland, woodland and cutting arrangement of the stream weir.

The area of ​​Pode Stradelli (822 m s.l.m. ) is located in the town of Chiusi della Verna (AR), at Stradelli farm. It is an area of ​​pastureland present, characterized by the presence of a small ditch, left tributary of the Archiano River. UMCASEN provide the construction of a fountain with basins for watering and for amphibians and the realization of some small wetlands on the lawn.

 The works constitute the first phase of operations in the Tuscan side of the park which will be added other interventions the next spring.

Interventi di taglio a Metaleto. Foto: Marcello Miozzo

21/10/2016 - LIFE WetFlyAmphibia on television program Linea Verde of RAI (Radiotelevisione Italiana S.p.A.)

On 20 October the television program Linea Verde recorded a service on the Foreste Casentinesi National Park which will include a section of WetFlyAmphibia project. The crew of the program has been in an area of intervention where they are in process the reconstitution of a wet area.

The service will be on air in RAI 1 the 6th November.

30/06/2016-New dissemination project material

Within the project WetFlyAmpbia, dissemination material was producted, a brochure, a A3 poster and two roll-up.

If you are interested in having the material (brochure and poster) or are interested in having the roll-up for exhibitions or presentations you can request them to theNational Park, writing an email to davide.alberti@parcoforestecasentinesi.

Here you can download the material in pdf:

08/06/2016- July 20 to 21: Initial Conference of WetFlyAmphibia project

On 20 and 21 July 2016 will be held the first public conference of the project. The conference will be held in the Sala del museo della bicicletta at the Lanificio di Stia, Stia (AR).

The activities will be divided into three working sessions:

1 Presentation of the project and specific scientific interventions related to this

2 Network between LIFE projects and discussion about how to transfer the practical experience in the management

3 Visit to two areas of project intervention

The program can  be downloaded HERE.

11/04/2016- Update day for guides of the National Park

The next Thursday, April 14, the LIFE WetFLyAmphibia project will participate in the  Update day for guides and operators of the information structures of the National Park, the lessons will be take place at Centro Culturale Sandro Pertini of Santa Sofia (FC). The course is organized by the Foreste Casentinesi National Park.

The program can be downloaded at the following link: Giornata aggiornamento GAE.pdf