- Details
-
Category: life
-
Published on Thursday, 29 November 2012 16:49
-
Written by moderatore
-
Hits: 5543
Carabus olympiae, steno-endemic species of Val Sessera, lives in a very small area within forest habitats. In the last century the species was threatened with extinction by collectors, but thanks to the characteristics of the habitat in which they live, that can provide shelter and food, this insect was able to overcome the phases of the population regression.
Today the major risks for species are:
-
- Destruction of the most suitable environment - a series of transformations of habitat (excessive deforestation, uncontrolled pastoral exploitation and tourist expansion) would entail the pursuit of improved forest management and the environment in order to ensure the conservation of the species.
- Global Warming - The Carabus olympiae is a species of low vagility and with a marked selectivity against climatic conditions and therefore particularly vulnerable to the phenomenon of global warming.
- Collecting - Since its discovery, the species was caught in a uncontrolled collecting. Only in recent years there has been a decline but not the total elimination of the catch. The project therefore provides sensitisation actions for adults and children.
- Decrease in the availability of prey - Despite the decline in its elective species, Carabus olymipiae is polyphagous and thus able to overcome the lack of a specific food source.
Project objectives
The project aims to reduce the threat of extinction of the species Carabus olymipiae establishing a model of forest management aimed at the restoration of habitats while obtaining economic resources funding the further preservation of the species. A key result will be the awareness raising for all people interested in the species.
The major actions foreseen by LIFE Carabus are:
- Actions to improve forest habitats through the implementation of silvicultural approaches aimed at re-naturalization of artificial forests and improvement of the beech;
- Actions to improve open habitat specifically addressed to shrubs management;
- Practical improvement for grassland environment;
- Set up of a forest management model for the preservation of Carabus over 300 hectares;
- Constructions of shelters and nurseries for Carabus olympiae;
- Conferences – seminars;
- Notice-board;
- Pathways: ring track in the intervention area;
- Project publication and brochure;
- Project website;
- Creation of a didactic lab;
- Information and sensitisation campaign to schools and tourists.
