Action A6 Pasture and Forest Fires control Management Plan

One of the causes which sometimes lead to the progressive reduction of biodiversity is the grazing of domestic animals; impacts can vary in intensity depending on the type of vegetation and its evolutionary stage, the animal species, the stocking density of grazing period , availability of forage, soil characteristics, seasonal changes.
The effects produced can be exemplified
in:

  • compaction of the soil and itsphysical-chemical characteristics changes,
  • changes in species composition,
  • destruction of natural regeneration,
  • mechanical damage by stripping.


Another biodiversity loss agent is the fire, whose main impacts are: the habitats destruction, the loss of natural regeneration and the start of regressive succession. Moreover frequent fires may lead to the disappearance of the most vulnerable species: Z. sicula despite its ability to emit new jets after a trauma, could easily disappear after repeated fires at short intervals of time.

To safeguard the areas of the two populations, will be drawn up a Management Plan for Grazing and of Forest Fires Control, taking into account the needs and uses of stakeholders.

About grazing, the Plan will contain clear provisions for the sustainable use of pasture resources, such as the mandatory exclusion in populations sites and in the areas for interventions to improve forest habitat (see Action C.5), the definition of maximum load of livestock and the spatio-temporal limitation of fruition.
Particular attention will be paid to the conservation of the habitat 6220 - *Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea, whose value in terms of biodiversity is linked to the exercise of the pasture, which in any case should not exceed certain thresholds of intensity.

For the Forest Fire Control, the plane will reinforce the security service and the implementation of preventive measures (see action C.9), in addition to activities and programs of education and awareness (see Action D.2, D.3; D.4).

The DRAFD coordinate the action supported by the DRA; the Plan will be executive within one year of the project and will be valid for 10 years.