An urban natural preserve: managing a Site of Community Importance (SCI) in an urbanized environment

The sites of Community importance (SCI) contribute to the maintenance and restoration of biological diversity and of natural habitat types and species in Directive 92/43/EEC. In densely populated areas, such as north-eastern Italy, such sites are often surrounded by a strongly urbanized landscape. Their existence and preservation has to cope with pressure for new development or, at best, from recreational, educational and other social uses of open spaces. Moreover, the promotion of education is provided by the Directive 92/43/EEC itself (art. 22). For these reasons the management of such sites becomes an interesting urban forestry issue. In this paper we wish to describe the methodological approach to the management and partial redesign of a portion of a coastal SCI, located in the urban centre of a resort town along the shore of Northern Adriatic Sea. The site is quite small, approximately 2.5 ha, and belongs to the larger SCI IT3250033 “Laguna di Caorle”, which includes a variety of coastal habitats and endangered species. It is separated by the main core of the SCI by a major road and completely surrounded by residential development. It is mainly occupied by a plantatation of Pinus nigra, but includes some fragments of dunal and retro-dunal habitats, such as holm-oak (Quercus ilex) forest and the Mediterranean humid grassland (Molinio-Holoschoenion) with the presence of endangered plant species. Considering both the location and the environmental value of the site four major management goals were set: a) the protection and enhancement of coastal habitats; b) the creation of an “urban natural preserve” with educational and recreational opportunities; c) the creation of a fully accessible urban open space; d) the creation of a botanical garden for teaching and research. To achieve this goals a detailed study of the vegetation types and their spatial distribution on the site was carried out, resulting in a GIS based mapping of the habitats. Design and management solutions were developed to re-establish and preserve endangered habitats Specific facilities were designed to minimize the impact of recreational use on environmental conservation and maximize the educational opportunities. A management plan was proposed to guide and control the natural changes in the composition and structure of the existing woodlands.