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SITES
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Greatham, Teesside, UK |
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West Site, Billingham, UK |
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Grimsby, Humberside, UK |
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Calais, France |
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Huelva, Spain |
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Scarlino, Italy |
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Teluk Kalung, Malaysia |
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Umbogintwini, South Africa |
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Lake Charles, USA |
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Burnie, Tasmania |
Index
by Category
Appendices
References
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Scarlino, Italy
Recommendations for Future Biodiversity Management
Future Surveys
The ecological surveys carried out to date have shown that the Tioxide Scarlino
site and its immediate surroundings are important areas for wildlife far beyond
that of mere local interest. A number of nationally and some internationally
significant habitats and species are present. In order to understand the ecological
and biodiversity of the site more fully it is recommended that further studies
are carried out whenever the opportunity arises with the following recommendations
being given priority:
- Bird surveys during migration periods and in mid winter i.e. April-early
May, September, December-February.
- More detailed studies on the
Bee-eater colonies.
- Detailed botanical surveys during spring
and summer.
- Surveys of reptiles and amphibians.
- Survey of butterflies from
late spring to the end of the summer.
- Surveys of other invertebrates,
especially dragonflies.
- Flora and Fauna surveys of the Montioni
Landfill site.
Habitat Conservation
There are three main types of habitat on and around the Tioxide site
(i) wetlands, (ii) scrubland and (iii) grassland. Within the confines
of the commercial operations these habitats and their associated
wildlife should be conserved and if possible actively managed to
increase biodiversity.
Wetlands
It is understood that much, if not all, of the Padule di Scarlino is
State Land. However, this extremely valuable habitat merges into
the remnant wetlands of the Tioxide site. Therefore, for this study
the Padule di Scarlino has been included as part of the Tioxide site.
It is felt that this is justified since wildlife rarely adheres to
man-made political boundaries and for effective ecological conservation
the wetland ecosystem on, and around the site, must be considered
as a whole. Also Tioxide’s activities can impact on this habitat.
The Padule di Scarlino is the largest wetland habitat in the region
and during 1998 / 1999 Tioxide and the Local Authorities co-operated
to create an additional pool for waterbirds and provide a wildlife
viewing hide. It is very important that Tioxide continues to work with
the Local Authorities to prevent any degradation of this biologically
valuable wetland and it is recommended that:
- If at all possible Tioxide does not encroach further on to the
marshland and tries to encourage the Local Authorities to prevent
other ecologically
damaging developments in this area.
- Prevent deliberate or accidental
pollution or degradation of the marsh by existing site operations.
- Efforts should be made to conserve, wherever possible, the smaller
wetland areas actually on the Tioxide site e.g. the reed filled Pecora
River towards the southern end of Area “K” and the remnant
wetlands in Area “D”. This latter area is of particular
importance since all three Acrocephalus warbler species found on
the site occur there. The associated reedy ditches in “D” held
more Reed Warblers than any other habitat surveyed in May 1998, as
well as the only Moustached Warblers recorded away from the Padule
di Scarlino. The area to the north of “D”, extending
to the base of the vegetated gypsum disposal site on Area “A” is
scheduled for ultimate landscaping. Whilst this ecological landscaping
is acceptable in principle it is strongly recommended that the wetlands “D” are
conserved, and Tioxide have installed a wildlife viewing hide in
this area.
- It is understood that new wetlands will be created elsewhere
on the site but these will take a number of years to mature and
some species
could be lost in the meanwhile.
Created wetlands and Species Conservation
The environmental improvement plans for the site include the creation of new
wetland habitats. These will complement those already present on the site and
the adjacent Padule di Scarlino. It is accepted that these new habitats cannot
be constructed on the same scale as those on the existing marshlands but nevertheless
the new pools and marshes will make a positive contribution to the conservation
of the biodiversity of the site. It is recommended that the planning of these
wetlands take into account the habitat requirements of:
- Dragonflies - this is another group that is declining in
some areas due to habitat loss. Many species of dragonflies are also
susceptible
to water pollution and consequently are very valuable biological
indicators
of the state of the environment. Although there have been no detailed
studies dragonflies are common at Scarlino (implying that the water
in the wetlands is of reasonable quality) and they are one of the
main food items of the Bee-eater flocks.
- Amphibians - frogs and
toads of all species are of international conservation concern; many
amphibian populations around the world
are in decline. The reasons for this decline are not fully understood
but
there could be a number of contributing factors including climatic
change. However, one cause invariably cited in any species decline
is the loss of suitable habitats. By carefully recreating habitats
on otherwise redundant industrial land companies can make a very
positive contribution to wildlife conservation. Amphibians are also
a major
food of the heron species found at Scarlino.
- Conserve fish stocks
in the wetlands by maintaining the correct habitats. Sunfish are
of particular importance, as this species is
one of the
main food items of herons and egrets
- Wading birds - some pool edges
should be left with muddy margins to act as feeding areas for wading
birds. Many waders that breed
in northern Europe pass through Italy on the twice-yearly migrations. Black-
winged Stilt is common in this area. It breeds on the flat shorelines
of freshwater and brackish pools. Although it likes open nest sites
it
will nest amongst low marginal vegetation. Spits and islands in shallow
lagoons are often chosen as breeding sites.
Sand or muddy-bottomed lagoons uncluttered with stones or weed and with high
invertebrate biomass are essential for feeding. Numbers of Black-winged Stilt
already use the site for feeding and could nest in the future. These
birds readily accept man-made wetland habitats and frequently colonise
new nesting sites as they become available. With very little effort
and low cost it should be possible to create suitable stilt breeding habitat
at the northern end of Area “H”. It is strongly recommended
that this project should be investigated in spring 1999. Black-winged
Stilts are very charismatic birds and it would generate considerable
PR material to get the Knights of Italy breeding on the site. Developing
a possible Black-winged Stilt nesting area on the dried out marsh adjacent
to the Tioxide track and immediately east of the Pecora inlet (north
eastern Area “H”)
- Some of the wetlands could be planted
with reeds and sedges to provide bird habitat. The Moustached Warbler
appears to be restricted on the
site to one small area. This bird likes Typha marsh that is easy
to create. More detailed information for creating the correct wetland
habitats for
the species listed above can be provided when required.
- Examine
the possibility of creating more willow carr along the western edge
of the marsh adjacent to the Tioxide track immediately
east of
Area “J” This
type of habitat is used by a number of bird species, but in particular
Penduline Tit, a bird not yet recorded on the site but one which
is expanding its range in Europe and occurs in adjacent areas of
Tuscany.
- Work with the Local Authorities to manage some the larger
reedbeds for the benefit of Bittern (Botaurus stellaris). This
is a bird of
international nature conservation concern (Tucker et al. 1994)
and in recent years
has been subject to considerable research as to its specific ecological
requirements (RSPB 1994). Bitterns do occur on other reserves to
the south of Scarlino (Gustin 1994).
Scrub Habitat
Mediterranean scrub / garrigue habitats should be encouraged. This
is a very characteristic habitat of the Mediterranean coast and holds
a specialised and diverse flora and fauna. Only a very small area
of this specialized habitat is currently found on the site (Area “G” in
Figure 21). As yet the animal life (especially
birds) of this scrub habitat on the site is not diverse and a number
of quite characteristic
garrigue plant and animal species have not yet been recorded. However,
if more of this type of habitat is encouraged the associated plant
and animal communities should develop over time.
There is also considerable potential for creating scrub and woodland
habitat in the area of the Montioni Landfill. Further ecological assessment
of this area is required however, to ensure that any creative conservation
projects are compatible with the overall ecology of the adjacent woodlands.
There are a number characteristic species of considerable European
conservation interest that occurs in scrub and shrub land habitats
along the Tuscan coast. In particular Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo
hermanni) and the Two-tailed Pasha Butterfly (Charaxes jasius) are
known to occur in the region. If the correct habitat could be created
on the Tioxide property these two highly desirable species might colonise
the site or could possible be actively introduced.
Hermann’s Tortoise (Testudo hermanni)
This is an endemic European species formerly occupying a wide range
from eastern Spain to Thrace in European Turkey. Whilst still present
in the eastern and western edges of its range Hermann’s Tortoise
is now considered to be rare or vulnerable in Spain, France and Italy
(Gasc 1997). In Italy the sub-species T. h. hermanni is found in
the extreme south, Sicily and the coastal areas of Tuscany. In the
Scarlino area it is known to occur in the Bolgheri Wildlife Reserve
and the Maremma Natural Park.
Habitat & Ecology
Hermann’s Tortoise is primarily a lowland species favouring evergreen
Mediterranean forest. However, since much of this original forest cover
has now gone the tortoises inhabit scrubby maquis and garrigue, arid
hillsides and farmland (Stubbs ND).
In the western parts of its range Hermann’s Tortoise occurs in
densities ranging from
5-11 animals per ha. However, in Greece densities of 50 per ha. with
local peaks of over 60 per ha. recorded.
Since the most serious threat to the tortoises is habitat loss (Stubbs
ND) establishing the species at Scarlino would make a positive contribution
to its conservation. It should be possible to create sufficient scrub
habitat on the site to support a viable population of tortoises. In
most populations studied it was found that the animals were sedentary
for much of the year, so once established at Scarlino the animals could
be expected to remain on the site.
A number of private Hermann’s Tortoise sanctuaries have been
established in Spain and France and with funding from WWF (Italy) and
the EC a similar project was started near Grosseto in Tuscany. Presumably
this reserve is still in existence and could possibly give advice about
creating suitable tortoise habitat at Scarlino. Eventually it might
be possible for the sanctuary to provide tortoises to establish a colony
on the Tioxide site.
Two-tailed Pasha Butterfly (Charaxes jasius)
An African species restricted in Europe to the Mediterranean coast from Portugal
to Greece. It is a large butterfly (one of the largest in Europe) and its main
habitat is garrigue and other scrub areas with Strawberry Trees being the sole
food plant of the caterpillars. The adult butterflies are attracted to ripe
fruit, especially figs.
The butterflies are on the wing from May - October and although it has not yet
been recorded on the site it could well be present since it occurs in other reserves
near by.
The adult females lay their eggs directly onto the food plant in late spring
and summer, the earliest caterpillars pupating by July. Caterpillars hatching
later in the season hibernate and pupate the following April. The pupa hang suspended
from their food plant.
Strawberry Trees already occur on the site but more should
be planted together
with some fig trees to provide fruit for the adults.
It is recommended that the site be searched in early summer to try to establish
if Two-tailed Pasha is already present on the site. At the same time more suitable
habitat should be created. Consideration should be given to introducing caterpillars
of this butterfly on to the site (this would be useful to boost numbers even
if it is already present). The site is almost certainly large enough to establish
a permanent population of this, one of Europe’s most spectacular species.
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