Interventi di recupero e mantenimento mediante il pascolo di servizio di ambienti boschivi e prativi nel plis “colline di Brescia”

Recovery and maintenance of grasslands and woodlands in the ‘Hills of Brescia Park’ thought a grazing land stewardship scheme – Biodiversity rich dry grasslands are worldwide threatened by the abandonment of traditional grazing and farming systems. The hills around the city of Brescia have been almost completely abandoned since several decades and residual grasslands are highly fragmented and invaded by woody vegetation. The project ‘Renovation and development of grasslands and woodlands in the Hills of Brescia Park’ will seek the recovery and conservation of typical habitats with particular reference to original woodlands and dry grasslands. It aims also to identify models of economically sustainable conservation of suburban areas of the foot of hills enhancing the presence of both resident and transhumant sheep and goat herds. The project involves the monitoring of biodiversity with regard to both plant species and insects. This paper describes planned and already taken actions with particular attention to the vegetational characterization of the sites and the evaluation of the effects of the first stage of the grazing management program.