Habitat Restoration: An Applicative Approach to “Biodiversity Heritage Relicts” in Social-Ecological Systems

Teodoro Semeraro, Alessio Turco, Stefano Arzeni, Giuseppe La Gioia, Roberta D’Armento, Riccardo Taurino and Pietro Medagli
Additional contact information
Teodoro Semeraro: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of the Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Alessio Turco: DHITECH S.c.a r.l. Prov.le Lecce Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Stefano Arzeni: DHITECH S.c.a r.l. Prov.le Lecce Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Giuseppe La Gioia: Mediterranean Ornithology (Or.me): Ornithology in Puglia, Via Saponaro n 7, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Roberta D’Armento: Architecture and Urban Planning, V. Taranto 33, Campi Salentina, 73012 Lecce, Italy
Riccardo Taurino: Campi Salentina Amministration, Piazza Libertà, 33, Campi Salentina, 73012 Lecce, Italy
Pietro Medagli: DHITECH S.c.a r.l. Prov.le Lecce Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-23

Abstract: Many landscapes are the result of interactions between ecological processes, economic activities, and the administrative and political organisation of society. Therefore, as a consequence of human transformations over time, some landscapes may contain residual damaged habitats hosting testimony of past biodiversity that can be called “biodiversity heritage relicts”. From this perspective, the aim of the paper is to describe an applicative approach to habitat restoration in social-ecological landscapes. The approach entails the restoration of vegetation using GIS analysis integrated with field activities and a phytosociological method. The methodology includes expert and stakeholder involvement in order to increase the resilience of the measures over time, thereby consolidating landscape value. The approach was applied in the municipality of Campi Salentina, Province of Lecce, Italy, and the result was the restoration of an important riparian habitat classified under Directive 92/43/EEC as “ Salix alba and Populus alba galleries ” (code 92A0), which had not previously been recorded in the Province of Lecce. In this case, the project re-established a natural habitat that represented a “biodiversity heritage relict” in the landscape. The paper shows that direct knowledge of the landscape and the ability to identify “biodiversity heritage relicts”, in combination with a phytosociological approach, can enhance the effectiveness of ecological restoration projects. Moreover, social and institutional integration in projects helps ensure the management of the measures over time.

Keywords: habitat damage; biodiversity conservation; phytosociology; landscape (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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