SSM CASE STUDY FILE ITALY

Activity 4.2

DISCLAIMER FOR CASE STUDY REPORTS

The present report was prepared in the framework of the project SARMa – Sustainable Aggregates Resource Management, which is co-financed by the EU within the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme.

The information reported is accurate according to the best knowledge of the authors and is the sole responsibility of the authors of this report.

The publication reflects the views only of the authors; and therefore the rest of project partnership and the South East Europe Programme Managing Authority cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

DELIVERABLE SUMMARY PROJECT INFORMATION Project acronym: SARMa Project title: Sustainable Aggregates Resource Management Contract number: Starting date: 1. 5. 2009 Ending date: 31. 10. 2011 Project website address: www.sarmaproject.eu Lead partner organisation: Geological Survey of Slovenia Address: Dimičeva ulica 14, SI-1000 Ljubljana Project manager: Slavko V. Šolar E-mail: Slavko-Vekoslav.Solar@geo-zs.si DELIVERABLE INFORMATION Title of the deliverable: Activity 4.2 Regional SSM Report for Italy WP/activity related to the deliverable: WP4 / Activity 4.2 SSM

Type (internal or restricted or public): Public

Location (if relevant): - WP leader: Hungarian Office for Mining and Geology Activity leader: Region Emilia Romagna Participating partner(s): Region Emilia Romagna Author(s): Maria Carla Cere, Chiara Spotorno E-mail: DELIVERY DEADLINES Contractual date of delivery to the JTS:

Actual date of delivery to the JTS:

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Activity 4.2 – SSM model sites TREBBIA RIVER CASE STUDY - EMILIA ROMAGNA REGION - ITALY

BASELINE STUDY REPORT

MariaCarla Cera Parks and Forest Resources Department – Emilia Romagna Region

Chiara Spotorno Consultant

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1. Spatial framework: land use planning and environmental constraints

Requirements - Geographical location and land use planning (spatial relationship among quarry areas, infrastructures, protected areas and Nature 2000 sites; in the map try also to specify at least Corine Land Cover main frames, as listed in the table)

In this document we are going to analyze the pilot site at two different scales: regional scale

(Emilia Romagna Region) and pilot-site scale (Trebbia river basin). As shown in the upper maps

all the scales make out a single territorial system.

Trebbia river alluvial fan is located in Piacenza Province (light brown filling in figure), in the

far-west edge of Emilia-Romagna Region (red box on SEE map). Pilot site geographical

coordinates (a. and b. points, blue-box above and panel on the left) are: a. 552,477.38x / 992,243.00y; b. 544,765.24x /

968,720.25y (UTM* coordinate system).

REGIONAL scale - In 1.1 and 1.2 figures we report the spatial relationships between Land-use cover and Quarry

districts (fig. 1.1) and among Natura 2000 sites, Regional Protected Areas and Quarry areas (fig. 1.2) at the Regional scale.

The land use map represents a valuable method to portray our knowledge of the territory and to better plan the

sustainable exploitation of the environment. Emilia Romagna Region carried out the last edition of the land use map, and

related database, by acquiring Quickbird high-resolution satellite images. This work is based on the interpretation of satellite

a.

b.

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images on the screen with the help of targeted fieldwork and the use of complementary data. E-R land cover defined eighty

classes of land use grouped in four main groups. All the classes belonging to the first three groups come from the previous

Corine Land Cover while the fourth group is based on the results of the ad hoc working group on land use. In this document we

will analyse the regional Corine Land Cover coverage (third group), in order to compare data-sets from all the compilers.

In the table below the regional coverage of Corine LC types is reported. We quoted areas and coverage rates on the

regional amount. As you can see in the map in Fig. 1 and by rates comparison, in Emilia-Romagna Region agricultural

landscape is predominant: if we sum all the agrarian LC-codes in the table (211, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223, 231, 241, 242, 243)

we obtain the 62,94% coverage of the regional territory. On the other hand, inland natural and semi-natural habitats (311, 312,

313, 321, 322, 323, 331, 332, 333, 411,412, 421, 422, 511, 512) cover the 28,39%. Mineral extraction sites (as codified by

satellite images interpretation) represent the 0,28% of the regional LC-use.

Corine land cover Codes Description Area (ha) Rate (%) 111 Continuous urban fabric 54.244,64 2,85 112 Discontinuous urban fabric 73.794,79 3,88 122 Road and rail networks and associated land 8.686,28 0,46 123 Port areas 500,65 0,03 124 Airports 1.332,98 0,07 131 Mineral extraction sites 5.252,69 0,28 132 Dump sites 825,72 0,04 133 Construction sites 6.972,87 0,37 141 Green urban areas 8.940,37 0,47 142 Sport and leisure facilities 7.949,80 0,42 211 Non-irrigated arable land 201.996,26 10,61 212 Permanently irrigated land 768.054,54 40,34 213 Rice fields 18.573,06 0,98 221 Vineyards 132.922,65 6,98 222 Fruit trees and berry plantations 250,55 0,01 223 Trees Plantations 10.876,45 0,57

231 Pastures 21.805,09 1,15 241 Annual crops associated with permanent crops 1.004,43 0,05 242 Complex cultivation patterns 7.275,60 0,38

243 Land principally occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation 35.654,97 1,87

311 Broad-leaved forest 401.932,76 21,11 312 Coniferous forest 9.099,52 0,48 313 Mixed forest 7.250,63 0,38 321 Natural grassland 7.588,71 0,40 322 Moors and heathland 864,44 0,05 323 Sclerophyllous vegetation 51.929,20 2,73 331 Beaches, dunes, sands 292,81 0,02 332 Bare rock 1.736,52 0,09 333 Sparsely vegetated areas 14.825,44 0,78 411 Inland marshes 6.906,69 0,36 412 Peatbogs 4,05 0,00 421 Salt marshes 16.510,76 0,87

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422 Salines 1.386,66 0,07 511 Water courses 16.690,70 0,88 512 Water bodies 3.592,25 0,19

amount 1.903.933,28 100,00

Clipping the LC-use in E-R Region with the location of the main quarry districts planned by the Provincial

municipalities (2,97% on the regional extent), we obtain the data-set below.

Corine land cover Codes Description Area (ha) Rate (%) 111 Continuous urban fabric 72,43 0,13 112 Discontinuous urban fabric 377,88 0,67 121 Industrial or commercial units 788,49 1,40 122 Road and rail networks and associated land 261,89 0,46 131 Mineral extraction sites 8.661,36 15,34 132 Dump sites 106,88 0,19 133 Construction sites 658,42 1,17 141 Green urban areas 126,63 0,22 142 Sport and leisure facilities 32,94 0,06 211 Non-irrigated arable land 1.526,28 2,70 212 Permanently irrigated land 24.506,71 43,39 221 Vineyards 1.033,14 1,83 222 Fruit trees and berry plantations 5,61 0,01 223 Trees Plantations 2.555,76 4,53 231 Pastures 398,23 0,71 241 Annual crops associated with permanent crops 1,97 0,00 242 Complex cultivation patterns 98,37 0,17

243 Land principally occupied by agriculture, with significant areas of natural vegetation

168,35 0,30

311 Broad-leaved forest 4.986,07 8,83 312 Coniferous forest 7,91 0,01 313 Mixed forest 2,42 0,00 321 Natural grassland 48,66 0,09 323 Sclerophyllous vegetation 3.192,80 5,65 332 Bare rock 48,79 0,09 333 Sparsely vegetated areas 677,78 1,20 411 Inland marshes 827,62 1,47 511 Water courses 2.749,50 4,87 512 Water bodies 1.658,55 2,94

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Fig. 1.1 - Corine land-cover in Emilia Romagna Region land use (2003-2007). In red the regional Quarry districts.

Fig. 1.2 - Spatial relationship among quarry districts (red), Natura 2000 sites (pink) and Regional Protected Areas (green).

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Quarry activities in E-R Region affect mainly LC-use types as: 212 - Permanently irrigated land (43,39% coverage);

311 - Broad-leaved forest (8,83 %); 323 - Sclerophyllous vegetation (5,65%); 511- Water courses (4,87%) and 512 - Water

bodies (2,94%). Only the 15,34% coverage is rightly identified as 131 - Mineral extraction sites. This kind of land-use mosaic,

the geographical main location of the quarries (Fig 1.1) and the relationships between Regional Geological landscape and

quarry districts (see point 2. Geological settings and resources) emphasize how in Emilia Romagna Region aggregates

extraction sustainability is strictly related to the conservation of alluvial mosaic habitats, which involves the right management

of water courses, gravel beds with sclerophyllous vegetation1 and buffer strips interested by agricultural landscape.

PILOT SITE scale - The pilot site concerns 7 of the 48 municipalities in which Piacenza Province is divided,

namely Piacenza, Calendasco, Rottofreno, Gossolengo, Gragnano Trebbiense, Gazzola and Rivergaro. The main

demographic issues are summarized in the table below (2006 updating, from PTCP – Provincial Coordination Territorial Plan).

The pilot site is mainly characterized by fluvial habitats and rural areas; thus, population density in the study area is close to

zero.

Province Inhabitants (n.) Density (n. inh./km2) % tot. Province Piacenza 278.366 107,5 100 Municipality Inhabitants (n.) Density (n. inh./km2) % tot. Province Piacenza 99.625 841,0 35,79

Rottofreno 10.440 302,3 3,75

Rivergaro 6.360 145,3 2,28

Gossolengo 4.687 119,6 1,68

Gragnano Trebbiense 4.086 100,3 1,47

Calendasco 2.413 64,7 0,87

Gazzola 1.931 43,8 0,69

The Corine land cover Land-use analysis at the pilot site scale is reported in the following table. The main land-use

type interested by quarry activities is the 212 – Permanently irrigated land, with 75,68%. Also natural and seminatural habitats

are directly involved (231 Pastures � wild-uncultivated areas at the pilot site scale; 311 Broad-leaved forest � riparian

vegetation; 323 Sclerophyllous vegetation � gravel beds and terrace vegetation; 511 Water courses � gravel beds; Fig. 1.3) with

a total percentage of 12,32%.

1 The 6,14% of the entire regional coverage of this kind of vegetation is interested by quarry activities; in alluvial fan areas this vegetation type is mainly considered a mosaic of community interest habitats, as listed in Annex I of 92/43/CEE Dir.

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Corine land cover codes Description Area (ha) Rate (%) 112 Discontinuous urban fabric 1,66 0,26 121 Industrial or commercial units 2,24 0,35 131 Mineral extraction sites 61,71 9,69 133 Construction sites 7,49 1,18 141 Green urban areas 1,69 0,27 142 Sport and leisure facilities 1,61 0,25 212 Permanently irrigated land 481,79 75,68 231 Pastures 26,75 4,20 311 Broad-leaved forest 1,59 0,25 323 Sclerophyllous vegetation 35,95 5,65 511 Water courses 14,13 2,22

amount 636,61 100,00

Fig. 1.3 - Main Trebbia river natural habitats directly or indirectly involved in quarry activities (Corine LC codes are quoted).

231

323 511

311

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Point 1 - Annexes for database 1.a.T - Environmental Constraints

1.b.T – Pilot site Land use

The complete Corine Land cover Land-use coverage at the Pilot-site scale is reported in 1.b.T map (Annex 1). In 1.a.T we

point out the environmental constraints (Regional protected area, Natura 2000 site, Fluvial strips, Forest protection) as well as

the location of the main quarry sites and of the quarry yards and tracks as planned by the Provincial Administration.

2. Geological setting and resources Requirements - Structural geology conditions; type of primary aggregates (crushed rock or sand or gravel composition); estimated reserves and other resource potential (secondary aggregates as well as industrial by-products)

REGIONAL scale – In the table below and in Fig. 2.1 we report the different kind of geological landscape involved in

quarry activities at the Regional scale. As you can see the typologies concerning the extraction of primary aggregates (sand

and gravel) are the main involved in quarry activities: Appennine rivers plain with the 56,66% (predominantly gravel) and Po

plain with the 16,44% (predominantly sand). The third in percentage is the extraction of materials linked to ravines and hilly

landscape (cement marl and burial terrains).

Geological landscape Area (ha) Rate (%) Coastal plain 874,91 1,46 Appennine rivers plain 33.838,78 56,66 Po plain 9.820,80 16,44 Triassic gypsum 25,00 0,04 Cliffs and buttresses 1.758,50 2,94 Foothills 2.741,40 4,59 Gypsum veins 166,98 0,28 Middle eastern peaks 2.024,82 3,39 Western peaks 120,40 0,20 Ravines 7.801,81 13,06 Ophiolites 151,57 0,25 Layers 399,08 0,67 amount 59.724,03 100,00

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Fig. 2.1 - Spatial relationship between Regional Quarry districts and Geological landscape.

PILOT SITE scale - The lithological-lithotecnical structure of Trebbia river alluvial fan is rapresented in Fig. 2.2 (from

Piacenza Province PTCP Provincial Coordination Territorial Plan). In the Pilot site the main type of aggregates extracted is

fluvial gravel.

In the table below we report the PIAE (Extractive Activities Interregional Plan) estimated reserves and quarry-

potentials for the pilot site. It is divided into the three provincial districts concerning Trebbia alluvial fan. A new variant of PIAE

is in drafting. Previsions set the new projectable primary fluvial gravel quantity in 5 to 10 millions of m3 (all Piacenza Province

quarrying districts). We have no previsions for other resources potential estimated reserves (secondary aggregates as well as

industrial by-products).

Provincial district Municipality District resource potential (m3)

Municipal remainings (m3)-

2003

Municipal remainings (m3) -

2008

n. 7 “Ca’ Trebbia” Piacenza 2.500.000 500.000 -

Gossolengo 1.500.000 500.000 -

n. 8 “Molinazzo” Gossolengo 2.200.000 280.000 -

Rivergaro 2.800.000 1.300.000 1.300.000

n. 10 “Sassoni” Gragnano 3.500.000 1.356.519 -

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Fig. 2.2 - Lithological-lithotecnical structure of the Pilot site.

prevalent sandy cover

prevalent sandy-muddy cover

prevalent muddy-sandy cover

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3. Biological framework

Requirements - Presence of protected areas and Nature 2000 sites directly or indirectly involved in quarry activities (quarry areas, quarry infrastructures - transportation routes, yards..); fauna, flora and vegetational context. REGIONAL scale – In the map of figure 1.2 and in the table below spatial relationships among quarry districts,

Natura 2000 sites and Regional Protected Areas are represented and estimated.

Type of Environmental Constraints Area (ha) Rate (%) in Natura 2000 sites and out of Protected Areas 4.985,58 45,69

in Natura 2000 sites and in Protected Areas 4.209,00 38,58 in Protected Areas and out of Natura 2000 sites 1.716,48 15,73

in Protected Areas 5.925,48 54,31

in Natura 2000 sites 9.194,58 84,27

in Natura 2000 sites and/or in Protected Areas 10.911,06

Clipping Natura 2000 sites distribution with the main quarry districts we obtain similar results. In the table below Regional

Natura 2000 sites are divided in different classes related to the main habitats typologies they preserve. Riverine sites, the

10,73% on the total Natura 2000 coverage, are the main typology interested in quarrying (71,94%).

The typology of Regional protected areas mainly intersted by quarry activities are the Regional Fluvial Parks, which are

set on alluvial fan, mostly in tha plain areas(Appenine rivers an Po plains).

In Region Interested by Quarry activities Main habitats Area (ha) Rate (%) Area (ha) Rate (%) Inland Wetlands 46.082,64 17,75 1.423,86 15,49 Sandy terrace 4.581,74 1,76 85,34 0,93 Brackish habitats 31.521,74 12,14 0,00 0,00 Ophiolites 18.137,06 6,98 90,49 0,98 Limestone rocks 19.863,98 7,65 86,59 0,94 Glacial morphology 30.661,31 11,81 109,29 1,19 Forestal 58.054,47 22,36 103,94 1,13 Riverine 27.871,77 10,73 6.614,62 71,94 Gypsum karst 13.907,79 5,36 306,97 3,34 Ravines 8.989,44 3,46 373,47 4,06 259.671,94 100,00 9.194,58 100,00

Natura 2000 sites

on the regional amount 3,54

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Type of Protected Areas Area (ha) Rate (%)

Regional Reserve 72,16 1,22 Regional Park 638,19 10,77

Regional Fluvial Park 5170,45 87,26

Protected Areas and Quarry districts

Regional Historical Park 44,68 0,75

PILOT SITE scale - Trebbia River conoid is one of the most important naturalistic areas of Piacenza province

plain and one of the better preserved, in spite of increasing anthropic pressures. In this area we have the coexistance of two

different naturalistic and environmental establishments of protection: Natura 2000 site IT 4010016 “Basso Trebbia” (SCI – Site

of Community Interest and SPA – Special Protection Area, with the same boundaries) and Trebbia Regional Fluvial Park.

Vegetation - In this areas are present 7 habitats of european interest (Annex I - “Habitat” Directive), 3 of them with

priority (signed by *):

3230 - Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Myricaria germanica: natural and near-natural watercourses of the

Alps and their foothills (predominantly in the submontane to subalpine zones) with their gravel banks and banks with scrub of

Myricaria germanica and willows (lower riparian alluvial plain of alpine rivers);

3240 - Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Salix elaeagnos: natural and near-natural watercourses of the Alps

and their foothills (predominantly in the submontane to subalpine zones) and their riparian woodland with Rosemary willow

(Salix elaeagnos) and lower riparian alluvial plains of alpine rivers.

3270 - Rivers with muddy banks with Chenopodion rubri p.p. and Bidention p.p. vegetation: near-natural watercourses

with annual nitrophilous vegetation on muddy banks (Chenopodion rubri p.p. and Bidention p.p. alliances) (planar to

submontane). During spring and early summer sites look like muddy banks without any vegetation or are still under water.

*6110 – Rupicolous calcareous or basophilic grasslands of the Alysso-Sedion albi: open, patchy communities of the

Alysso-Sedion albi on exposed bedrock or loose rock, dominated by annuals and succulents. Natural examples are normally

found on calcareous or base-rich hard substrates. Secondary sites which are subject to near-natural development (e.g. old

quarry sites or spoil heaps) are included. Examples on dry-stone walls or on short-term deposits (e.g. disposal sites) are

excluded.

6210 – Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia, * important orchid sites): dry and semi-dry calcareous grasslands, submediterranean to subcontinental in character. These include

primary dry grasslands of the Xerobromion as well as secondary semi-dry grasslands (Mesobromion, Koelerio-Phleion

phleoides) formed by extensive grazing or mowing. The latter are mostly orchid-rich and are susceptible to scrub incursion

following colonization with saum species after the abandonment of land use activities.

'Important orchid sites' are priority habitats and their definition is based on one or more of the following criteria:

a) The site hosts a high number of orchid species.

b) The site hosts a major (important) population of at least one orchid species that is rare or local threatened.

c) The site hosts a number of rare or very rare orchid species.

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*91E0 – Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Pandion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae): Riparian alluvial forests of alder and ash, and flush woods in valleys or at the foot of a slope. Featuring black alder in planar

and colline situations and also grey alder at higher altitudes. Also includes softwood (Salicion albae) riparian alluvial forests

which are regularly inundated, often for relatively long periods. A special case included in this habitat type comprises alder

forests on percolating mires within an area subject to river inundation.

92A0 – Salix alba and Populus alba galleries: riparian forests of the Mediterranean basin dominated by Salix alba, Salix

fragilis or their relatives. Mediterranean and Central Eurasian multi-layered riverine forests with Populus spp.,rUlmus spp.,

Salix spp., Alnus spp., Acer spp., Tamarix spp., Juglans regia, lianas.

Flora - There are also many flora protected regional species (LR 2/77), mainly orchids (see 6210* habitat – Fig. 3.1),

such as: Orchis coriophora, Ophrys apifera, Ophrys holoserica, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Orchis morio, Orchis coriophora L.

ssp. fragrans, Orchis ustulata, Orchis tridentata, Gymnadenia conopsea (L.), Platanthera bifolia, Epipactis helleborine.

Fig. 3.1 - Ophrys apifera and Anacamptis pyramidalis

Complete flora species list - Juniperus communis, Salix fragilis, Celtis australis, Amaranthus blitoides S.,

Petrorhagia saxifraga, Papaver hybridum, Nasturtium officinale, Draba muralis, Erophila verna, Sedum rupestre, Sedum

sexangulare, Sedum album, Sedum rubens, Saxifraga tridactylites, Philadelphus coronarius, Rosa canina, Potentilla

tabernaemontani, Ononis natrix, Medicago minima, Trifolium striatum, Euphorbia nutans, Euphorbia maculata, Euphorbia

spinosa, Euphorbia prostrata, Thymelaea passerina, Helianthemum nummularium, Fumana procumbens, Oenothera stucchii,

Epilobium dodonaei, Eryngium campestre, Foeniculum vulgare, Peucedanum verticillare, Samolus valerandi, Fraxinus ornus,

Blackstonia perfoliata, Centaurium erythraea, Convolvulus cantabrica, Onosma helveticum, Teucrium montanum, Galeopsis

angustifolia, Stachys recta, Satureja montana, Satureja hortensis, Calamintha nepeta, Hyssopus officinalis, Thymus

pulegioides, Lycopus exaltatus, Mentha aquatica, Scrophularia canina, Chaenorhinum minus, Veronica beccabunga,

Parentucellia latifolia, Globularia punctata, Plantago cynops, Campanula medium, Inula viscosa, Ambrosia coronopifolia Torr.,

Ambrostia artemisiifolia, Anthemis tinctoria, Achillea tomentosa, Achillea roseoalba, Artemisia alba, Artemisia campestris,

Artemisia scoparia, Tussilago farfara, Crupina vulgaris, Echinops sphaerocephalus, Hieracium florentinum, Ornithogalum

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divergens, Leopoldia comosa, Asparagus officinalis, Narcissus biflorus, Lophochloa cristata, Cleistogenes serotina,

Achnatherum calamagrostis, Tragus racemosus, Carex caryophyllea, Carex flacca, Holoschoenus australis, Eleocharis

palustris, Cyperus fuscus, Ophrys apifera, Ophrys holoserica, Anacamptis pyramidalis, Orchis morio, Orchis coriophora L. ssp.

fragrans, Orchis ustulata, Orchis tridentata, Gymnadenia conopsea (L.), Platanthera bifolia, Epipactis helleborine.

Fauna – Here the list of the main species (Vertebrates) of european interest which live in this area.

Mammalia - 8 species - 2 in Annex II - “Habitat” Directive: Myotis blythii and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; 6 in Annex IV -

Eptesicus serotinus, Hypsugo savii, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis mystacinus, Pipistrellus kuhlii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Avifauna - 8 species (nidificants) - Annex I - “Birds” Directive Burhinus oedicnemus, Sterna hirundo, Sterna albifrons, Caprimulgus europaeus, Alcedo atthis, Calandrella brachydactyla,

Anthus campestris, Lanius collurio.

Herpetofauna - 7 Reptile species and 3 Amphibian species - Annex IV - “Habitat” Directive Hierophis viridiflavus, Coronella austriaca, Natrix tassellata, Zamenis longissimus, Podarcis muralis, Podarcis sicula, Lacerta

bilineata, Bufo viridis, Rana dalmatina, Rana lessonae. Ittiofauna - 5 species - Annex II - “Habitat” Directive Barbus plebejus, Barbus meridionalis, Cobitis taenia, Chondrostoma genei, Leuciscus souffia.

Natura 2000 site IT 4010016 “Basso Trebbia” (SCI and SPA) is particularly important for the conservation of Burhinus

oedicnemus (Stone curlew) a medium bird with large yellow eyes and cryptic plumage, rare and declinig in Europe (Fig. 3.4).

Stone curlews are largely nocturnal, particularly when searching for their small prays and singing their loud wailing songs to set

their territories. The diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates. Burhinus oedicnemus is a summer migrant in the

temperate European part of its range, wintering in Africa.

Fig. 3.2 - Stone curlews and their nest on the gravel.

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Fig. 3.3 - Nesting stone curlew distribution in 2009.

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Fig. 3.4 - Stone curlew trends in Europe and nesting areas in Italy.

The widespread decline of this specie (see fig. 3.4) is attributed primarily to: habitat loss and deterioration; abandonment

of low-intensity mixed and pastoral agriculture in favour of more intensive and mainly arable farming; dry grassland

deterioration (quarry activities related at the Pilot site scale) or conversion in agricultural land uses; egg collecting and

disturbance to the nest.

In Fig. 3.3 we report the distribution of the nests in the study area for the 2009 breeding season. The individuals were

contacted in the early morning or detected at the twilight by their territorial songs. In the same map the relationships between

nesting areas and quarry activities (districts, yards and tracks) are pointed out.

Point 3 - Annexes for database 3.a.T - Natura 2000 Habitat distribution (Dir. 92/43/CEE – Annex 1)

3.b.T - Natura 2000 Species distribution (Dir. 92/43/CEE - Annex 2; Dir. 49/409/CEE – Annex 1)

In 3.a.T Map Natura 2000 Habitat distribution is rapresented. The dataset refers to vegetation transects realised in

2007, rectified by samplings and field-analysis completed in 2009 and 2010. In the map we represent vegetational mosaics

with their coverage percentages and their spatial interactions with Provincial quarry areas.

In 3.b.T Map the same mosaics are related to the real and potential distribution of the species protected by

92/43/CEE and 49/409/CEE Directives and observed on field.

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4. Operational and market characteristics Requirements - Extraction methods and processing techniques; uses and present market destinations; coverage of demand for mineral resources by a mixture of primary and secondary aggregates. Given the importance of quarrying in fluvial and alluvial areas at the Regional scale and the percentage of this kind of

activity in Regional Fluvial Parks and in Riverine Natura 2000 sites we are going to focus our analysis on the extraction of

fluvial gravel. The location of quarries in this kind of ecosystems, the extraction methods and the infrastructures related (yards,

tracks above all), the fragility of riparian vegetation mosaics and the rarity of the ecological niches which support the biological

cycle of the species of Community Interest require us to deepen fluvial ecosystem management.

BOTH scales - Gravel extraction methods and processing techniques in E-R and in Trebbia basin can be divided into

the following different phases:

1. distribution, depth and thickness of gravel layers survey (coring); volumes quantification;

2. properties detection (extraction in fluvial state property and in river beds is forbidden, except for environmental and

soil defense actions);

3. planning, agreement, authorisation request and release;

4. soil removal and storage in heaps; chemical composition of the stored soil monitoring. The same soil layer will be

reused in the post-closure and restoration phase;

5. quarry phase: pit excavation with security foreheads (planned), divided into quarry lots. When the excavation of a lot

is complete the post quarry restoration of that lot starts.

6. aggregates transportation to the processing yard;

7. backlog; sifting into different sizes with screener tapes;

8. silt and muddy materials storage in decantation basins (reused in the post-quarry phase);

9. poor quality gravel crushing into grit;

10. grit transportation to the concrete mixing yards;

11. bituminous aggregates production and distribution;

12. post-quarry phase.

Uses and present market destinations and the coverage of demand for mineral resources by a mixture of primary

and secondary aggregates will be analised only at the pilot site scale, as we have weak information about at the Regional

scale.

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PILOT SITE scale - In Piacenza Province the most high quality gravel production is located in Trebbia alluvial

fan. Trebbia aggregates are mainly appointed to concretes, asphalt and to constructions in general. In the table below we

report a first overview of the authoristion issued in the period 2005-2007 in the pilot site. Municipality, authorisation issue and

deadline and volumes of extracted gravel are pointed out.

Municipality locality authorisation issue

authorisation deadline quarry area (m2) Volume

(m3) Gossolengo Molinazzo 23.07.07 23.07.11 43.000 144.200

Gragnano Colombarola 2 19.03.05 22.03.10 31.637 73.807

Gragnano Sordello 15.03.06 15.03.12 2.030 4.752

Gragnano Crocetta 2 8.07.06 8.01.10 63.039 149.114

Gragnano Gravosi 3 28.08.06 28.02.10 10.200 18.825

Gossolengo Case Trebbia 3 9.03.2005 9.03.2010 24.689 97.268

Gragnano Dazio 3 15.02.2007 15.02.2009 5.140 10.610

Gragnano Mamago sotto 8.10.2007 8.10.2012 98.311 315.560

Gragnano Cà della Volpe 2.11.2006 2.05.2012 28.880 68.873

Gossolengo Cà Trebbia 4 9.03.2005 9.09.2010 28.647 105.360

As shown in Fig. 4.1, to support this kind of production Trebbia river alluvial fan is characterized by the presence of:

- 3 Provincial Quarry districts;

- 2 main quarry tracks, in riparian contest, with 2 main river-woad;

- 11 amovable processing yards (n. 34 has broken off), as shown on the map, and in the table below. [“Classification

category” is an environmental/urbanistic evaluation based on a criteria matrix included in PIAE (for ex.: distance or

inclusion in fluvial defence boundaries; noise, visual impacts; dust; emissions; tipe of production...)]. Each yard has a

number of identification, riported on PIAE and PAEs (see point 5) and a specific production destination.

Classification category (compatibility) Code Municipality Locality Type of production

13 Gossolengo Pontenuovo bituminous aggregates (planned)

27 Gragnano S. Nicolò bituminous aggregates

12 Gossolengo Rossia bituminous aggregates (planned)

10 Gossolengo Pontenuovo bituminous aggregates

medium

07 Rottofreno Riva Trebbia gravel

19

11 Gossolengo Ca’ Trebbia bituminous aggregates

06 Rottofreno Noce S. Nicolò gravel-recycling

03 Gazzola Tuna bituminous aggregates

21 Rivergaro Fontanamore gravel

22 Rivergaro Fontanamore bituminous aggregates

low

38 Rivergaro Mirafiori gravel

incompatible 34 Gossolengo Ca’ Matta broken off

Fig. 4.1 - Spatial relationships between quarry districts (yellow, on the left), quarry yards (red, on the right), quarry tracks (yellow line, on the

right), Natura 2000 site (pink) and Trebbia River Regional Park (blue line).

7

8

10

7

3

11

34

6

27

12, 13, 10

21, 22

38

20

In the maps above yards location and their identification numbers are rapresented (in red - right) as the routes of the

quarry road network/tracks (yellow line); on the left we show the relationships between quarry districts (yellow), Natura 2000

site (pink) and Trebbia River Regional Park (blue line). The extractive tracks are mainly realized on state fluvial properties and

administrated by the Region (STB – Basin Tecnichal Service).

In Piacenza Province only one quarry yard has the authorisation to handle recycled inert wastes (mainly bricks, plasters,

bituminous conglomerates... derived from demolitions). This yard is the n. 06 (Fig. 4.1), located in Trebbia alluvial fan, in

Rottofreno Municipality. This type of material is used in the realization of foundations, roads substratum, remediation practices

in the post quarry-phase, non-conductor layers, river banks.... The mayor part is handled directly in small movable yards in the

demolition site by the company authorized to the rebuilding. Some numbers for Piacenza Province demand for mineral

resources by secondary aggregates in different years: 30.400 t (1998), 36.100 t (1999), 58.300 t (2000), 98.385 t (2004),

102.511 t (2005).

Point 4 - Annexes for database 4.a.T - Quarry areas and infrastructures

In 4.a.T all the quarry infrastructures and districts are related to State properties and Fluvial State Properties and to a

survey of the current state of quarries planning (closed or planned), based on the analysis of: Extractive Activities Municipal

Plans (PAE), extraction projects and authorisation deadlines.

5. Administrative and legal framework Requirements - Permit process for extraction; role of SSM in legislation: permit licences for recycling and for re-use of quarry wastes/industrial by-products; legislative management of quarry activities in protected areas and in Nature 2000 sites; presence of effective and regular dissemination of information to particular stakeholder groups.

BOTH scales

Permit process for extraction - In Emilia-Romagna region extraction processes are mainly established by LR (Regional

Law) n.17, approved in 1991. In this paragraph we quote some extracts of the main articles concerning administrative and

legal framework for the different phases of the process: plan (or plans), project, quarry and post-closure activities.

At the different scales extraction process planning is implemented by: a) Regional Territorial Plan (PTR); b) Extractive

Activities Interregional Plan (PIAE); c) Extractive Activities Municipal Plan (PAE).

PIAE is elaborated by the Province with the involvement of the different municipalities and territorial associations of

the mountain areas and includes: a. ten years aggregates requirement quantification (interregional scale); b. provincial

extractive-districts location (called “polos”) and definition of standard methods in order to localize extractions ambits at a

municipal scale. These codes are based on local quantification of the different types of aggregates and on physical, territorial,

landscape, soil and groundwater defence criteria; c. quarrying and post-closure methods; d. remediation and restoration

21

practices. The Extractive Activities Interregional Plan is checked every ten years, approved by the Province and supplied with

an environmental balance study.

PAE is based on PIAE guidelines and includes “polos” and municipal extractive-districts planning. PAE contains

maps, technical reports and norms concerning quarrying processes (extractive sites location at different scales, aggregates

type and quantification, location and description of quarry infrastructures involved, extraction methods and processing

techniques, monitoring and restoration policy, remediation practices). The Extractive Activities Municipal Plan is adopted and

approved by the municipality of expertise after a counseling process according to the law.

In the table below an abstract of the present state of planning for the pilot site Trebbia River.

plan public body state of planning date (mm/aa) variants

PIAE Piacenza Province approved 07.2003 in progress

PAE Piacenza Municipality approved 11.2009 -

PAE Calendasco Municipality approved 02.2007 -

PAE Rottofreno Municipality approved 11.1996 in adoption

PAE Gossolengo Municipality approved 3.2006 -

PAE Gragnano Trebbiense Mun. approved 4.2004 approved - 10.2009

PAE Gazzola Municipality approved 4.2007 -

PAE Rivergaro Municipality adopted 12.1999 adopted - 11.2009

Each quarrying activity has to be subdued to an extractive agreed authorisation, granted by the major of the

municipality of expertise, after the signature of a specific agreement and the advice of the Quarrying activities Infra-regional

Committee. The authorisation is set only for the activities located in the provincial extractive-districts established in PIAE

(“polos”) and in the municipal extractive-districts fixed in PAE. In Emilia-Romagna Region quarrying activities in the fluvial, lake

and marine State property are forbidden. With the agreement the quarrier undertakes to supply: quarry road system and

connection between quarry sites and public road network; health and safety aspects (people, things and properties); right

execution of the excavation project attached to the authorisation request and of the aftercare and post-closure works; financial

guaranty. An extractive agreed authorisation can last 5 years at most with only one chance of extension (one year).

Role of SSM in legislation - As the national legislation related to the production and use of recycled materials is

concerned we must first refer to Part Four - Decree 152/2006 - art. 184 which includes construction and demolition waste in

“special waste” cathegory. The so-called "recycled aggregates” are the result of the activity of recovery of waste non-

hazardous (construction debris, but also waste from mining and industrial waste). This kind of recovery has to be authorized

under the existing legislation on waste. According to LR 3 / 99 these procedures are in the hands of the Provinces.

As recovery products, recycled aggregates are considered as raw materials or as by-products; under Article 181a of

Decree 152/06 and DM 5 February 2008, they should have merchandise characteristics compliant to the technology sector

regulations they are finalized. Recycled aggregates are used in road works (recorded, backgrounds, fills, and filled layers of

foundation), in concrete products with low resistance and for environmental restoratios.

22

To be entered in the register of recycling these materials must have also characteristics in accordance with the

Annex C of the Circular of Ministry of Environment and Protection of Natural Resources (July 15 2005, No UL/2005/5205), in

application of the DM 203/03. They must also meet the technical standards adopted for product CE marking of construction

products (Directive 89/106).

Legislative management of quarry activities in protected areas and in Nature 2000 sites - According to the LR

6/2005 in Regional Parks quarrying activities are forbidden. With the previous regulations (LR 11/88) extractions were

admitted. In Trebbia River Regional Park (LR 19/2009) quarry activities are permitted only in the contiguous area.

Furthermore, according to the Park establishing low, after quarry restoration the natural land-use recovered areas join the Park

core while the areas restored to agricultural land-use enter the agricultural zoning.

Regarding Natura 2000 sites, in SPA (Special Protection areas) quarry activities are forbidden. In SCI (Site of

Community Interest) quarry activities plans and projects must be accompanied by an Incidence Study on habitats and species

of european interest.

Presence of effective and regular dissemination of information to particular stakeholder groups - Local

communities and stakeholders are involved in quarry decision making by two different types of information tools called Service

Conference (for projects) and Planning Conference (for plans).

6. Environmental impact assessment Requirements – Analysis of the different kind of impacts produced by quarry activities (pre-; during and post- quarrying) on the biological framework described at point 3 (PILOT SITE SCALE); existence of codes of practice to achieve environmental and/or technical excellence: geomorphologic exposure and visibility aspects (landscape change), water (surface and groundwater), soil and air quality conditions; noise, dust and emissions; disposal and handling of quarry waste (potential application of quarry wastes) restoration, post-closure planning and immediate aftercare works; presence of quarry closure, rehabilitation and after-use plans - (BOTH SCALE).

PILOT SITE scale

A. PRINCIPAL TYPES OF IMPACTS - In Trebbia River alluvial fan districts quarrying activities are supported by an

important infrastructural system, based on a specific extractive road and gravel processing yards network (Fig.: 4.1 and 4.a.T

Map). The main impacts of quarry activities on Community Interest habitats and species were detected during IT4010016

Natura 2000 site monitoring campaign relized in 2009. In this paragraph we are going to correlate the impacts on the different

vegetation mosaics (3 different types: 1.gravel beds; 2.terrace dry vegetation; 3.riparian forests – fig. 6.1). Mosaic conservation

involves direclty vegetation habitats and species habitats environmentally related safeguard. In the following table we report

habitats and species target for the different mosaics and quarry related impacts for each-ones (fig. 6.2).

23

Fig. 6.1 - Vegetation and species mosaics in the PILOT site.

1

3

2

24

Mosaics typology Natura 2000 Habitat codes

Community interest species Quarry related impacts

1. Gravel beds 3230 - 3240

B. oedicnemus, S. hirundo, S. albifrons, B. plebejus, B. meridionalis, C. taenia, C. genei, L. souffia

fords construction; gravel handling; trucks transit; unrestricted access to off-road vehicles along quarry road network and outside

2. Terrace dry vegetation *6110 - * 6210

B. oedicnemus, C. brachydactyla, A. campestris, L. collurio, C. europaeus

trucks transit and shunting (fig.6.1); trucks enlargement and realization of new accesses; habitat removal and disturbance caused by yards activities; heaps storage on dry meadows (fig.6.1)

3. Riparian forests *91E0 - 92A0 C. europaeus trucks enlargement and realization of new accesses (fig.6.1)

25

Fig. 6.2 - Quarry related impacts in the PILOT site.

BOTH scales B. CODES OF PRACTICE TO ACHIEVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND/OR TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE Visibility aspects - New quarry foreheads have to be opened in out of sight sites (far from main roads networks, urban

centres, areas of tourist’s, landscape, monumental interest). If not possibile the quarry site has to be hidden by banks, trees,

natural barriers and so on.

Water - In plain quarry sites excavation activities have to reach one meter above groundwater layer maximum if not

otherwise specified in PAE (quarry restoration with realisation of wetlands in groudwater level). In this second case silt

provision in wetlands is admitted only if finalized to determine natural banks outlines. If the wetland is realised above the

groundwater level the basin has to be impermeabilized. Quarry sites in general has to be ringed by drainage trenches to

intercept surface waters. Wastewaters have to be submitted to depuration processes.

Soil - chemical composition of the stored soil and of quarry silts will be monitored before utilization in post-quarry phase.

Air-quality - appropriate processes to preserve air quality are developed in certified yards. In yards areas and along

quarry road network dust is cut down by periodical wettings.

Safety - In general, quarry area must be delimited with the apposition of fences and gates. Quarry slopes must have

security profiles and quarry road network be expressly planned. Specific health and safety aspects are contained in DSS

(Safety and Health Document) wich must be attached to each activity declaration.

C. RESTORATION, POST-CLOSURE PLANNING AND IMMEDIATE AFTERCARE WORKS; PRESENCE OF QUARRY CLOSURE, REHABILITATION AND AFTER-USE PLANS In the execution technical norms and in the annexes, PIAE defines some standards for environmental impact

assessment studies and evaluations (VIA – Environmental Impacts Evaluation), with different deepenings for the different

26

scales of potential impacts. In this evaluation, potential impacts are related to volumes authorised and to quarry site location

(far/near/in, areas of naturalistic regard). At the meantime post-quarry land use and restoration is defined.

Quarry Plans (PIAE, PAE) are submitted to a process of environmental evaluation called VAS (Strategical Environmental

Evaluation).

In the following point (7) we are analysing the actual implementation of quarry closure, rehabilitation and after-use

works and projects as planned by the different Municipalities in PAEs, at the Pilot site scale. See also 6.a.T Map.

Point 6 - Annexes for database 6.a.T - Post-closure planned operation syntesis

7. Best practices approach Requirements - Possibilities for new technology applications (efficiency of primary aggregates production - water & energy consumption, transport); suggest better practices that can help achieve a better relationship between protected areas and other land uses; collect information on best practices and failures for aggregates extraction; determine impediments to best practice (lack of knowledge, regulatory blocks); prepare recommendations for industry and government actions to encourage best practice.

BOTH scales - Codes of practice to achieve environmental exellence are described in PIAE annexes where

standards for environmental impact assessment studies are defined. Processing yards can obtain environmental certifications

(ISO 9000/ISO 14000) based on specific technical and environmental requirements. In planning instruments (PIAE) yards

compatibility evaluation is also determined by a set of indicators which includes environmental parameters, such as: distance

from fluvial habitats and naturalistic defence strips; visual impacts; depuration processes; distance from inhabited areas.

As we reported at point 3, analyzing the location of quarrying activities at Regional and Local level, we found that the

main impacts on conservation areas concern the Appennine rivers plain. This kind of ecosystems are among the weakest in

Region, for the impacts that in general characterise E-R plain (intensive agricolture, quarry activities, infrastructures, landscape

and environmental simplification, punctual and diffuse pollution), the rarity and the fragility of vegetation and species habitat

related to alluvial fans (dry habitats which support a large numbers of fauna and flora species). Primary and secondary

Appennines rivers ecosystems mangement and conservation is basic for the maintenance of ecological connectivity in

agricultural landscape framework.

In order to suggest better practices that can help achieve a better relationship between protected areas and quarry

activities in alluvial fan context, we analyzed the relationships between quarry districts and State properties (table below).

27

State properties particles (ha)

State properties particles included in a quarry district (ha) Rate (%)

Region 21.752,65 446,75 2,05

Pilot Site 249,33 44,23 17,74 Pilot site / Region (rate %) 1,15 9,90 -

As better described in 4.a.T Map for the Pilot-site State properties location coincides with the distribution of the main

vegetation and species habitats of Community interests. Quarry activities in State properties are forbidden. In spite of that the

main impacts on habitat conservation observed in alluvial fan context are linked to mismanagement of this kind of public

properties (Fig.7.1)

Fig. 7.1 - Quarry related impact on a dry meadow on State properties caused by the realization of an heap storage.

Impediments to a better management of State properties in fluvial context are the following:

- lack of knowledge on the legislation related to Protected areas and Natura 2000 sites, also by the regional services

in charge to issue the licenses for State properties particles land use;

- lack of surveillance.

PILOT SITE scale – As well as a better management of State properties areas, to achieve better results on

rehabilitation and restoration final disposition, restoration types planned by PIAEs, PAEs and quarry projects should better fit

the environmental context in which they will be realized.

28

Restoration types Area (ha) Rate (%) Agricultural use 1331,05 45,99 Reed bed 32,06 1,11 Fishing basin 3,20 0,11 Lake 151,70 5,24 Watering basin 7,90 0,27 Naturalistic basin 37,76 1,30 Meadow 216,97 7,50 Burial 145,51 5,03 Planting 99,95 3,45 Scrub vegetation 9,04 0,31 Mesophilic vegetation 231,58 8,00 Riparian vegetation 284,32 9,82 Tip 1,07 0,04 Renaturation 65,66 2,27 Uncertain use 276,28 9,55

In the table above we report the results of the analysis of restoration plans related to the Pilot site (see also 6.a.T Map). In

green we underline the proper kind of post-closure land use for the environmental context (dry ecosystems alluvial fan related).

For the same reason typologies in red are considered not suitable.

Impediments to a better management of rehabilitation and restoration final disposition are the following:

- lack of knowledge (provincial services, costumer designers)

- lack of regular dissemination of information to particular stakeholder groups (environmental organizations,

Universities..)

- lack of coordination between Agencies