Valtravaglia: the “Vapamont” project continues.
The VAPAMONT Project, launched in spring 2008 in Valtravaglia (VA), Sette Termini locality, by ATC n. 1 Valganna di Varese together with the University of Milan, Department of Vegetable Production and with the decisive contribution, also economic, of the Province of Varese and the provincial and regional ANUUMigratorists of Lombardy.
Aiming to redevelop the degraded mountain pastures as they have been abandoned for decades, with consequent impoverishment of the herbaceous essences present and suffocation of the soil by the highly invasive fern, the entry into full capacity of the project is beginning to bear fruit concrete: reconquest of the soil from the fern, sowing and development of herbaceous essences (legumes, crucifers, grasses) appetite by wild mammals such as hare, roe deer and red deer, actual attendance of the site by the latter in increasing numbers.
A return of biodiversity also attested by the widespread spring blooms of narcissus and the autumn presence, around the sparse trees, of porcini mushrooms, which had not been seen for many years. The fern is actually a highly infesting essence, which often survives mechanical removal and shredding. For this reason, targeted and calculated weeding methods were also used on the site which led to the almost total destruction of the fern in just two years. Interesting information is also being collected as regards the most favorable seed mixtures for feeding the ungulate and lagomorph species present in the Alpine and pre-Alpine area of Lombardy.
The validity and value of this project had already been recognized by the ANUUMigratoristi in March 2009, during the 51st National Assembly, when at the ATC n. 1 was awarded the Association's International Environment Award, XNUMXst edition. Finally, a careful evaluation of the results acquired will be useful, in order to export the project to other mountain realities: unfortunately there will be no lack of places to replicate, given the now decades-long phase of depopulation and abandonment of agro-forestry-pastoral activities from which it suffers. all the Italian mountains.
The curators of the VAPAMONT project are prof. Tommaso Maggiore of the University of Milan and dr. Marco Magni, agronomist.
For more information: ANUUMigratoristi (Via Baschenis 11 / C, 24122 Bergamo, tel. 035.243825, fax 035.236925, e.mail [email protected]).
Source: ANUU