life nature and biodiversity technical application forms · zegna holditalia s.p.a. partners...

LIFE Nature and Biodiversity

TECHNICAL APPLICATION FORMS

Part A – administrative information

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286

LIFE Nature and Biodiversity project application

Language of the proposal:

Improving the stability of endangered orchid communities in their protected habitats in Liguria region, Italy

Project acronym:

LIFEorchids

The project will be implemented in the following Member State(s) and Region(s) or othercountries:Italy Liguria

Expected start date: 16/07/2015 Expected end date: 15/07/2020

LIST OF BENEFICIARIES

Name of the coordinating beneficiary: Ente Parco di Portofino

Name of the associated beneficiary: Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in AgricolturaName of the associated beneficiary: Università degli Studi di GenovaName of the associated beneficiary: Università degli Studi di Torino

LIST OF CO-FINANCERS

PROJECT BUDGET AND REQUESTED EU FUNDING

Total project budget:

Total eligible project budget:

EU financial contribution requested:

2,045,837 Euro

2,045,837 Euro

1,138,549 Euro (= 55.65% of total eligible budget)

FOR ADMINISTRATION USE ONLY


SECTOR

Biodiversity

Project title:

English (en)

LIFE 2014

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - A2

The Park acts to maintain a safe and enjoyable fruition of its areas (network of trails, information signs andpanels, parking areas), also preserving historic publicly – owned buildings to create information points andreception functions.

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OTHER PROPOSALS SUBMITTED FOR EUROPEAN UNION FUNDING

Please answer each of the following questions:

• Have you or any of your associated beneficiaries already benefited from previous LIFE cofinancing?(please cite LIFE project reference number, title, year, amount of the co-financing, duration, name(s) ofcoordinating beneficiary and/or partners involved):

LIFE00 NAT/F/007273 - Pin laricio. Coord: ONF. Partners: Parc Naturel Régional de Corse; Gr.Chiroptèresde Corse; ONCFS; Commune de Corscia; Commune d'Asco; Università di Genova, DIPTERIS. Year: 2000.Tot 829.628€. EU Contr. 414.814 - 01.04.01/31.12.05

LIFE03 NAT/IT/000148 - SANTUARIO CETACEI. Coord: Consorzio Mediterraneo s.c.a.r.l.. Other partners:ICRAM; Università Genova, DIPTERIS. Year: 2003. Tot 549.740€. EU Contr. 274.870 - 01.07.03/31.12.05

LIFE04 ENV/IT/000437 - P.H.A.R.O.S. Coord: Regione Liguria. Other partners: SIGE Genova; Università diTorino; ARPAL; Comuni di Arenzano, Cogoleto, Varazze, Albisola Superiore, Celle Ligure, AlbissolaMarina, Garlenda; Golf di Albisola superiore, Arenzano, Castellaro, Garlenda, Sanremo, Rapallo; Porti diVarazze, Aregai, Porto Sole-Sanremo, Celle Ligure; Università Genova DIPTERIS. Year: 2004. Tot1.444.986€. EU Contr. 722.493 - 01.12.04/01.12.06

LIFE07 NAT/IT/000413 - P.A.R.C. Coord: Parco Montemarcello-Magra. Other partners: Regione Liguria;Prov.La Spezia; Legambiente; Università Genova, DIPTERIS. Year: 2007. Tot 1.511.286€. EU Contr.755.500 - 12.01.09/31.12.11

LIFE09 ENV/IT/000067 - SUMFLOWER. Coord: Università Genova, GBH. Other partners: Distrettoagricolo florovivaistico del Ponente Ligure; Impresa Verde Imperia srl; CRA-FSO; IRF; CeRSAA. Year:2009. Tot 1.769.416€. EU Contr. 870.923 - 01.09.10/01.09.13

LIFE09 NAT/IT/00095 - EC-SQUARE. Coord: Regione Lombardia. Other partners: Regione Liguria;Regione Piemonte; Università Genova, DIPTERIS; Università Insubria; Università Torino; Istituto Oikos.Year: 2009. Tot 1.900.000€. EU Contr. 890.000 - 01.09.2010/31.08.2014

LIFE08/NAT/IT/000371 REstoring SILver-fir FORest - RESILFOR 2008 626.100,00 58 months ComunitàMontana Amiata Val d'Orcia Consiglio per la Ricerca e Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, ComunitàMontana Casentino, Regione Marche, D.R.E.Am. Italia soc. coop. agr. for.

LIFE08/NAT/IT/000334 Validation of risk managementtools for genetically modified plants in protectedand sensitive areas in Italy - MAN-GNP-ITA 2008 579.259,00 40 months Enea - Agenzia per le nuovetecnologie, Consiglio per la Ricerca e Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Centro di ricerca per lo studiodelle relazioni tra pianta e suolo, Università degli Studi di Bologna , Consortium In.Bio, ISPRA - IstitutoSuperiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale

LIFE09 ENV/IT/000078 ManFor C.BD. - Managing forests for multiple purposes: carbon, biodiversity andsocio-economic wellbeing 2009 € 2,483,271.00 61 months Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Università degli Studi del Molise, Italy Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura, Italy Regione Veneto, ItalyRegione Molise, Italy Slovenian Forestry Institute/Gozdarski Institut Slovenjie

LIFE09 NAT/IT/000212 Plant-Pollinator Integrated CONservation approach: a demonstrative proposal -PP-ICON 2009 € 300,966.00 54 months ALMA MATER STUDIORUM Università di Bologna Consiglioper la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura (CRA), Italy Fondazione Villa Ghigi, Italy

LIFE13 ENV/IT/000813 Sustainable Monitoring And Reporting To Inform Forest- and EnvironmentalAwareness and Protection - LIFE SMART4Action 2013 € 1,099,213.00 43 months Ministero dellePolitiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali – Corpo forestale dello Stato – Ispettorato Generale Divisione6^ CRA (Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura), Italy CNR(Consiglio Nazionaledelle Ricerche), Italy UNIFI(Università degli Studi di Firenze), Italy

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LIFE13 BIO/IT/000282 "INNOVATIVE SILVICULTURAL TREATMENTS TO ENHANCE SOIL BIODIVERSITY INARTIFICIAL BLACK PINE STANDS - SelPiBioLife" 2013 € 768,594.00 60 months Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura CdF(Compagnia delle Foreste s.r.l.), Italy UNISI(Università di Siena), Italy UCP(Unione dei Comuni delPratomagno), Italy UCAVO(Unione dei Comuni Amiata Val d’Orcia), Italy

LIFE12 NAT/IT/000818 "Semi-natural dry-grassland conservation and restoration in Valle Susa throughgrazing management" duration: 01/07/2013 e con termine il 30/06/2018 (60 mesi). CoordinatingBeneficiary: Ente di Gestione delle aree protette delle Alpi Cozie. Partners involved: Dipartimento diScienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari - Università degli Studi di Torino, Comune di Bussoleno, Comunedi Mompantero, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi - University of Torino,D.R.E.Am. Italia soc. coop. Agr. For.. Total project budget: 1.001.034 Eur, EU co-financing: 497.821 Eur

LIFE11 NAT/IT/213 "Tutela conservazione di habitat di specie per il consolidamento della popolazione diCarabus olympiae in Valsessera"duration: 01/06/2012 e con termine il 31/12/2015 (42 mesi). Coordinating Beneficiary: ErmenegildoZegna Holditalia s.p.a. Partners involved: DREAM, Comunità Montana alsessera, Regione Piemonte,University of Torino - Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell’Uomo. Total project budget: 1.097.480Eur, EU co-financing: 552.353 Euro

• Have you or any of the associated beneficiaries submitted any actions related directly or indirectly tothis project to other European Union funding programmes? To whom? When and with what results?

No actions related directly or indirectly to this project have been submited by any project participant toother European funding programmes.

• For those actions which fall within the eligibility criteria for financing through other European Unionfunding programmes, please explain in full detail why you consider that those actions are bettersuited to financing through LIFE and are therefore included in the current project:

The preparatory actions A1 - A4 (surveys on orchid diversity and distribution, chemical and biologicalcharacteristics of the soil system in rich orchid sites) and the direct conservation action C3 (plant-soilfeedbacks of abundant and rare orchid species) might be considered as fundamental research actionsand therefore, suitable for being financed through the Horizon 2020 program. However, these actionsalone cannot be considered as a research program aimed at financing research activities of any of theproject partners. Survey actions A1 - A4 are designed to provide essential information for theelaboration of the Action Plan of the project (i.e., to determine the conservation status of targethabitats and orchid species, to choose the location of the intervention sites, and to choose the typeand intensity of the activities to be implemented; see preparatory action A5). Regarding action C3 (soilfeedback tests), it has been devised as a laboratory / greenhouse assay to determine the susceptibilityof orchid seedlings to the biological conditions of the soils in the intervention sites. The action is aimedat maximizing the success of the reintroduction / reinforcement activities (action C4).

Monitoring actions D2 - D4 will also provide novel information about the temporal dynamics of richdiversity sites under management. This kind of diversity data is seldom obtained through reseachprograms due to time, financial and management constraints. Accordingly, action E2 (scientificpublications) has been organized in order to deliver the abovementioned biodiversity-related results asscientific papers, in order to stress their value. Actions D2 - D4 are planned to check the effect of theconservation actions and to provide information that may be used to modify the way these actions arecarried out over time. From these point of view, actions D2 - D4 are essential to the project and noother monitoring activities would replace them.

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Part B - technical summary and overallcontext of the project


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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - B1

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT (Max. 3 pages; to be completed in English)

Project title:

Improving the stability of endangered orchid communities in their protected habitats in Liguria region,Italy

Project objectives:

The aim of the project is to implement ecological-based actions to hold back the loss of orchid diversitycaused by ongoing degradation of the Natura 2000 priority habitat 6210 (semi-natural dry grasslandsand scrubland facies), and of habitats 6310 (Dehesas with Quercus), 8240 (Limestone pavements), Hophornbeam and Olive groves in Liguria region, Italy. The specific objectives of the project are:

1. To characterize the main natural and anthropogenic threats responsible for the degradation of theabovementioned habitats, their relative contribution to orchid biodiversity loss and the associatedcosts of this loss.

2. To make use of the knowledge gained through past and ongoing conservation and restoration effortsin these habitats to set up a biodiversity action plan with orchids as a main target group.

3. To design and implement actions to increase the diversity and stability of orchid communities insemi-natural grassland habitats and their surroundings.

4. To raise awareness about the value of biodiversity through a complete communication plan to boosta more sustainable interplay between nature and society.

5. To set up the conditions for a better coordination and long-term participation of stakeholders inbiodiversity action plans regarding these habitats in Liguria.

Actions and means involved:

The project includes 36 actions developed in the following way:

- Six preparatory actions (A1 - A6), designed to pinpoint specific grassland areas within selected Sitesof Community Importance (SCIs) covered by the project. These specific areas will be selected accordingto their conservation status, their risk of biodiversity loss and their accessibility. The actions arepresented as a list of technical actions (A1 - A4 and A6) aimed mainly at characterizing the naturalhistory of the grasslands, plus an additional action (A5) which includes stakeholders consultations todefine threats and actions relevant to the project. Purely technical actions will involve the use ofsampling and analytical techniches, while action A5 will develop a social network that will be involvedin further actions.

- Seven direct conservation / intervention actions (C1 - C7), divided into four ex situ conservationactions (C1 - C3 and C5, developed in greenhouse conditions) and three in situ intervention actions(C4, C6 and C7). All these actions will be recurrent trhough the project life span and their developmentwill depend on the results of the monitoring actions. Ex situ actions will include in vitro germination andacclimatization of threatened orchid species; in situ actions will involve activities of mowing andfencing of grassland sites and the reintroduction of orchid plants generated ex situ.

- Five monitoring actions (D1 - D5), presented as a detailed set of biodiversity-related monitoringactions (D1 - D4), plus the monitoring of the socio-economic impact of the project (D5). These actionswill make use of standard indicators of environmental change and socio-economic activity.

- 13 public awareness and dissemination actions (E1 - E13), giving priority to diversity also in the waycommunication actions are organized. The goal is to exploit the ability of the different partners toreach different public spheres of interest. The actions will include workshops, conferences, technicaland school-level courses, and release of multimedia information.

- Four project management actions (F1 - F4), separating technical coordination (F1) from theadministrative and financial management of the project (F2 - F4). At each level, management actions

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will be characterized by an active exchange of information between partners, stakeholders and anexternal audit organization.

Expected results (outputs and quantified achievements):

The expected results can be divided in two different groups:

1. Results related to improvements in both the diversity of orchid communities and the stability of theirsemi-natural habitats. The following outputs are expected:

- A report on the conservation status of the semi-natural habitats and their orchid communities in theproject area.

- Five scientific reports / articles on the above- and belowground biodiversity associated to rich orchidcommunities in semi-natural grassland habitats as affected by natural and antropogenic processes.

- The first map of the above- and belowground biodiversity of the Natura 2000 habitats 6210 and6310.

- A comparative report on the response of orchid communities and overall grassland communities todifferent management actions in the different intervention sites.

- A critical review on the implementation of biodiversity actions in semi-natural grasslands andadjoining habitats.

- A predictive model on biodiversity loss dynamics in unmanaged grasslands.

- A technical report on the success rate of ex situ conservation and reintroduction for the differentorchid species involved in the project.

2. Results related to changes in the environmental governance of the protected areas as a result of thedissemination, education and training activities carried out. The expected outputs are:

- A Biodiversity Action Plan for semi-natural grasslands and their surrounding habitats, includingbiodiversity inventories, conservation status of threatened species, targets for conservation andrestoration, and management guidelines for the implementation of the plan.

- A critical review on alternative ways of environmental governance based on the socio-economicimpact of this and other related Biodiversity Action Plans.

- A set of web based applications to collect biogeographical information on new, rare or threatenedspecies based on records by amateur and specialized visitors to the parks.

- An After-Life protocol for the continuation of the most relevant biodiversity actions included in theproject.

- A quantified increase in public funding, space and human resources allocated to the protectedhabitats as a result of enhanced coordination among public institutions at different levels(municipalities, provinces, region, state).

- An increase in the contribution of private institutions (foundations, companies) to the actions

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included in both the Biodiversity Action Plan and the After-Life implementation plan.

XIs your project significantly climate-related? Yes No

Some conservation actions included in the proposal do agree with typical intervention actions intendedto mitigate climate change. Such actions include, e.g., actions to block habitat degradation (reducedemissions of GHGs) and to promote sustainable forest and grassland management (no depletion of soilcarbon pools). These actions are aimed at increasing the ecological stability of the orchid communitiesand their associated habitats (project objective No. 3). It is expected that increased stability will maketarget communities and habitats less vulnerable to current or future climate change effects. Someother expected results of the project include indirect mitigation products such as the design of policy-related documents on environmental management leading to overall reduction in GHGs.

The proposal addresses the following project topic(s):

• Projects aimed at implementing Target 2 of the Biodiversity Strategy, through the integration ofactions to maintain and enhance ecosystems and their services into the activities of the public orprivate sectors, by establishing Green as well as Blue Infrastructure and restoring degradedecosystems. These projects should test and apply approaches aimed at:

1. mapping and assessing (including valuation) of ecosystems including marine ecosystems andtheir services to contribute to a priority setting for restoration, Green or Blue Infrastructure or No NetLoss; 2. restoring ecosystems including coastal and marine ecosystems and their services by applyingthe Restoration Priority Framework; 3. developing methodologies for valuation of and payment for ecosystem services (includingtangible and intangible services); or 4. innovative management schemes addressing, in particular, water related ecosystem services,which could provide potential funding mechanisms to achieve the Biodiversity Strategy targets andcontribute to aims of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive.

• Projects targeting threatened species that are not included in the annexes of the Habitats Directivebut that have a status of "endangered" or worse in the European Red Lists(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist/ index_en.htm) or in the IUCNRed List for those species that are not covered by the European Red Lists

Reasons why the proposal falls under the selected project topic(s):

The project directly adress target 2 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 because it deals withbiodiversity and conservation problems affecting, among others, priority habitats of the Natura 2000net (semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates, code 6210). Thesehabitats are the result of long-term grazing or mowing and play, or have played, an importantsocioeconomic role for human populations involved in agroforestal and silvopastoral practices. In theLiguria region, these habitats are endangered by abandonment and further successionprocesses leading to rapid re-forestation and serious habitat degradation and/or disappearance.

To mitigate these problems, the project includes actions aimed at 1) creating a complete picture of thecurrent status and potentialities of semi-natural grasslands in the project SCIs (actions A1 - A5); 2)implementing activities to revert habitat degradation processes on the basis of biodiversity andecosystem functioning indicators (actions C4, C6 and C7); 3) design simple and fast methods to assessnet gains in the performance of ecosystem processes (e.g., pollination efficiency in ornamental speciesof economic value).

Regarding threatened taxa, the project includes actions on rare orchid communities containing speciessuch as Ophrys spp. that are protected at the regional level. Actions developed at Portofino park willalso involve orchid communities containing the endemic species Orchis patens Desf. (European IUCNRed List of Threatened Species). This species has a very limited distribution in Europe (it has beenrecorded only in few Ligurian spots) and its disjuncted distribution between Liguria and the AtlasMountains in northern Africa constitutes an interesting biogeographical riddle. The abovementionedspecies will have priority in the planned ex situ conservation actions.

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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT (Max. 3 pages; to be completed in national language)

Project title:

Improving the stability of endangered orchid communities in their protected habitats in Liguria region,Italy

The aim of the project is to implement ecological-based actions to hold back the loss of orchid diversitycaused by ongoing degradation of the Natura 2000 priority habitat 6210 (semi-natural dry grasslandsand scrubland facies), 6310 (Dehasas with Quercus), 8240 (Limestone pavements), Hop hornbeam andOlive groves in Liguria region, Italy. The specific objectives of the project are:

- To make use of the knowledge gained through past and ongoing conservation and restoration effortsin these habitats to set up a biodiversity action plan with orchids as a main target group.

- To characterize the main natural and anthropogenic threats responsible for the degradation of the6210 habitat, their relative contribution to orchid biodiversity loss and the associated costs of this loss.

- To design and implement actions to increase the diversity and stability of orchid communities in semi-natural dry grassland habitats.

- To set up the conditions for a better coordination and long-term participation of stakeholders inbiodiversity action plans regarding these habitats in Natural Regional Park of Portofino.

Project objectives:

The project includes 36 actions developed in the following way:

- Six preparatory actions (A1 - A6), designed to pinpoint specific grassland areas within selected Sitesof Community Importance (SCIs) covered by the project. These specific areas will be selected accordingto their conservation status, their risk of biodiversity loss and their accessibility. The actions arepresented as a list of technical actions (A1 - A4 and A6) aimed mainly at characterizing the naturalhistory of the grasslands, plus an additional action (A5) which includes stakeholders consultations todefine threats and actions relevant to the project. Purely technical actions will involve the use ofsampling and analytical techniques, while action A5 will develop a social network that will be involvedin further actions.

- Seven direct conservation / intervention actions (C1 - C7), divided into four ex situ conservationactions (C1 - C3 and C5, developed in greenhouse conditions) and three in situ intervention actions(C4, C6 and C7). All these actions will be recurrent through the project life span and their developmentwill depend on the results of the monitoring actions. Ex situ actions will include in vitro germination andacclimatization of threatened orchid species; in situ actions will involve activities of grazing, mowingand fencing of grassland sites and the reintroduction of orchid plants generated ex situ.

- Five monitoring actions (D1 - D5), presented as a detailed set of biodiversity-related monitoringactions (D1 - D4), plus the monitoring of the socio-economic impact of the project (D5). These actionswill make use of standard indicators of environmental change and socio-economic activity.

- 13 public awareness and dissemination actions (E1 - E13), giving priority to diversity also in the waycommunication actions are organized in order to exploit the ability of the different partners to reachdifferent public spheres of interest. The actions will include workshops, conferences, technical andschool-level courses, and release of multimedia information.

- Four project management actions (F1 - F4), separating technical coordination (F1) from theadministrative and financial management of the project (F2 - F4). At each level, management actionswill be characterized by an active exchange of information between partners, stakeholders and anexternal audit organization.

Actions and means involved:

Expected results (outputs and quantified achievements):

The expected results can be divided in two different groups:

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1. Results related to improvements in both the diversity of orchid communities and the stability of theirsemi-natural habitats. The following outputs are expected:

- A report on the conservation status of the semi-natural habitats and their orchid communities in theproject area.

- Five scientific reports / articles on the above- and belowground biodiversity associated to rich orchidcommunities in semi-natural grassland habitats as affected by natural and antropogenic processes.

- The first map of the belowground biodiversity of the Natura 2000 habitat 6210.

- A comparative report on the response of orchid communities and overall grassland communities todifferent management actions in the different intervention sites.

- A critical review on the implementation of biodiversity actions in semi-natural grasslands andadjoining habitats.

- A predictive model on biodiversity loss dynamics in abandoned grasslands.

- A technical report on the success rate of ex situ conservation and reintroduction for the differentorchid species involved in the project.

2. Results related to changes in the environmental governance of the protected areas as a result of thedissemination, education and training activities carried out. The expected outputs are:

- A Biodiversity Action Plan for the semi-natural dry grasslands and their surrounding habitats,including biodiversity inventories, conservation status of threatened species, targets for conservationand restoration, and management guidelines for the implementation of the plan.

- A critical review on alternative ways of environmental governance based on the socio-economicimpact of this and other related Biodiversity Action Plans.

- A set of web based applications to collect biogeographical information on new, rare or threatenedspecies based on records by amateur and specialized visitors to the park.

- An After-Life protocol for the continuation of the most relevant biodiversity actions included in theproject.

- A quantified increase in public funding, space and human resources allocated to the protectedhabitats as a result of enhanced coordination among public institutions at different levels(municipalities, provinces, region, state).

- An increase in the contribution of private institutions (foundations, enterprises) to the actionsincluded in both the Biodiversity Action Plan and the After-Life implementation plan.

Is your project significantly climate-related? Yes X No

The present project is not directly related to climate change, but points directly to another of thecomponents of global change, namely the change in land use (in this case, abandonment of semi-natural dry graslands). Some direct conservation actions included in the proposal do, however, overlapwith typical intervention actions intended to directly mitigate climate change, e.g., actions to blockforest degradation (reduced emissions of GHGs) and to promote sustainable forest and grasslandmanagement (no depletion of soil carbon pools). In addition, some of the expected results of theproject include indirect mitigation products such as the design of policy-related documents onenvironmental management leading to overall reduction in GHGs.

The proposal addresses the following project topic(s):

• Projects aimed at implementing Target 2 of the Biodiversity Strategy, through the integration ofactions to maintain and enhance ecosystems and their services into the activities of the public orprivate sectors, by establishing Green as well as Blue Infrastructure and restoring degradedecosystems. These projects should test and apply approaches aimed at:

1. mapping and assessing (including valuation) of ecosystems including marine ecosystems and

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their services to contribute to a priority setting for restoration, Green or Blue Infrastructure or No NetLoss; 2. restoring ecosystems including coastal and marine ecosystems and their services by applyingthe Restoration Priority Framework; 3. developing methodologies for valuation of and payment for ecosystem services (includingtangible and intangible services); or 4. innovative management schemes addressing, in particular, water related ecosystem services,which could provide potential funding mechanisms to achieve the Biodiversity Strategy targets andcontribute to aims of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive.

• Projects targeting threatened species that are not included in the annexes of the Habitats Directivebut that have a status of "endangered" or worse in the European Red Lists(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/redlist/ index_en.htm) or in the IUCNRed List for those species that are not covered by the European Red Lists

Reasons why the proposal falls under the selected project topic(s):

The project directly adress target 2 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 because it deals withbiodiversity and conservation problems affecting priority habitats of the Natura 2000 net (semi-naturaldry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates, code 6210). These habitats are theresult of long-term grazing or mowing and play, or have played, an important socioeconomic role forhuman populations involved in agroforestal and silvopastoral practices. In the Liguria region, thesehabitats are endangered by abandonment and further succession processes leading to rapid re-forestation and serious habitat degradation and/or disappearance.

To mitigate these problems, the project includes actions aimed at 1) creating a complete picture of thecurrent status and potentialities of semi-natural grasslands in the project SCIs (actions A1 - A5); 2)implementing activities to revert habitat degradation processes on the basis of biodiversity andecosystem functioning indicators (actions C4, C6 and C7); 3) design simple and fast methods to assessnet gains in the performance of ecosystem processes (e.g., pollination efficiency in ornamental speciesof economic value).

Regarding threatened taxa, the project includes actions on rare orchid communities containing speciessuch as Ophrys spp. that are protected at the regional level. Actions developed at Portofino park willalso involve orchid communities containing the endemic species Orchis patens Desf. (European IUCNRed List of Threatened Species). This species has a very limited distribution in Europe (it has beenrecorded only in few Ligurian spots) and its disjointed distribution between Liguria and the AtlasMountains in northern Africa constitutes an interesting biogeographical riddle. The abovementionedspecies will have priority in the planned ex situ conservation actions.

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - B2a

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA / SITE(S) TARGETED BY THE PROJECT

Name of the project area:

Rio Tuia - Montallegro

Surface area (ha): 453.000

Surface description:Woodlands, rivers and fragmented grasslands.

EU protection status:

SPA NATURA 2000 Code :

pSCI X NATURA 2000 Code : IT1332622

Other protection status according to national or regional legislation:

According to the Ligurian Regional Law 29 / 2001 this SCI is under the planning and managingresponsibilities of Portofino Park.

Main land uses and ownership status of the project area:

Of the 453 ha of the SCI, about 36% is owned by privates and used for agricultural and / or livingpurposes. The rest (64%, 290 ha) is distributed in 10 different habitats (see the scientific descriptionsubsection), mostly woodlands with Castanea sativa and diverse Quercus species. These areas areowned mainly by the municipalities of Rapallo e Zoagli.

Scientific description of project area:

Biogeografic region: Mediterrean

Province: Genoa

The area bounded by a watershed is made up of a wide valley route from Tuia creek and its tributaries,with steep slopes, terraced strips and wetlands of geomorphological significance.

Main habitats:

- 4030, European dry heaths; 1% of the cover.

- 6110, rupicolous calcareous or basophilic grasslands of the Alysso-Sedion albi; 1% of the cover.

- 6210*, semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites); 2% of the cover.

- 6430, hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels; 1% ofthe cover.

- 8210, calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation;1% of the cover.

- 91E0, alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae,Salicion albae); 1% of the cover.

- 91H0, Pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens; 12% of the cover.

- 9260, Castanea sativa woods; 30% of the cover.

- 9340, Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests; 10% of the cover.

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- 9540, Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mesogean pines; 5% of the cover.

The Rio Tuia - Montallegro SCI is rich in orchid species, mainly from the genus Orchis (O. tridentata, O.provincialis, O. mascula). It also harbours some rare and endangered briophyte species. At the faunallevel, it is an important site for vertebrates and invertebrates related to fresh water environments.Examples of this kind of fauna are the endemic salamander Salamandrina terdigitata and Salamandrasalamandra, the frogs Rana italica and Pelodytes punctatus, the newt Speleomantes strinatii, the snakeNatrix maura and the beetle Trogaster gestroi.

The grassland areas involved in the project (6210* type) are distributed in a scattered way around thewoodland areas. Because of spatial variability in the type of soil and vegetation, each of these habitatsharbours a different orchid community. As a consequence, the Rio Tuia - Montallegro site ischaracterized by a high orchid beta diversity (diversity between grassland sites). In such cases, totaldiversity is expected to be more susceptible to perturbation, due to the fact that sensitive species arenot evenly distributed among habitats and that local disturbances may affect a big proportion of theindividuals of a species.

Importance of the project area for biodiversity and/or for the conservation of the species /habitat types targetedat regional, national and EU level (give quantitative information if possible):

At the habitat level, the Rio Tuia - Montallegro site includes a small portion of the priority habitat 6210*(semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia)),characterized by its rich orchid communities. Although the total area of the site is relatively small incomparison with other Ligurian SCIs harbouring larger extensions of this type of habitat, its vicinityfrom Portofino Park makes it very valuable from the point of view of orchid conservation. The Rio Tuia -Montallegro site forms part, together with the other two project SCIs, of the most biodiverse orchidarea in Italy. Since habitat 6210* is considered of first importance by the Habitats Directive because ofits orchid diversity, this SCI constitutes one of the best sites at EU level for the implementation ofconservation / biodiversity actions linking habitat management to biodiversity enhancement.

At the species level, the Rio Tuia - Montallegro site harbours about 50% of the orchid species targetedby the LIFEorchids project (see module B2c, description of species / habitats / biodiversity targeted bythe project), making this site an important enclave for the conservation of rare orchid species both atthe regional and national level. The most endangered species targeted by the project, the endemicOrchis patens, is not present in this site; however, its geographical vicinity from Portofino Park and thepresence in both areas of some similar habitats make Rio Tuia - Montallegro one of the mostappropriate places in Europe for O. patens reintroduction.

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Parco di Portofino

Surface area (ha): 1,196.000

Surface description:Headland hosting the threatened orchid endemism Orchis patens





This SCI is almost completely included within the area of the Portofino Park. The modern status ofPortofino as a natural regional park is based on the Liguria Regional Law 12 / 1995.


In the SCI IT 1332603 was founded the Natural regional Park of Portofino, public body, responsible ofthe site management. The main uses of the land are turistic.


Biogeographic region: Mediterranean.

Province: Genoa

Extention: 1196 haAltitude: 0-610m

Promontory with obvious microclimatic contrasts. Presence of different Natura2000 Habitats:

-1170

-1210 -1240

-5320 -5331 -5332

-6210 -6220 -6310 -6431

-8210 -8240

-91B0 -91E0 - 91H0 - 9260 -9340 -9540


Of particular interest is the presence of rare or endemic species or at the limit of range. Among theseemerging Saxifraga cochlearis, endemic to the Western Alps located here in its only station separately.Orchis patens, very rare, is present in Liguria with the only European stations. Chaetonyx robustusliguricus, exclusive endemic to a restricted area of the site; all these species are proposed for inclusionin Annex II of the Habitat Directive from the Liguria region.

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The presence of different environments priority guarantees an high rate of plant and animalbiodiversity in a confined space.

In Europe about 12,000 species are reported and nearly 7,000 in Italy. The Italian native flora is rich inendemic species: about 1024, 13.4% of the italian flora, but there are very rich areas and othersthreatened by human activity. So, in the great variety of geographical and territorial conditions thatcharacterize our country there are high biodiversity ecosystems that are impoverished mainly becauseof human actions. These can be considered "hot spots" (as defined in 1988 by the British biologistNorman Myers as "biodiversity hotspots") in which are concentrated rare or threatened species andconsequently the conservation problems. Park of Portofino is one of the Ligurian "Hot spots".

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World hotspots of Biodiversity mapName of the picture:

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Portofino Soil MapName of the picture:

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PortofinoName of the picture:

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Pineta - Lecceta di Chiavari

Surface area (ha): 144.000

Surface description:Large area of slope with terracing and two culminations of considerablemorphological importance.





As in the case of the Rio Tuia - Montallegro site, according to the Ligurian Regional Law 29 / 2001 thisSCI is under the planning and managing responsibilities of Portofino Park.


Of the 144 ha of the SCI, about 36% is owned by privates and used for recreational, agricultural and /or living purposes. The rest (64%, 91 ha) is distributed in 13 different habitats (see the scientificdescription subsection), mostly forests composed of Mediterranean pines, Castanea sativa, Quercusilex and Q. rotundifolia. These areas are owned mainly by the municipalities of Zoagli e Chiavari.


Biogeographical region: Mediterranean

Province: Genoa

Crop lands belonging to the formation of Monte Antola (limestone, marl, calcareous marl and clay). Thearea has maintained a remarkable naturalness despite being crossed by a road.

This SCI contains the following terrestrial habitats:

- 1240, vegetated sea cliffs of the Mediterranean coasts with endemic Limonium spp.; 1% of the cover.

- 5320, low formations of Euphorbia close to cliffs; 1.2% of the cover.

- 5330, thermo-Mediterranean and pre-desert scrub; 0.1% of the cover.

- 6210*, semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites); 1% of the cover.

- 6220*, pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea; 1% of the cover.

- 6310, dehesas with evergreen Quercus spp.; 0.2% of the cover.

- 8210, calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation; 1% of the cover.

- 91E0, alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae,Salicion albae); 1% of the cover.

- 91H0, Pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens; 1% of the cover.

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- 9260, Castanea sativa woods; 1% of the cover.

- 9340, Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests; 25% of the cover.

- 9540, Mediterranean pine forests with endemic Mesogean pines; 20% of the cover.

From the botanical point of view, it must be stressed the presence of well preserved forests of Quercusilex and of Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinea and Pinus pinaster. This site is one of the few Italian enclavesof the habitat 6310 (dehesas), giving an additional landscape value to this area. It is also important tonote the occurrence of the species Euphorbia biumbellata (double umbel, very rare in Liguria), almostreaching its north-eastern distribution limit.


The Pineta - Lecceta di Chiavari site includes two of the target habitats of the project, namely habitats6210* (semi-natural dry grasslands) and 6220* (pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals). Althoughthese habitats occupy a relatively small area (up to 2% of the cover), they harbour some protectedorchid species, contributing in a significative way to the biodiversity of the overall project area. Semi-natural grasslands are threatened by recent changes in land use (mainly abandonment) and forestgrowth; effective measures to limit the risk of degradation in these habitats have been carried outunder the management of Portofino Park, ensuring the conservation of these sites. Due to theparticular landscape of this SCI, its orchid communities differ in composition from the other two SCIs ofthe project, contributing (as in the case of the Rio Tuia - Montallegro site) to the beta diversity of theoverall project area.

There is little information about the presence of orchid species targeted by the project in this SCI.However, the presence of some areas with the same habitats than Portofino Park and Rio Tuia -Montallegro suggest the possibility of using this SCI as a suitable place for reintroduction /reinforcement activities regarding the main target species of the project, as e.g., the endemic Orchispatens and the near threatened Anacamptis morio.

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - B2b

MAP OF THE COUNTRY LOCATION OF THE PROJECT AREA SCALE 1:100000

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - B2c

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES / HABITATS / BIODIVERSITY ISSUES TARGETED BY THE PROJECT

Main orchid species targeted by the project:

- Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans (Pollini) R. M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.V. Chase. Populationsize: within the Park of Portofino about 50 plants in 2013; less than 20 in 2014. Conservation statuswithin the project area: the European distribution of this species is very wide but within the Park thenumber is decreasing due to wild boar damages. The presence of nectar in the spur attracts a largenumber of pollinators. This makes it an important species in grassland habitats. This species isconsidered as Least Concern by IUCN Red List.

- Anacamptis morio (L.) R.M. Bateman, Pridgeon & M.V. Chase. Population size: within the project areathe number was limited to less than 10 plants in 2014. Conservation status within the project area: theEuropean distribution of this species is wide but within the Park its presence is limited due tograsslands abandonment and unsuitable mowing. This species is considered as Near Threatened byIUCN Red List.

- Anacamptis pyramidalis (L.) Rich. Population size: about 50 plants. Conservation status within theproject area: this species is widely reported in Italy and Europe; in the Park of Portofino its numbers aredecreasing because of grasslands abandonment. This species is considered as Least Concern by IUCNRed List.

- Dactylorhiza sambucina (L.) Soò. Population size: less than 10 plants. Conservation status within theproject area: Present in all Italy except Sardinia; in Portofino a group of 6-7 plants resists to antropicand climatic impacts. Absent in central and North-Atlantic Europe. This species is considered as LeastConcern by IUCN Red List.

- Neotinea maculata (Desf.) Stearn. Population size: less than 10 plants. Conservation status within theproject area: very rare in Portofino due to wild boar damages. This species is considered as LeastConcern by IUCN Red List.

- Ophrys apifera Huds. Population size: about 15 plants. Main target of wild boars because of its tubersand of tourists because of its "funny" flower. In recent years the number of plants has droppeddramatically, making conservation actions a priority. This species is considered as Least Concern byIUCN Red List.

- Ophrys fuciflora (Burm.f.) Greuter. Population size: less tha 15 plants. Conservation status within theproject area: as Ophrys apifera and all the other Ophrys, it is a main target of wild boars. It wasbrought near local extinction in the last years. It is interesting to note the presence of a mutation typereported in GIROS Notizie n°55 (see picture). This species is considered as Least Concern by IUCN RedList.

- Orchis antropophora (L.) All. Population size: about 25 plants. Conservation status within the projectarea: species at increasing risk of over-harvesting. In Portofino it occurs in different habitats(grasslands, gariga, maquis...). This species is considered as Least Concern by IUCN Red List.

- Orchis patens Desf. Population size: unknown (rare and local). Conservation status within the projectarea: the European distribution of this species is restricted to three locations in Liguria; the populationlocated at Portofino constitutes the only that is regularly monitored. In the rest of the region, itsoccurrence is being increasingly threatened by human pressure. In the project area, increasingpressure due to human over-harvesting and wild boar activity have caused a significant reduction inpopulation density. This species is considered as endangered by the IUCN Red List.

- Orchis purpurea Huds. Population size: less than 10 plants. Conservation status: decrasing numbersin Portofino due to land abandonment and wild boar damages. This species is considered as LeastConcern by the IUCN Red List.

All these species are protected under the Ligurian Regional Law n.28/2009 and included, together withthe rest of the family, in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ofWild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The list of species for ex situ conservation will change depending on the results of preliminary actionsA2, A4 and A5 (data collection/analysis and elaboration of the action plan).

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Main Habitats targeted:

- 6210*, semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco -Brometalia) (*important orchid sites). This type of habitat is considered a priority habitat because itsorchid richness. In the project area this type of habitat represents 5% of the cover. Its conservationstatus is relatively good, but it is threatened by human abandonment. Current conservation actions(mainly mowing) do not take into account biodiversity issues (see the biodiversity issues subsectionbelow), leading to a progressive depreciation of its orchid -and other rare plantcommunities.

- 6220*, pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals (Thero-Brachypodietea). Meso- and thermo-Mediterranean xerophile, mostly open, short-grass annual grasslands rich in therophytes (annual plantsthat survive the unfavourable season in the form of seed) ; therophyte communities of oligotrophicsoils on base-rich, often calcareous substrates. Up to 0.75% of the cover in the project area.

- 6310, dehesas with evergreen Quercus spp. A characteristic landscape of the Iberian peninsula inwhich crops, pasture land or Meso-Mediterranean arborescent matorral are shaded by a fairly closed tovery open canopy of native evergreen oaks (Quercus suber, Q.ilex, Q.rotundifolia, Q.coccifera). Itrepresents a 0.7% of the cover in the project area.

- 8240*, limestone pavements. The rock surface is almost devoid of overlying soils (considerably lessthan 50% cover) except for some patches of shallow skeletal or loessic soils, although more extensiveareas of deeper soil occasionally occur; sometimes there is encroachment of peat. This morphologyoffers a variety of microclimates allowing the establishment of complex vegetation consisting of amosaic of different communities. Atlantic-Mediterranean species such as Neotinea maculata(Orchidaceae) may be present. In the project area, this type of habitat occurs only at Portofino, whereit represents 1% of the SCI.

- Hop-hornbeam forest: the Sella Gaixella (Gaixella Pass) is a crossing point between the eastern andwestern side of the Promontory of Portofino. The predominant vegetation in this place is a mesophilemixed forest. In this forest, the most abundant tree species is the hop-hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia).This habitat contains a good number of orchids as Orchis provincialis, Orchis antropophora,Cephalantera longifolia, C. damasonium and Ophrys classica. Although it is not a Natura 2000protected habitat, it serves as important repository for some orchid species. - Olive groves (Olea europaea): terraces for olive cultivation extend along the Eastern side of Portofinopark. Some olive groves are at present abandoned and have become rich biodiversity spots. In thishabitat it is possible to see many Serapia, Ophrys, Anacamptis, etc. As the hop-horbeam forest, thesespots are considered as important repositories for both frequent and rare orchid species.

Biodiversity issues

- Management of local rare species. Current restoration and conservation actions on habitats take forgranted a direct positive effect on the diversity of orchid communities and other rare or valuableplants. However, diversity loss is mainly accounted for by rare species, which are typically difficult tobrought back into restored areas. In the project area, there is documented evidence of steady losses ofrare plant species during the last century (see attached picture: Plant biodiversity loss). Representativeorchid species have also experienced recent decreases in numbers (see picture: Trends in orchidpopulations). Actions to overcome the increasing risk of local extinction of rare species must includethe reintroduction of recently lost species and the reinforcement of remnant populations.

- Loss of associated organisms. Reduction in population numbers of rare orchid species and localextictions entail the loss of associated organisms that may be essential for the re-establishment ofsuch species. Rarity in plants is not a well understood phenomenon; there is increasing evidence thatthe abundance and distribution of plant species significantly depends on soil biotic factors. In fact,induced germination of orchid seeds is often very difficult because it is based on symbiosis withspecific soil fungi. Reintroduction / reinforcement of orchid and other plant populations must take intoaccount the quality of the sites not only at the visible, aboveground level, but also at the level of thetype and distribution of soil organisms. Biodiversity actions aimed at restoring habitats and theirassociated biodiversity should include specific measures for the soil system. When direct interventionon soils is not possible, a complete survey of the distribution of both beneficial and detrimental soilorganisms should be carried out in order to maximize the success of natural and artificialestablishment of valuable species.

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Sample List of orchid species targeted by the projectName of the picture:

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Trends of sample threatened orchids' population in the last two years (Park of Portofino)Name of the picture:

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Orchis_patensName of the picture:

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SCI IT 1332603 map of habitatsName of the picture:

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Ophrys fuciflora mutation type PortofinoName of the picture:

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - B2d

CONSERVATION / BIODIVERSITY PROBLEMS AND THREATS & PREVIOUS CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Provide this information for those species / habitat types or biodiversity issue directly targeted by the project

Main conservation problem: Land abandonment

Semi-natural grasslands are the result of human activities related to agroforestal and silvopastoralactivities. Many native orchids can live only in environments characterized by high brightness,conditions that can be found only in particular sites, like mown grasslands. In many cases thesehabitats show significant degradation after abandonment; in the project area, most of the orchidspecies are found in semi-natural dry grasslands (a Natura 2000 priority habitat, coded 6210). Suchhabitats are considered important orchid sites and their conservation is considered a priority. InLiguria, as in other Italian regions, habitat 6210 is subjected to increasing abandonment due todemographic factors and to changes in the silvopastoral sector. Land abandonment leads to asignificant increase in opportunistic species as well as rapid reforestation. Under these circunstances,rare / less abundant species tend to disappear, resulting in net biodiversity losses. Although efforts aremade to control abandonment-derived processes affecting habitat 6210 in Liguria, conservationactions do not encompass either biodiversity assesments or feedback mechanisms to adjust the waythose actions are carried out.

Biodiversity issues

Restoration and conservation actions on habitat 6210 take for granted a direct positive effect on thediversity of orchid communities and other rare or valuable plants. However, diversity loss is mainlyaccounted for by rare species, which are typically difficult to brought back into restored areas. Rarity inplants is not a well understood phenomenon; there is increasing evidence that the abundance anddistribution of plant species significantly depends on soil biotic factors. In fact, induced germination oforchid seeds is often very difficult because it is based on symbiosis with specific soil fungi. A good wayto preserve these plants is ex situ conservation using their seeds to preserve the available geneticpool. Reintroduction (reinforcement) of orchids and other endangered groups must take into accountsite quality not only at the visible, aboveground level, but also at the level of the type and distributionof soil organisms. Biodiversity actions aimed at restoring habitats and their associated biodiversityshould include specific measures for the soil system. When direct intervention on soils is not possible, acomplete survey of the distribution of both beneficial and detrimental soil organisms should be carriedout in order to maximize the success of natural and artificial establishment of valuable species.

PREVIOUS CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN THE PROJECT AREA AND/OR FOR THE HABITATS / SPECIESTARGETED BY THE PROJECT

Italy has transposed the Habitats Directive 92/43 / EEC, Presidential Decree 357 08.09.199; The Italianregions have also enacted laws for the protection of flora and fauna. Liguria applies the regional law 28of 10.07.2009 which fits between the entities in Annex A to Absolute Protection Epipactis palustris (L.)Crantz, Goodyera repens (L.) R. Br., Herminium monorchis (L.) R. Br., Nigritella SSPP. and Ophrys SSPP.in addition to the species in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. While in Annex B, among those withPartial Protection, Dactylorhiza SSPP., Orchis SSPP. sensu latissimu (including Anacamptis,Traunsteinera) and Serapias SSPP. (legalizing the collection of not more than 5 specimens).

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Annex B (regional law 28 of 10.07.2009) part 3Name of the picture:

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PF_NeveName of the picture:

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Annex A (regional law 28 of 10.07.2009) part 1Name of the picture:

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PF_FrateName of the picture:

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Annex A (regional law 28 of 10.07.2009) part 2Name of the picture:

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PF_GaixellaName of the picture:

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BEST PRACTICE CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT

The project will apply appropriate, cost-effective, state-of-the-art techiques, methods and approachestaking into account the specific context of the project.

DEMONSTRATION CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT

PILOT ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT

EU ADDED VALUE OF THE PROJECT AND ITS ACTIONS

All orchid species are included under Annex B of the Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Some species found in Parco Portofino and Parco RegionaleAlpi Liguri are listed on European and national red lists with different assessments:

• Endangered• Vulnerable• Near threatened• Least Concern

In some European countries some of these species are already extinct.

The following actions are recommended to protect biodiversity loss in Europe:

• Protection of the habitat, especially the meadows and prairies from ploughing, agriculture uses andconversion to arable land.• Fencing the vulnerable sites to protect the species.• Management of appropriate levels of grazing.• Raise public awareness.• Protection of the living individuals through legislation which bans the species from being picked ordug up.• Ex situ conservation: Artificial propagation, re-introduction, seed collections.• Monitoring and surveillance of the existing populations and sites.• Estimate the population size and study their dynamics.

References

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT

LIFEorchids project will have a positive effect on local economy and population improving the Parksenvironmental heritage, enhancing biodiversity level. Parks and their SCI are ecologically importantand the project actions will contribute to let them be biodiversity jewels in turistic areas. The increasingof turism will be facilitated by advertising and general communication.

EFFORTS FOR REDUCING THE PROJECT'S "CARBON FOOTPRINT"

The LIFEorchids "carbon footprint" will remain as low as reasonably possible.

Since in communities, subjects of the project, there are local species, heating and cooling systems willnot be used for greenhouses. Consequentely gas emissions dangerous for climate will not beproduced.

Since terrestrial orchids need no light to germinate it will be saved more electricity than in other in

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vitro propagation.

Most of the dissemination activities (brochures, posters, pens...) will be made using recycled materials.

For travels, public transports will be used most of the times (trains, buses).

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STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED AND TARGET AUDIENCE OF THE PROJECT

Stakeholders of LIFEorchids will be all people that have somehow a relationship with the sites of theproject. Surroundings houses and farms can influence the mainteinance of a SCI applying goodpractices that could be precious for biodiversity conservation. For example honey production near agrassland with orchid populations is very usefull for improving the number of pollinators andconsequently seed production. The aim of the project is to involve stakeholders in consider orchidbiodiversity as a gift to be preserved for the present and future generations. We would like to improvethe sense of place also targeting our dissemination actions towards a higher audience (Park tourists,students, nature lovers, ecc.).

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EXPECTED CONSTRAINTS AND RISKS RELATED TO THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MITIGATIONSTRATEGY

Expected constraints: difficulties in ex situ conservation actions.

Mitigation strategy: use of adapted protocols.

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CONTINUATION / VALORISATION AND LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT'S RESULTS AFTER THEEND OF THE PROJECT

Which actions will have to be carried out or continued after the end of the project ?

Fencing and mowing. Reinforcement activities.

How will this be achieved? What resources will be necessary to carry out these actions?

Changes in current management policies. Use of management resources from the park.

Protection status under National / local law of sites/species/habitats targeted (if relevant)

IUCN for Orchis patens. Regional biodiversity law for all orchids. Priority habitat 6210.

How, where and by whom will the equipment acquired be used after the end of the project?

Equipment will be in ise only during the project life span.

To what extent will the results and lessons of the project be actively disseminated after the end of theproject to those persons and/or organisations that could best make use of them (please identify thesepersons/organisations)?

Via website, reports, courses and supporting societies (GIROS).

How will the long term sustainability of the project's concrete actions be assured?

Via agreement with the park.

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Part C – detailed technical description of theproposed actions


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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - C0

LIST OF ALL PROPOSED ACTIONS

A. Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plans

A1 Selecting survey and intervention areas in the SCIs involved

A2 Collecting data and information of orchid communities in the SCIs involved

A3 Chemical and biological analysis of soils

A4 Data analysis of the preliminary field surveys

A5 Elaboration of the action plan

A6 Artificial pollination and seed collection of relevant orchid species

B. Purchase/lease of land and/or compensation payments for use rights

C. Concrete conservation actions

C1 Asymbiotic seed germination

C2 Mycorrhization and greenhouse plant acclimatization

C3 Soil feedback tests

C4 Orchid reinforcement in the SCIs

C5 Germplasm collection

C6 Access limitation to the intervention sites

C7 Controlling plant communities through mowing

D. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)

D1 Monitoring transplanted species

D2 Monitoring plant community dynamics

D3 Monitoring soil communities

D4 Monitoring ecosystem services and community stability

D5 Socioeconomic impact of the project

E. Public awareness and dissemination of results (obligatory)

E1 Website

E2 Scientific publications

E3 Kick-off meeting

E4 First annual conference

E5 Second annual conference

E6 Layman's report

E7 After Life

E8 Third annual conference

E9 Education and training (schools)

E10 Notice boards, brochures, documentaries

E11 Education and training (universities, farmers, public and private bodies)

E12 Final conference

E13 General communication

F. Project management and monitoring of project progress (obligatory)

F1 Scientific coordination

F2 Administrative and financial management

F3 Project reporting

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F4 Audit

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - C1a

DETAILS OF PROPOSED ACTIONSA. Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plans

ACTION A.1: Selecting survey and intervention areas in the SCIs involved

Description (what, how, where and when):Preliminary survey of the number, distribution and characteristics of the habitats in the SCIs of the parkinvolved in the project.

Reasons why this action is necessary:The information collected will help to decide the number and location of the intervention sites.

Constraints and assumptions:It is assumed that the main seminatural grasslands of the selected SCIs are accesible during the expectedtimetable for the action.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation:CRA

Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:The CRA will assess the idoneity of the sites; personel from the park of Portofino will contribute with theirknowledge of the territory to locate potential sites of interest.

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):A list of the intervention sites where the project will be developed.

Indicators of progress:Number of selected sites.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Technical advise on the location, size and accesibility of the habitats to survey.

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Preparatory actionsName of the picture:

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ACTION A.2: Collecting data and information of orchid communities in the SCIs involved

Description (what, how, where and when):The investigation area covered the Liguria region in Italy. The monitoring investigation will be carried out byanalysing the literature and consulting herbaria (TO, FI, GE, GDOR, PV, ROMA), in order to define the species’presence along the Northern Tyrrhenian coasts during the last two centuries. The present conditions ofnatural populations in the study area will be verified by means of field researches.

Field sampling to characterize the composition and the relative conservation status of orchid communities inselected survey areas. The action includes preliminary selection of the survey sites (seminatural grasslandsand surrounding areas) based on conservation priorities.

Regional Natural Park of Portofino will be investigated. The aim of this work is to point out informationson Portofino flora, characterised by subalpine grasslands and shrubs, by oromediterranean grasslands andcalcareous rocks. Taxa will be recorded, and their chorologic and conservation importance will be keep onevidence.

The chemical interactions of orchid flowers with pollinators will be analyzed by:

1) developing an extraction method2) GC-MS and GC-FID analysis of the volatile fraction3) HPLC and LC-MS analysis of the non-volatile fraction4) multivariate data analysis and systematic design of experiments (experimental design)

Reasons why this action is necessary:First step to decide the relative importance of further conservation actions.

Constraints and assumptions:Constraints: meteorological, accesibility.

Assumptions: samples always present.


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:University of Genoa will provide staff and participate in the creation of a database necessary for theidentification of the entities that require conservation action. The Park of Portofino will provide staff andlogistic facilities. External assistance will analyze the phylogenetic relationships in the communities of orchidsand the chemical interaction with pollinators.

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Characterization of the relative risk status of the species involved.

Indicators of progress:No. of sampled sites and species lists.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Past experience on similar work.

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ACTION A.3: Chemical and biological analysis of soils

Description (what, how, where and when):Physical-chemical and biological characterization of the soils in the intervention sites.

Preliminary soil biological characterization will focus on soilborne orchid symbiotic fungi andmicro/mesofauna. DNA will be directly extracted from both roots of the target orchid species and soil samplescollected in the intervention sites and surrounding areas. Mycorrhizal fungi will be identified by means ofmeta-barcoding of ITS amplicons (Illumina MiSeq sequencing). Fungal isolates will be obtained from thesampled orchid roots to be subsequently used for in vitro mycorrhization of orchid seeds (Action C2).

Reasons why this action is necessary:Orchid seedling establishment in natural environments critically depends on both biotic and abiotic conditions(local availability of compatible mycorrhizal fungi and appropriate physico-chemical site characteristics). Thephysico-chemical and biological characterization of soil in both the intervention and surrounding areas willtherefore allow to identify the most suitable sites for orchid reintroduction. Since seeds of European terrestrialorchids do not develop beyond rupture of the tegument unless they are infected by a compatible mycorrhizalfungus, symbiotic fungal strains are required to obtain in vitro seedling development and transfer to a soil-based medium on pots.

Constraints and assumptions:Both culture-independent molecular identification and isolation of symbiotic fungi from whole roots may yieldfungal endophytes which are not orchid mutualistic symbionts. To avoid “contamination” by these non-symbiotic fungi, DNA extraction and fungal isolation will be restricted to symbiotic structures (hyphalpelotons) isolated from orchid roots. To prevent the loss of symbiotic activity, the obtained fungal strains willbe cryopreserved. Generalist orchid symbiotic fungal strains are also available in the UNITO fungal collection,which could be used in case of failure of fungal isolation from the target orchid species.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation:UNITO

Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:Turin University will be responsible for the microbial community analysis. CRA will carry out chemical andmicro/mesofaunal analysis.

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Identification of orchid beneficial symbionts. A map of the most suitable sites for orchid reintroduction (as wellas potential threats based on soil-borne pathogen distribution). Symbiotic fungi to be used for orchidpropagation.

Indicators of progress:A number of indicators will be used to monitor the progress of the action:

- field log books reporting all details regarding the sampling of the sites: sampling date, samples locations byGPS, sampling protocols, samples conservation

- couriers documents proving the delivery of samples to project partners

- reports from each partner on the results of the analyses conducted

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How was the cost of the action estimated?:Estimated costs have been obtained based on pilot analyses on similar soils.

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ACTION A.4: Data analysis of the preliminary field surveys

Description (what, how, where and when):Preliminary surveys (plant community composition, checklist of orchid species, diversity of soil communities,soil chemical composition) will determine the number and location of the intervention sites. These surveys areexpected to generate a large amount of data that will be analyzing using state-of-the-art statisticaltechniques. Analytical work will be done by the personnel of the CRA-FSO; the results will be processed andedited as a technical report that will be essential for the elaboration of the Action Plan (action A5).

Reasons why this action is necessary:The results of this action will allow the selection of the intervention sites of the project based on criteria suchas orchid diversity, presence of rare species, distribution of soil-borne pathogens, soil nutrients amount anddistribution, and conservation status of the selected habitats.

Constraints and assumptions:

The results of the analytical work will depend on the quality of the sampling. It is assumed that all importantorchid sites are accesible and that diversity databases from the park habitats will be available for theanalyses


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):- A list of ecological indicators suitable to select the most valuable sites for the direct conservation /biodiversity actions.

- A map of the above- and belowground diversity in the selected habitats.

Indicators of progress:- Completion of the statistical analyses of the soil and plant data.

- Completion of the report draft with a complete interpretation of the results.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Previous experience on similar work.

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ACTION A.5: Elaboration of the action plan

Description (what, how, where and when):List of proposed actions and expected schedule (after the results of the analysis of preliminary data).

Reasons why this action is necessary:Basic document (milestone) for the following diversity actions.

Constraints and assumptions:The sites of the concrete actions should not interest private land but can interest border area


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:CRA will lead the elaboration of the action plan; Portofino will contribute with technical assistance.

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Selection of the final project sites.

Indicators of progress:List of the final project sites.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Previous experience on previous similar work.

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ACTION A.6: Artificial pollination and seed collection of relevant orchid species

Description (what, how, where and when):Field work to collect material for the ex situ conservation action. Hand pollination of the most relevantspecies will be done in the Park by taking the pollinia and inserting them in the female organ of a plantbelonging to another population of the same habitat. After different times (30-45 days, depending on species)pods and seeds will be collected at CRA in order to be sterilized and sowed.

Angiosperm pollen may be dispersed in different ways: single units, clumps, tetrads or multiples of tetrads.This variability is probably a consequence of pollination on a stigma; a long style; the increased number ofovules per ovary (in some cases, as in orchids, more than 10 000 ovules per ovary); and the evolution ofanimals as pollen vectors. The term PDU (pollen dispersal unit) was introduced by Pacini (1997) to indicatethe different ways in which pollen is presented to dispersal agents and whether it travels individually or as‘compound pollen’, united by means of viscous fluids (derived from tapetal activity/degeneration), viscinthreads or common walls (Hesse et al., 2000).

The number of grains per pollen dispersal unit and the number of ovules per ovary have genetic andecological consequences: the more grains/PDU, the greater the probability that seeds in a fruit will have thesame male parent; the greater the amount of pollen adhering to the stigma, the greater the malecompetition; and the greater the number of ovules/ovary, the greater the female competition, especially ifonly a few pollen grains adhere to the stigma (Pacini and Franchi, 1999). Monocot pollen exhibits many of thePDU types, but some, especially the different kinds of pollinia, are found exclusively in the family Orchidaceae(Pacini and Franchi, 2000).

The Euro-Mediterranean sub-tribe of Orchidinae is a monophyletic group encompassing several genera mostof which have a food- or sexually deceptive pollination strategy (Ackerman, 1986). The sexually deceptivepollination is typical of the genus Ophrys, whose flowers mimic the female of its own pollinator in shape andscent (Schiestl et al., 1999). Food-deceptive species, such as the widespread genera Orchis, Anacamptis andDactylorhiza, display large,showy flowers resembling those of rewarding species but that lack the energeticrewards (Dafni and Bernhardt, 1989). Another widespread, deceptive Mediterranean orchid is the genusSerapias, characterized by a different, less-understood pollination strategy usually defined as shelterdeception, since pollinators visit its flowers to rest or sleep (Dafni et al., 1981).

The wide occurrence of deceptive pollination among orchids seems to be a true enigma because it has beenproven that orchids have a low reproductive fitness due to pollinator limitation (Zimmerman and Aide, 1989).Deceptive species are exposed to a further decrease in fruit formation rates because lured pollinators tend tofly away and may learn to avoid these deceptive plants (Jersakovaet al., 2006). Thus, high pollen viabilitiesmay be suitable with regards to the rarity of pollinator visits and length of time necessary for transfer toconspecific stigma (Proctor, 1998). Limited information is available regarding the effects of protracted polliniaadhesion to the insect body on the production of fruit and seed sets (Luangsuwalai et al., 2008) and on therelationships between pollen viability and different pollination systems (Pacini and Hesse, 2002).

Reasons why this action is necessary:It will provide the material for the reintroduction in field of the most relevant species. Sexual handpropagation is also necessary because it conserves a richer genetic variability and provides certaintyof obtained seeds that we are going to sow, avoiding interspecific and intergeneric hybridization and self-pollination that reduces the number of viable seeds.

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It's important that the pollinated plants are not damaged by people and animals. It will therefore benecessary to provide artificial pollination of several specimens per species, isolate them with any fence andindicate them with the appropriate badges bearing the logo of the LIFE project.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation:UNIGE BOT

Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:Park of Portofino will partecipate with staff

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):A representative seed pool ready for collection and sowing in propagation laboratories.

Indicators of progress:Phenological indicators of flowering and pod ripening.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Previous work in semi-field conditions on similar species.

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - C1c


ACTION C.1: Asymbiotic seed germination

Description (what, how, where and when):Obtention of orchid seedlings in laboratory conditions to get material for reintroducing actions. Starts afterseed collection in April-May in 2016, 2017 and 2018 for the rest of species.

Sterile seeds will be grown under controlled conditions (artificial medium chemical composition, temperature,light intensity and photoperiod) in the micropropagation laboratories of the CRA-FSO in Sanremo.

The medium is MALMGREN, previously used for germination of terrestrial orchid seeds with good results.Some changes will be applied to the medium depending on species (coconut water, hormones etc..) assuggested by the literature and previous studies.

Germination occurs when embryo swollen and rhizoids are present.

The time of germination will depend on species and maturation of seeds (i.e. 20 days for immature seeds ofGymnadenia conopsea - more than 1 year for species that requires a cold period)

The general guidelines for this action will be taken from:

ISPRA, 2010 - The ex situ conservation of the biodiversity of wild and cultivated plant species in Italy. State ofthe art, problems and actions to be taken- Manuale 54/2010, ISPRA, Roma. (In italian: La conservazione exsitu della biodiversità delle specie vegetali spontanee e coltivate in Italia. Stato dell’arte, criticità e azioni dacompiere)

and specific publications and previous experience of the project partners.

Reasons why this action is necessary:Controlling germination conditions will improve the number of seedlings obtained. It willprovide the plants for the reinforcement actions later on third and fourth year of theproject.

Even if orchid seed germination is considered extremely difficult, as it is based on thesymbiosis with specific fungi, in the last few years protocols were established in artificialconditions to improve propagation (Yam T.W. and Arditti J., 2009. History of orchidpropagation: a mirror of the history of biotechnology. Plant Biotechnology Rep. 3.1-56).Asymbiotic orchid seed germination has been used for the production of commerciallyimportant tropical orchids, and has been shown to be an efficient tool for the production ofterrestrial orchids for conservation and reintroduction purposes as well (Kauth et al. 2006;McKendrick 1995, 1996a, b; Scade et al. 2006; Stenberg and Kane 1998; Stewart and Kane2006). Chemical composition of germination media is the key factor for seed developmentin terrestrial orchids (Dutra et al., 2007 Asymbiotic seed germination, in vitro seedlingdevelopment and greenhouse acclimatization of theatened terrestrial orchid Bletiapurpurea, DOI 10.1007/s11240-008-9382-0). Conservation of endangered or threatenedorchid species can benefit from germination and acclimatization protocols that focus onpropagating orchid seedlings for reinforcement.

Constraints and assumptions:It is assumed that each group of orchid species has different cultivation requirements for optimal germination.For this reason different sterilization and germination protocols (already known) will be used depending onthe ecological characteristics of the species.

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Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:University of Genoa will provide staff

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Controlling seed germination and protocorms development to obtain a pool of plants to be acclimatized invivo conditions.

Indicators of progress:Percentage of contamination; percentage of germination; No. of seedlings per species obtained in in vitroconditions.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Previous in vitro seed germination work on the same and similar species.

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ACTION C.2: Mycorrhization and greenhouse plant acclimatization

Description (what, how, where and when):Specific plant conditioning (mycorrhization and acclimatization in the laboratories and the greenhouses ofCRA-FSO) to improve the chances of succesful reintroduction in the field in spring 2017, 2018, 2019.

The orchid seedlings grown in vitro with well-formed tubers will be inoculated with species-specific strains ofmycorrhizal fungi, isolated in the orchid habitat during the preparatory phase, by the University of Turin.

It is well known in the literature that micropropagated plants have e better chance to survive in in vivoconditions, in the acclimatization phase, if mycorrhizal fungi are added to improve the root systemdevelopment.

Reasons why this action is necessary:To increase success chances of reintroduction actions in the field.

The ecology and reproductive biology of orchids are particularly sensitive to ecological changes, due to their dependence on particularenvironmental conditions and to their tight links with pollinating insects and to the presence of mycorhizal fungi. Orchid seed germinationis considered extremely difficult, as it is based on the symbiosis with specific fungi. The reproductive strategy of the orchids ischaracterised by their abundant production of small seeds, which provide an enormous capacity for dispersal but carries the cost of verylimited competitive ability in the juvenile phase: many European autochtonous orchids stabilise with success only in oligotrophicenvironments, characterised by high light intensity, a condition which is found mostly within Mesobromion grassland vegetation wherethe orchids are associated with short grasslands. Conversely the orchid species are supplanted by more powerfully growing plants atlocations with plenty of water and nutrients (LIFE2002/NAT/D/8461). Hence, the critical factors in the long-term maintenance of an orchidpopulation are not just seed production but also their chance of becoming established.

Constraints and assumptions:The succes of the action depends on the adaptability of the plant to greenhouse conditions and of the abilityto control these conditions to enhance plant survival. The action will be repeated on 2017 and 2018 assumingthat seeds has not been collected from all the representative species.


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:University of Turin will collaborate in the activity of mycorrhization

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):A significative batch of orchid seedlings properly conditioned for succesful survival in the field aftertransplantantation.

Indicators of progress:Improved growth rates and survival percentages of the mycorrhized in vitro derived seedling batch.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Previous experience on similar work with similar species.

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ACTION C.3: Soil feedback tests

Description (what, how, where and when):Tests of soil pathogenic load based on observed pathogen spatial variability and plant communitycomposition. Previous to plant reintroduction in Spring 2017, 2018, 2019.

Reasons why this action is necessary:Soil pathogenic distribution and their effect on plant performance (soil feedback) are important factors todetermine the exact location for replanting within each selected grassland. Soil feedback is expected tochange with time and as a consequence of the intervention actions (fencing, reaping, etc) scheduled duringthe project period (and afterwards).

Constraints and assumptions:Expected time changes and changes originated by fencing and reaping forces the reanalysis (as continuousmonitoring) of the soils of the selected sites to prevent errors in the choice of replanting points.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Obtention of valuable information to decide the location of replanting spots per species per site.

Indicators of progress:Time variability in plant-soil feedback relationships.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Previous pilot experiments with other group of plants in greenhouse conditions.

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ACTION C.4: Orchid reinforcement in the SCIs

Description (what, how, where and when):Mycorrhized healthy orchid plants cultured in vivo will be transferred to the selected seminatural grasslands,splitting the available material as a function of the suitability of the environment according to the informationgathered on potential community composition and plant-soil feedback, mainly during autumn but also inspring, depending on species and growth of seedlings. The work will be repeated/completed over time in2018, 2019 and 2020.

24-38 months after the first germination, all the seedlings will be transplanted to biodegradable pots, eachwith 4 bottom perforations (15 cm height x 10 cm diameter), filled with the same soil used before.

Trasplanting of the orchid material will be done directly by personal from the CRA and University of Genoa;technical and logistical assitance will be provided by the staff of the two parks following the guidelinesreported in the manual:

ISPRA, 2013 - Guidelines for translocation of Wild Plant species. 38/2013, ISPRA, Roma. (In italian: Lineeguida per la traslocazione di specie vegetali spontanee - ISTITUTO SUPERIORE PER LA PROTEZIONE E LARICERCAAMBIENTALE )

According to the recommendations ragarding conservation / biodiversityactions that involve reintroduction of species and community reinforcement,this action will be carried out under the following conditions:

1) The action of reinforcement of populations of orchids in situ has a highchance of success based on: a) mycorrhization of seedlings before transplantation in situ b) Preliminary analysis on the soils of the sites of transplantation

c) High number of plants transplanted in situ that will improve the fitnessof the natural population and their reproductive capacity d) Fencing of translocated plants

e) Periodic monitoring of transplanted plants

2) The translocated plants will be able to cope with new pathogen andstresses encountered at the destination site thanks to the preliminary analysisof soil and microbiome that will be made in situ and the risk of reintroducingnew pathogens in the destination area will be minimised by previous analysisand monitoring of seedlings in greenhouses.

3) Alternatives to translocation have been assessed as less effective. Havingregard to the continuing loss of biodiversity among the Orchidaceae of thePark of Portofino, the only action of fencing is not enough to ensure a betterfitness to the populations of orchids (For populations of Serapias neglecta andlingua, still represented by a high number of individuals, the ex situconservation will not be necessary.In this case only fencing, and then mowing,will be applied). A reinforcing action of the populations, however, wouldgreatly increase their reproductive capacity and consequently their fitness.

4) The action target areas will be fenced in order to eliminate the causesof decreasing number of the species.

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5) The wild populations will not be moved from their natural habitat. Onlyartificial pollination will be made on natural population and seedlings (in vitrogrown) will be translocated in their natural habitats.

6) The conditions necessary for the survival of a viable population of thespecies will be given to seedlings affter deflasking and in greenhousesacclimatization. Same conditions obtained from habitat analysis in order toaccostum seedlings to their natural habitats.

7) The action of reinforcement and reintroduction of the species in the Park ofPortofino is possible due to documented agreement between the LiguriaRegion and the Regional Park of Portofino.

8) The use of signs to indicate the reintroduced and transplanted plants willensure greater respect from the population and tourists.Plants will betranslocated in areas where there is a reasonable expectation that localacceptance can be achieved during the project.

9) These areas will be olny areas where the translocated plants wherepreviously present.

10) The reintroduction/translocation action will be regulated by 3 phases:

a) Previous analysis and monitoring of the habitat

b) Reintroduction/translocation of plants

c) Monitoring of the reintroduced/translocated plants

In order to avoid the failure of the reinforcement action, it will be done in 3different years. In this way we can collect data of first yearreintroduced/translocated plants after monitoring action, second yearreintroduced/translocated plants and monitoring and third yearreintroduced/translocated plants and monitoring. Also germplasm collectionwill be like a "bank" of biodiversity, ready to be used in case of necessity.

Reasons why this action is necessary:In situ Orchid transplanting will reinforce the recovering trend in the plantcommunities expected through the fencing and reaping actions (done by thePark).

Nowadays, many wild plant and animal species are at the brink of extinctionboth globally or locally. The IUCN Global Red List includes about 850 plant andanimal species that went extinct in the last 500 years. Moreover, following the2011 IUCN Red List of the European Union, 25,6% of plant speciesare threatened with extinction.

The best way to conserve species is represented by in situ conservationactions with the aim to save wild populations. However, the native habitats

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are often compromised and unable to support the species. As a consequence,new integrated in situ and ex situ conservation practices have been developedin the field of Conservation Biology. Among them, translocation, includingpopulation reinforcements, reintroductions and conservation introductions, arethe most important.

Constraints and assumptions:Weather conditions and genetic variability in the planting batch can influence population fitness. It isassumed that plant will perform adequately in the selected sites (plants may not perform equally in thedifferent habitats due to environmental variation, including variation in plant community composition). Duringmonitoring actions fitness of reintroduced plants will be controlled.


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:Transplanting of the orchid material will be done directly by personal from the CRA and University of Genoa;technical and logistical assitance will be provided by the staff of the Park of Portofino.

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):It is expected an improvement of the population numbers of the most sensitive species over time.

Indicators of progress:Plant survival and percentage of flowering plants (reproduction, fitness) in the next season.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Pilot translocation works done with similar species

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ACTION C.5: Germplasm collection

Description (what, how, where and when):Collection of pollen, seeds and other plant parts that may serve as starting material to perform pollinationsand obtain orchid seedlings. Done since the beginning of the project in case some orchid species are prone toextreme risks (failure of the conservation actions).

The action of protocorms conservation do not need to be founded by LIFE since CRA-VIV has already beenfounded by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture for the mainatinance of a collection of terrestrial orchids. Afterfive years of the project the species of the LIFEorchid project will be included in the CRA-VIV collection.

Conventional pollen storage methods involving low temperature and low humidity have been developed forseveral species (Yates et al., 1991). Cryopreservation of pollen has also been applied to different speciesusing different cryoprotectants (Parton et al., 2002; Tai and Miller, 2002;). General orchid pollen storagetechniques have also been described (Meeyot and Kamemoto, 1969; Seaton, 1994; Shijun, 1984); andcryopreservation has been reported in orchids for seeds, protocorms, zygotic embryos, pollinia, and cellsuspensions (Hirano et al., 2005; Thammasiri, 2000;). Only a few studies are today available oncryopreservation of orchid pollen and they are limited to in vitro germination or pollen viability percentagesafter cryostorage with no further evaluation of pollen siring ability.

Reasons why this action is necessary:A germplasm collection is a basic measure to guarantee future conservation actions in case of sudden(stochastical) environmental changes (predictable or not) and to favour the set up of similr projects in otherareas/regions using the collections as a bank to minimize preparatory costs. It serves also to preserve localvarietes hitherto unconsidered as valuable.

To date, current research involving pollen viability and germination has been evaluated in a relatively lownumber of orchid species. The study of different aspects of PDU in these species, as well as various biologicalaspects of dispersal of pollen en masse, has an important role in their reproduction. In particular, pollenhydration and pollen tube emergence are critical phases and pollen grains of orchids with pollinia germinateat least 24 h after pollination because the pollen grains/tetrads must swell and make space for the growth ofpollen tubes.

In addition, only a few studies are today available on cryopreservation of orchid pollen and they are limited toa few species. In vitro germination tests, using different methods, and controlled pollination experiments willbe performed to evaluate the duration of pollen viability and to improve the frequency of pollen germination.In addition test on in vitro germination and pollen viability percentages after pollen cryostorage will be alsoperformed.

Constraints and assumptions:The material may not be suitable for long term preservation depending on storing and culturing conditions invitro. It is assumed that none of the species will dissapear during the project duration.

It is assumed that each group of orchid species has different requirements to maintain pollen viability andpollen germination capability. For this reason different germination protocols (already known) will be used,depending on the ecological characteristics of the species.

Pollen storage is of great importance for plant breeding and production as well as an efficient means forconservation of plant genetic resources and germplasm preservation of rare or endangered species (Sacksand St. Clair, 1996). In orchids, pollen grains are fused into a structure called pollinium). Particularly for orchidbreeding and production, the proper storage of pollen may allow crosses between plants that show temporaland spatial separation between periods of sexual reproduction. A protocol for cryopreservation of orchidpollen will be prepared aiming to evaluate pollen viability by in situ germination through crosses, seedproduction, seed germination, and seedling growth and development after cryostorage.

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Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:University of Genoa will contribute with pollen and seed conservation actions

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):The set up of a complete germplasm collection that can be used in research and in future biodiversity actions.

The study will allow us to expand upon current information concerning the pollen viability and germination ofEuro-Mediterranean orchids characterized by different types of pollination strategies. In vitro germinationtests and controlled pollination experiments will evaluate the duration of pollen viability and the ability ofincreasingly aged pollen to produce fruits and seeds containing embryos. The new collected data will provideuseful information about the relationships between pollen viability and pollination strategies of selectedOrchidinae.

Indicators of progress:Number of species preserved in the germplasm collection. Viability and recovery percentages of the plantsrelated to the duration of the conservation actions.

Percentage of pollen viability; percentage of pollen germination; No. of seedlings per species obtained by invitro conditions. Evaluation of pollen viability by in situ germination through crosses, seed production, seedgermination, and seedling growth and development, also after cryostorage.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Previous experience on orchid germplasm collection (the role of CRA-VIV).

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ACTION C.6: Access limitation to the intervention sites

Description (what, how, where and when):One of the major threats that affect rare orchid species in the project area is the increasing human pressureon the area. The park attracts lots of visitors every year; some of them walk on the orchid sites and collectsome individuals, leading to a important cumulative effect on orchid populations. In addition, wild faunaactivities (mainly wild boars) have had an increasingly negative effect of rare orchid populations in the lastyears. In order to minimize these impacts, access limitation via fences is planned for the intervention sites.Fencing will be done with natural materials locally available in order to minimize transport costs and derivedCO2 emissions. The set up of the fences will start after the elaboration of the Action Plan, which will detail thenumber and location of the intervention sites.

Reasons why this action is necessary:This action is necessary to decrease external disturbance on the orchid communities subjected tointervention. It will complement the reinforcement / reintroduction actions preventing the destruction of thetransplanted seedlings.

Constraints and assumptions:Accesibility of the places will hamper the installation of the fences or will make them unnecessary. Workcarried out during the preparatory actions will determine the feasibility / need of the acces limitation works.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation:Portofino


Expected results (quantitative information when possible):- At least 90% reduction in human disturbance and ~75% reduction in wild boar incidence.

- A significant increase in orchid biomass and diversity in the next growing season.

Indicators of progress:- No. of sites with fences.

- Reduction in human and wild fauna incidence.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:

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ACTION C.7: Controlling plant communities through mowing

Description (what, how, where and when):Semi-natural grasslands significantly affected by land abadonment processes tend to show plant communitychanges caused by overspread of opportunistic species and natural reforestation. Under these circumstances,typical plant communities tend to disappear leading to important biodiversity losses. When grazing is notpossible due to socioeconomic constraints, regular mowing is one of the recommended solutions to keepsemi-natural grasslands under control. LIFEorchids plans mowing activities that consider the phenology of therare orchid species present in the grasslands. Mowing will be following standard protocols, but always afterthe orchid reproductive season, in order to minimize negative effects derived from damaging adultreproductive individuals. The frequency and intensity of these actions will be site dependent and will bedecided after the analysis of the results from the preparatory actions.

Reasons why this action is necessary:This action will mitigate habitat change, favouring the reinforcement of natural orchid populations that shouldfollow after the direct intervention actions C4 and C6.

Constraints and assumptions:Mowing activities will be limited by the conservation status of the orchid communities present in theintervention sites. Duration, location and intensity of the mowing work will be adjusted according to theconservation statusof the grasslands as well.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):- Significant restoration of the selected sites and their surroundings.

- Significant enhancement of orchid occurrence.

Indicators of progress:- Percentage of mowed area.

- Percentage of forested surrounding area acconditioned.


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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - C1d

D. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions

ACTION D.1: Monitoring transplanted species

Description (what, how, where and when):Monitoring and surveillance of the transplanted species in each selected site.

Reasons why this action is necessary:Data on monitoring activities will provide informations for a correct transplantig and conservation protocols.Monitoring is necessary to prevent plant harvesting by people and damage by wild boars activity.

Constraints and assumptions:External factors (climate, people, wild animals) could affect the monitoring data collection.


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:Portofino will coordinate the action. University of Genoa will provide staff for monitoring the sites ofintervention.

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):A complete and accurate annual database site-specific for the transplanted species. An increased number ofplants per population.

Indicators of progress:A number of indicators will be used to monitor the progress of the action:

- field log books reporting all details regarding the sampling of the sites: sampling date, samples locations byGPS, sampling protocols, samples conservation

- couriers documents proving the delivery of samples to project partners

- reports from each partner on the results of the analyses conducted.


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ACTION D.2: Monitoring plant community dynamics

Description (what, how, where and when):The LIFEorchids project stresses the importance of both the diversity of orchid communities (and theconservation of rare and / or endangered species) and the conservation of the habitats holding thosecommunities. In order to monitor the effect of the direct intervention actions on the selected habitats, thedynamics of their plant communities will be surveyed during the project life span. Community dynamics willbe assessed by the use of minimum sampling areas; such areas will be harvested in order to obtainquantitative data on species richness and diversity. For each selected site, three to five points will be sampledin order to generate data on the spatial distribution of the plant species. This type of sampling will beperformed in all the intervention sites ans also in control sites whre no conservation action has been carriedout. Plant surveys will be repeated every year in order to obtain a detailed picture of the effectiveness of thehabitat conservation actions.

Reasons why this action is necessary:Data from the monitoring activity will provide the necessary feedback to adjust direct interventions on thefield and to give priority to some of the species of the ex situ conservation actions. Due to the five-yearsduration of the project, it will provide evidence of the changes in community composition in the waypredicted/planned by the project.

Constraints and assumptions:A repeated and complete monitoring work implies a demanding taxonomic effort and a time-consuming fieldwork. It is assumed that there is the ability to manage and analyze the huge amount of data that is expectedto be generated.


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:CRA will perform surveillance and sampling; external persons will provide molecular evidence of changes inorchid community composition.

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):- A complete and accurate inventory of the plant composition of the seminatural grasslands and thesurrounding areas involved in the conservation actions and their changes during the project duration.

- A detailed map of the beta diversity of overall plant communities in rich orchid sites.

Indicators of progress:- No. of samples collected; no. of sampled sites.

- Taxonomic level achieved during the identification process.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Extrapolation for previous work on plant community characterization in the Natural Regional Park of theLigurian Alps.

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ACTION D.3: Monitoring soil communities

Description (what, how, where and when):A complete characterization of the soil properties of the intervention sites based on a soil ecology approach.

As specified under Action A3, the biological characterization will focus on orchid mycorrhizal fungi andmicro/mesofauna, by means of the same experimental approach.

Reasons why this action is necessary:Re-sampling will provide information on the persistence of the re-introduced mycorrhizal fungi, as well as thedynamics of both beneficial and deleterious soil organisms. In turn, this will yield feedback for the directinterventions and the replanting activities.

Constraints and assumptions:The same as for the preliminary chemical and biological analysis of soils (Action A3) and plant communitymonitoring (Action D2).

Beneficiary responsible for implementation:UNITO

Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:UNITO will characterize microbial communities; CRA will characterize phyto-chemical properties andmicro/mesofaunal communities.

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Useful soil database and developing of indicators for habitat restoration.

Indicators of progress:- No. of soil samples and habitats / sites sampled.

- Completion of the soil DNA amplification.

- Completion of the soil DNA sequencing.

- Completion of the metagenomic analysis.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:Previous experience on field sampling and soil characterization.

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ACTION D.4: Monitoring ecosystem services and community stability

Description (what, how, where and when):Besides visual assessment, ecosystem functioning is a reliable indicator of the conservation status of specifichabitats and ecosystems. Ecosystem functioning refers to the quantitative and qualitative output of naturalprocesses that take place at the habitat and ecosystem levels. Useful services provided by these processescan be impaired due to disturbance, leading to environmental problems with negative effects on economyand human welfare. Main examples of ecosystem services are primary productivity, decomposition processes,pollination, air / water purification and reduction of soil pathogenicity. Action D4 will focus on monitoringthese services (excluding air / water purification) in order to assess the cumulative impact of the directintervention actions in the project area.

Action D4 will be carried out in a recurrent way for three consecutive years (2017-2019). All field-monitoringactions (D1 - D4) will be performed simulatneously in order to optimize sampling efforts. Data on primaryproductivity will be provided by samples taken during action D2 (monitoring plant community dynamics). Inthe same way, soil sampling activities will be shared with action D3 (monitoring soil communities). Primaryproductivity will be measured as abovegroung plant biomass, which will be estimated by harvesting smallreplicated sampling areas across selected sites. Decomposition will be assessed by soil basal respiration,substrate induced respiration (SIR) and nitrification. Pollination will be assessed by measuring three differentparameters: number and diversity of insect pollinators, emission of specific volatile substances that act aspollinator attractans and effective orchid pollination success. Soil pathogeneicity will be estimated by thenumber and diversity of soil-borne pathogens in the project area. Information on the occurrence of soil-bornepathogens will be obtained using metagenomic methods (see action D3). Changes in orchid communitystability (one of the main topics of the project, see objective No. 1) will be assessed by combining informationprovided by two diferent parameters: orchid biomass production and orchid community diversity. Severalecological studies (both observational and empirical) provide evidence about the significant relationshipbetween the diversity and productivity of grassland ecosystems and their stability.

Ecological stability refers to the ability of habitats (or whole ecosystems) to either resist the effect ofdisturbance events (resistance) or to recover from those events (resilience). Grassland habitats areparticularly resilient; semi-natural grasslands are actually the result of recurrent mowing and / or grazing andtherefore very well adapted to these kind of disturbances. Because of the recurrent character of thismonitoring action, gradual increases in orchid diversity (and plant diversity in general) and biomass afterplanned mowing events will be regarded as indicative of an increase in community stability. Accordingly, suchhabitat response will be also considered as indicative of the ability of the habitat to cope with otherenvironmental disturbances such as drought, fire, overgrazing, etc.

Orchid biomass will be estimated by harvesting the aboveground part of the plants prior to yearly mowingevents. This kind of sampling will take place in small replicated areas as it was done for the assessment oftotal primary production. When harvesting is not possible due to conservation constraints (in rare orchidspecies), biomass will be estimated based on plant size. Orchid diversity will be characterized via molecularanalysis. The results will be delivered as a technical report on the effect of conservation / biodiversity actionson the functioning and stability of the selected habitats in the project area.

Reasons why this action is necessary:Action D4 will provide evidence about the effect of the planned conservation / biodiversity actions on thestability of rich orchid communities in the project area. This action is directly related to objective No. 1 (seeproject objectives) and can be considered as a summary of the environmental impact of the project.

Constraints and assumptions:The same for plant community monitoring.



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CRA will lead the part corresponding to decomposition and evolution of soil feedback (improvement of soilquality). UNIGE the part of pollinators and external assistance will analyze the volatile fraction of the flowers

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Data showing the evolution of the effect of the intervention actions.

Indicators of progress:For each year, these are the main indicators of progress:

- No. of samples collected per site and number of sites that have been sampled.

- No. of soil, plant and pollinator samples analyzed.

- Completion of the draft with the main results of the monitoring survey.


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ACTION D.5: Socioeconomic impact of the project

Description (what, how, where and when):Estimation of the social and economic impact of the proposed actions. May include a preliminary study toknow the main socioeconomic interests more representative of the main stakeholders (mention study area,methodology and expected results: circular area graph of areas of benefit).

Reasons why this action is necessary:To evaluate the socio-economic impact of the project actions on the local population.

Constraints and assumptions:The complex cooperation of different local public and private bodies, for collecting socio-economic data.


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:Portofino will coordinate the socioeconomic monitoring of the project.

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):The assumption that projects concerning biodiversity conservation have also a positive economic impact onthe main stakeholders.

Indicators of progress:Increasing number of tourists visiting the area and the Park.


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E. Public awareness and dissemination of results

ACTION E.1: Website

Description (what, how, where and when):Create a website dedicated to the description of the project, with the LIFE logo and Natura 2000 logo and fulldetails of its objectives, actions, progress and results.

Update the website regularly during the project period and maintain it on-line during 5 years after the projectend.

Improve the website with Web accessibility studies, refering to the inclusive practice of removing barriers thatprevent access to websites by people with disabilities.

Optimize the visibility of the website appliying an internet marketing strategy (e.s. SEO Search engineoptimization).

Reasons why this action is necessary:The action is needed to publicize the project and to update interested parties on the project objectives,results achieved and on the events that will occur within the project (conferences, seminars, etc. ..).

Constraints and assumptions:Not all members of the staff may be able to manage the website. For this reason they will be given specialtraining in web design.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Creation of a website dedicated to the project. High number of visitors. Public awareness. Advertisement ofthe project and its results.

Indicators of progress:-The increasing number of visitors

-The increasing number of downloads from LIFEorchids website.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:The budget for the action includes the cost of staff member of the procurement, preservation and updating ofinformation to be included within the site (also 5 years after LIFE), 2 mirroring computers. It also provided acost in external assistance for the technical implementation of the website.

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Dissemination actionsName of the picture:

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ACTION E.2: Scientific publications

Description (what, how, where and when):Direct interventions into the selected habitats are expected to cause changes in biodiversity dynamics thatare of general interest for the fields of ecology and biodiversity and distributions.

Reasons why this action is necessary:The importance of publishing scientific articles is related to the dissemination actions which have theobjective to increase public interest about biodiversity conservation.

Constraints and assumptions:

Delay in data analysis and article submission and scientific articles rejected for publication. The articles will berevised and submitted again.


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:University of Genoa and University of Turin will publish scientific articles about their roles and results inconservation actions

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):- Three scientific articles regarding biodiversity dynamics under management conditions.

- Delivering of an open database of biodiversity distribution in a mediterranean environment.

Indicators of progress:- No. of manuscript submissions.

- No. of citations and downloads per article.

How was the cost of the action estimated?:The cost estimation of this action was estimated based on previous experiences of the researchers involved.

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ACTION E.3: Kick-off meeting

Description (what, how, where and when):Starting meeting of the project, to present the main objectives and the expected functioning of the activities.

Reasons why this action is necessary:The meeting is necessary to share with the entire team the vision of the project

Constraints and assumptions:No constrains are expected.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):A better organization of the project plan.

Indicators of progress:Technical report of the main objectives and the expected functioning of the activities.


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ACTION E.4: First annual conference

Description (what, how, where and when):General meeting to show and discuss the first achievements of the project up to date (2017). It will be held atthe University of Genoa park as the partner that provides a suitable environment for the discussion ofenvironmental policies and diversity data. Meeting activities will include oral presentations of the resultsachieved by the different associated beneficiaries and contractors involved in the ongoing work; aninteractive exposition including documentaries and presentations for non-specialist audiences; presentation ofone of the general reports of the project. This will constitute the second general meeting after the start of theproject (July 2015).

Reasons why this action is necessary:The conference will imply a significant effort to present the results obtained during the previous 12 months. Itis the most important project event of the year from the organizational and informational point of view.

Constraints and assumptions:The quality of the conference will depend on the initial success of the conservation / diversity actions carriedout since the very start of the project. It is assumed that the project actions will have a deep impact both inthe conservation status of the target habitats and in the biodiversity of the orchid communities subjected todirect interventions. As a consequence, the conference is expected to show relevant results in the context ofthe LIFE programme.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation:UNIGE BOT


Expected results (quantitative information when possible):- Significant assistance.

- Opening of the first interactive exposition of orchid biodiversity.

Indicators of progress:- Media announcement of the conference.

- Opening of the conference and of the interactive exposition.


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ACTION E.5: Second annual conference

Description (what, how, where and when):General meeting to show and discuss the main achievements of the project up to date (2018). It will be heldat Portofino Park as the partner that provides the orchid communities and habitats of the project. This willallow to have a direct look to the intervention sites as part of the conference activities. Such activities willinclude oral presentations of the results achieved by the different associated beneficiaries and contractorsinvolved in the ongoing work; an interactive exposition including documentaries and presentations for non-specialist audiences; presentation of one of the general reports of the project. This will constitute the thirdgeneral meeting after the start of the project (July 2015).

Reasons why this action is necessary:As for the first annual conference (2017), the conference will imply a significant effort to present the resultsobtained during the previous 12 months. It is the most important project event of the year from theorganizational and informational point of view.

Constraints and assumptions:The quality of the conference will depend on the success of the conservation / diversity actions carried outsince the previous conference. It is assumed that the project actions will have a deep impact both in theconservation status of the target habitats and in the biodiversity of the orchid communities subjected todirect interventions. As a consequence, the conference is expected to show relevant results in the context ofthe LIFE programme.




- Opening of the second interactive exposition of orchid biodiversity.




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ACTION E.6: Layman's report

Description (what, how, where and when):The Layman's report will summarize the rationale, methods and results of the LIFEorchids project in a wayunderstable to non-specialist audiences, including stakeholders involved in policy-making.

Reasons why this action is necessary:The Layman's report is one of the main mechanisms to ensure wide broadcasting of the project results.

Constraints and assumptions:No constraints are expected during the development of this action.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):- Innovative synthesis of the pros and cons of combined ex situ and in situ actions approach as a result of theprocessing of the experience obtained through the implementation of the project.

- A significant increase in the audience indicators related to the project (No. of visits to the website,downloads, etc.).

Indicators of progress:- Completion of the draft.

- Edition of the report.

- No. of requested copies / downloads of the report.


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ACTION E.7: After Life

Description (what, how, where and when):Portofino will be responsible for the After Life communication plan for a long term sustainability of the projectactions with the help of the other partners. Mentioned as "long term sustainability of the project and itsactions".

Reasons why this action is necessary:This action is necessary to garantee an "after life" after the final deadline of the project to all the goodpractices achieved during the five years of the project. In particular the action plans for biodiversityconservation have to be continued within the Park.

Constraints and assumptions:The problems of an after LIFEorchids managing of biodiversity conservation could be related to the lack offunds and personnel. New proposals for long term conservation actions will be submitted for funding.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):The production of an After Life plan shared by stakeholders and other associations, to keep biodiversityconservation actions alive.

Indicators of progress:The number of associations, public bodies, schools and private persons involved in After Life actions.


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ACTION E.8: Third annual conference

Description (what, how, where and when):The third general meeting of the project will offer an advance perspective of the results achieved by theproject after four years of work. It will be held by the Regional Park of Portofino, as the most appropriatelocation to have a direct look to the results of the direct interventions in the field.

Reasons why this action is necessary:The conference will imply a significant effort to present the results obtained during the previous 12 months. Itis the most important project event of the year from the organizational and informational point of view.

Constraints and assumptions:The quality of the conference will depend on the success of the conservation / diversity actions carried outsince the previous conference. It is assumed that the project actions will have a deep impact both in theconservation status of the target habitas and in the biodiversity of the orchid communities subjected to directinterventions. As a consequence, the conference is expected to show relevant results in the context of theLIFE programme.




- Opening of the third interactive exposition of orchid biodiversity.




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ACTION E.9: Education and training (schools)

Description (what, how, where and when):Visits and demonstrations for school children. The Park of Portofino offers to students who wish to make afield trip inside the park, a selection of specially designed itineraries.

1) From Santa Margherita to Portofino

Easy hike through olive groves, chestnut trees, flower gardens and magnificent views. From Santa MargheritaLigure to reach the Valley of the Mills and Mill Gassetta. Here, in the picnic area adjacent happen lunchtimepicnic. Continue on foot to Portofino. Return by boat to Santa Margherita Ligure.

2) From Portofino Vetta to Santa Margherita Ligure

Hike, almost all downhill, which leads to discover the different environments of the Park of Portofino.From Portofino Vetta begins the path that leads, including mixed forests, holm oaks and chestnut, until theMill Gassetta where it will, in the adjacent area, the park picnic. Continuation, including the terraced stripsplanted with olive trees, up to Santa Margherita Ligure.

3) Loop route in the Park of Portofino

Meet with our guide to Recco, climb to Portofino Vetta where starts a loop hike that leads to the discovery ofthe different environments of the Park of Portofino. From the cool, damp forests of the slope to the north, tothe Mediterranean and the beautiful panoramic views of the sea side. Packed Lunches at New Traffic Light,where it's possible to see a beautiful view of the coast of Portofino. Return to Portofino Vetta.

And other itineraries.

Reasons why this action is necessary:It's important to teach children the value of Biodiversity and to be respectfull with the environment.

Constraints and assumptions:Trips will be related to weather. They may be posticipate in case of rainy days. Anyway they will be maderegurarly and every year.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Increasing of biodiversity-interested children number. Increasing of the number of classes that will partecipateto the trips.

It's expected an average number of 8 classes (primary and secondary school) every year.

Indicators of progress:Increasing of number of classes that will partecipate.

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How was the cost of the action estimated?:The cost of the action was estimated based on previous experience of school training.

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ACTION E.10: Notice boards, brochures, documentaries

Description (what, how, where and when):Notice boards and brochures and other types of audiovisual communication about the project.

Reasons why this action is necessary:The creation of notice boards, brochures and other dissemination materials has, in this project, crucialimportance. The main purpose of the project is, in fact, to increase public awareness and educate the publicto respect nature and the local biodiversity. Notice boards will be positioned close to the sites oftransplantation in order to inform tourists about the species involved in the project and their importance inthe habitat.

Constraints and assumptions:It may take a regular maintenance work on the notice boards to cope with any acts of vandalism.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):We expect a large number of tourists interested in notice boards and brochures with a consequent increase inpublic awareness.

Indicators of progress:A progress indicator of this dissemination action could be a growing number of website visitors "LIFEorchids"directed here from the link on notice boards and brochures.


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ACTION E.11: Education and training (universities, farmers, public and private bodies)

Description (what, how, where and when):Every year it will be organized a free one-week course on biodiversity valorization for a limited number ofuniversity students, biodiversity specialist and general public.

The course will be divided in frontal lessons on Biodiversity and Conservation aspects and visit of laboratoriesand greenhouses connected with the project. Universities, CRA researchers and external experts will takelessons. The course will be held in June and promotional and scientific material will be given to participants

Reasons why this action is necessary:To show to the scientific world stages of conservation actions; to educate youth and the public to respectbiodiversity; to teach young students of universities the conservation actions of pant biodiversity.

Constraints and assumptions:The absence of external experts will not influence the success of the course. The course programme will beadvertised on websites of all the beneficiary partners and supporters.


Responsibilities in case several beneficiaries are implicated:In collaboration with the other partners (all).

Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Educated people about the problems of loss of Biodiversity; increasing of public interest about conservationactions and resulting in less collection of plants from natural sites for ornamental porpouses.

Indicators of progress:Partecipation in the courses of an increasing number of people

How was the cost of the action estimated?:The cost was estimated based on previous experience of conferences and seminars

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ACTION E.12: Final conference

Description (what, how, where and when):Final conference in Imperia, organized by the CRA, scientific responsible of the project.

Reasons why this action is necessary:To share the results of the project with other partners and public audience.

Constraints and assumptions:No constraints are expected for this action.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):High number of participants at the conference.

Indicators of progress:Number of participants will be a good indicator of progress and success of the action.


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ACTION E.13: General communication

Description (what, how, where and when):General communication activities will constitute the main way project news and events will be announced tostakeholders and general public. This will be achieved mainly through information posting in the projectwebsite, tv and radio podcasts, press releases and social media. General communication will organize thedelivering of information from the project in a continuous way, trying to offer updated contents andannouncements of future activities. For this purpose, every year the project coordinator will prepare aCommunication plan in which organize communication events toghether with the associated beneficiaries, inorder to reach both specific and general audiences and to favour participation in the project events open tothe public.

Reasons why this action is necessary:This will be a coordinating action necessary to deliver updated information about the general progress of theproject. This will include a general introduction to the project, the delivering of information materials aboutLIFEorchids regarding the different phases of the project, and the dissemination of the main results of theactions. All information materials will be easily reognazible as part of the LIFEorchids project (characteristicgraphic design and project logo). Both technical and non-technical language will be used depending on thetarget audience in order to favour feedback interactions between project organizers, stakeholders andgeneral public.

Constraints and assumptions:Informative activities will be constrained mainly by the success in the implementation of the actions. In orderto guarantee a continuous flow of information towards the public, actions progress will be displayed usingstate-of-the-art information technologies.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible): - Frequent press releases (at least two per action, ~70 issues) covering the ongoing activities of the project. - Set up of a Newsletter system to offer detailed information about the events covered by the press releases. - Design and release of at least one short audiovisual report per action per year. - Organization of five interactive expositions about the project activities / results (to be linked to the annualgeneral meetings).

Indicators of progress: - Frequency of press releases and newsletters. - Increase in audience share (estimated through feedback interactions with the public). - Increase in the No. of attendants to education and training activities (and other public-related activities).


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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - C1f

F. Project management and monitoring of project progress

ACTION F.1: Scientific coordination

Description (what, how, where and when):Project coordination will allow the implementation of activites where two or more partners are involved inorder to save resources and time, and the distribution of tasks related to the technical and financialmanagement of the project. This will be achieved through an organizational structure characterized by thepresence of 1) a full-time scientific / technical coordinator and 2) a general project coordinator withadministrative and financial functions (see organigram). These two types of coordinators will operate fromCRA-FSO (Sanremo) and Portofino, respectively. Project coordinators will control the functioning and cost ofevery activity and decide, after consultation with the rest of the beneficiaries involved, changes andadjustments in the implementation of the actions.

Reasons why this action is necessary:The coordination of the project is necessary to ensure the efficient organization of internal meetings with theassociated beneficiaries and to monitor the progress (at the technical level) of the project actions. Thisincludes all the decissions necessary to boost the development of the actions and to adjust the amount ofresources needed to achieve the main goals of the project.

Constraints and assumptions:Actions leading to milestones (e.g., action A5: elaboration of the action plan) are expected to increasecoordinating work due to the neccesity of adjustments / changes in the actions to be developed afterwards.These constraints will be minimized by the cyclic structure of the intervention and monitoring actions. Suchstructure allows for quite a lot of flexibility regarding the identity of the species used, the number of times theaction involves the same species and the intensity of the reintroduction / reinforcement / mowing / fencingactivities.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):- Implementation of all the planned actions according to the timetable.

- Production of results and deliverables according to the project proposal.

- Budget use and financial functioning according to LIFE program requests.

Indicators of progress:- No. of internal and general meetings carried out.

- No. of actions carried out.

- No. of deliverables produced.

- No. of expected milestones achieved.


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Organization_chartName of the picture:

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Management actionsName of the picture:

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ACTION F.2: Administrative and financial management

Description (what, how, where and when):Administrative management.

Reasons why this action is necessary:This action is fundamental for the execution of the project.

Constraints and assumptions:Administrative and financial management will be time consuming and particular care is required.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):To meet deadlines and procedures for administrative and financial management of the project.

Indicators of progress:Administrative reports and correct administrative and financial menagement will be Indicators of progress.


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ACTION F.3: Project reporting

Description (what, how, where and when):Five main reports summarizing the annual achievements of the LIFEorchids project are planned to bedelivered short after each annual general meeting (actions E3 - E5, E8 and E12). These reports will includeboth technical and financial issues related to the development of the project. Each report will evaluate thepercentage of objectives that have been achieved, the general performance of the different partnersregarding the different types of actions in which they have participated and the general prospects of futurefor the project. For the final report, an overall assessment of the balance between expected and obtainedresults will be included. Reporting activities will also include the draft of the Layman's report as well astechnical and internal reports planned in the actions.

Reasons why this action is necessary:Project reporting is a mandatory action for the financial completion of the project under the LIFE programme.In addition, it constitutes a significant processing work necessary for the set up of additional activities or forthe adjustment of some actions in order to better achieve the main goals of the project.

Constraints and assumptions:The draft of reports is expected to depend on factors limiting the organizational ability of the projectcoordinators. It is assumed that the project proposal plans accurate working plans in order to avoid lastminute submission of information for the completion of the reports.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):- Five general reports with detailed and accurate information on the project progress.

- At least 2 internal reports per year about the results of working meetings related with the implementation(also at the economical level) of the actions.

Indicators of progress:For each year, these are the main indicators of progress:

- Submission of the technical data from the different partners.

- Submission of the financial data from the different partners.

- Completion of the draft.


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ACTION F.4: Audit

Description (what, how, where and when):An external entity to the beneficiary will be responsible for Portofino Park, via public tender for the audit(external audit). The assignment will consist of the validation of expenditure and auditing of administrativedocuments to be sent to the European Commission on the format provided during the presentation of thebalance (last annuities). The action will take place in Liguria, in the last stages of the project.

This completes: a) verification of the implementation of the project on the basis of an examination of theconsistency of the financing agreement (in addition to any additional agreements) and the documents of theproject, b) the verification of the eligibility of the costs claimed on the basis of the criteria illustrated by theguidelines provided by the Commission; c) verification of the statement of all receipts of the project, d)verification of the source of funding of the participants. The auditor carries out the examination on the basisof a representative study and interviewing the coordinating beneficiary.

There are numerous auditors with proven experience in European projects.

Reasons why this action is necessary:The financial control of each step ensures compliance with the rules imposed and enables rapid response topossible financial problems

Constraints and assumptions:There may be required slight variations in the distribution of the budget of every partner.



Expected results (quantitative information when possible):Sound management of the project LlFE;

Compliance with legislation and national accounting rules;

Production of forms to complete financial reporting in compliance with the interim and final deadlinesrequired.

Indicators of progress:Midterm and final reports

How was the cost of the action estimated?:The budget for the action was estimated by calculating the cost of the staff of the Park of Portofinoresponsible for managing the project. Allocating money to external assistance for the accounting of theproject.

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DELIVERABLE PRODUCTS OF THE PROJECT

Name of the DeliverableNumber of the

associated actionDeadline

Report with a list of selected sites A 1 30/10/2015

1st Communication plan E 13 15/12/2015

Online activation of the Website E 1 21/12/2015

Updated list of orchids in Portofino Park (picturebook)

A 2 15/01/2016

Project initiation document E 3 10/03/2016

List of symbioic fungi to be used for terrestrialorchid propagation

A 3 31/03/2016

Satement of work A 5 30/06/2016

Technical report on plant and soil biodiversity inselected habitats

A 4 30/06/2016

1st Progress report F 3 15/07/2016

Annual list of species included in germplasmcollection

C 5 20/07/2016

2nd Communication plan E 13 15/12/2016

10 minutes videos recording orchid handpollination in the field

A 6 15/05/2017

1st site-specific databases of transplanted plants D 1 15/06/2017

Progress status report E 4 30/06/2017

2nd Progress report F 3 14/07/2017


C 5 20/07/2017

3rd Communication plan E 13 15/12/2017

2nd site-specific databases of transplantedplants

D 1 15/06/2018

Midterm Report F 3 13/07/2018

Studies to know the main socioeconomicinterests of the stakeholders

D 5 13/07/2018


C 5 20/07/2018

Poster with good quality photographs of orchidgreenhouse acclimatization using mycorrhizas

C 2 20/11/2018

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4th Communication plan E 13 14/12/2018

3rd site-specific databases of transplantedplants

D 1 15/06/2019

4th Progress Report F 3 15/07/2019

Database of biodiversity distribution in amediterranean environment

E 2 15/07/2019

Progress status report E 8 15/07/2019


C 5 20/07/2019

10 minutes videos of orchid transplanting in situ C 4 15/10/2019

List of orchid species germinated in vitro C 1 15/10/2019

Poster of good quality photographs of orchidasymbiotic seed germination

C 1 15/10/2019

Technical report on the impact of biodiversityactions on community stability and ecosystemservices

D 4 15/11/2019

5th Communication plan E 13 13/12/2019

Database of the soil biodiversity at the RegionalPark of Portofino

D 3 01/02/2020

Conference reports E 12 14/06/2020

Layman's report E 6 01/07/2020

Audit report F 4 15/07/2020

Technical report on changes in ecosystemservices in orchid sites under management

D 4 31/07/2020

Technical report on the dynamics of plantcommunities in rich orchid sites

D 2 31/07/2020

Final Report F 3 15/09/2020

MILESTONES OF THE PROJECT

DeadlineName of the MilestoneNumber of the

associated action

Start of the field activities F 1 23/07/2015

Beginning of the Website Creation E 1 30/07/2015

End of the Website creation E 1 20/12/2015

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Project biodiversity action list and schedule A 5 30/06/2016

Start of the ex situ conservation activities F 1 01/07/2016

Start of the fencing works C 6 01/07/2016

Start of the mowing activities C 7 01/07/2016

First year seed collection A 6 20/07/2016

First year set of sowed Orchids C 1 15/10/2016

Second general meeting after the start of theproject (2015)

E 4 30/06/2017

Third general meeting of the project after itsstart in 2015

E 5 30/06/2017

Second year seed collection A 6 20/07/2017

Second year set of sowed Orchids C 1 13/10/2017

First set of orchids in greenhouse C 2 20/11/2017

Assignment external audit F 4 15/05/2018

Delivering of Midterm Report F 3 13/07/2018

Third year seed collection A 6 20/07/2018

Third year set of sowed Orchids C 1 15/10/2018

Second set of orchids in greenhouse C 2 20/11/2018

Forth general meeting after the start of theproject

E 8 15/07/2019

Progress report E 2 15/07/2019

Third set of orchids in greenhouse C 2 20/07/2019

All the seedlings translocated in their naturalhabitats

C 4 28/11/2019

End of the project activities E 12 14/06/2020

Final report D 5 15/09/2020

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ACTIVITY REPORTS FORESEEN

Please indicate the deadlines for the following reports:• Progress Reports n°1, n°2 etc. (if any; to ensure that the delay between consecutive reportsdoes not exceed 18 months)• Mid-term Report with payment request (only for project longer than 24 months)

• Final Report with payment request (to be delivered within 3 months after the end of theproject)

Type of report Deadline

Progress report 15/07/2016


Midterm report 13/07/2018


Final report 15/09/2020

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TIMETABLE

Action

Actionnumbe Name of the action

2015

I II III IV

2016

I II III IV

2017

I II III IV

2018

I II III IV

2019

I II III IV

2020

I II III IV

A. Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plansA.1 Selecting survey and intervention areas in the SCIs involved

A.2 Collecting data and information of orchid communities in the SCIsinvolved

A.3 Chemical and biological analysis of soilsA.4 Data analysis of the preliminary field surveysA.5 Elaboration of the action planA.6 Artificial pollination and seed collection of relevant orchid species

B. Purchase/lease of land and/or compensation payments for use rightsC. Concrete conservation actions

C.1 Asymbiotic seed germinationC.2 Mycorrhization and greenhouse plant acclimatizationC.3 Soil feedback testsC.4 Orchid reinforcement in the SCIsC.5 Germplasm collectionC.6 Access limitation to the intervention sitesC.7 Controlling plant communities through mowing

D. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory)D.1 Monitoring transplanted speciesD.2 Monitoring plant community dynamicsD.3 Monitoring soil communitiesD.4 Monitoring ecosystem services and community stabilityD.5 Socioeconomic impact of the project

E. Public awareness and dissemination of results (obligatory)E.1 WebsiteE.2 Scientific publicationsE.3 Kick-off meeting

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E.4 First annual conferenceE.5 Second annual conferenceE.6 Layman's reportE.7 After LifeE.8 Third annual conferenceE.9 Education and training (schools)

E.10 Notice boards, brochures, documentariesE.11 Education and training (universities, farmers, public and private bodies)E.12 Final conferenceE.13 General communication

F. Project management and monitoring of project progress (obligatory)F.1 Scientific coordinationF.2 Administrative and financial managementF.3 Project reportingF.4 Audit

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FINANCIAL APPLICATION FORMS

Part F – financial information


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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 R1 - Budget

Total cost in € % of total eligiblecosts

Eligible Cost in €

1. Personnel 1,541,879 75.37 %

43,7002. Travel and subsistence 2.14 %

170,0063. External assistance 8.31 %

4. Durable goods

0.00 %04.a Infrastructure 0

13,000 0.64 %13,0004.b Equipment

5. Land purchase / long-term lease /one-offcompensation payments

0 0.00 %

Co-financers contribution

In € % of total eligiblecosts

Contribution breakdown % of TOTAL

55.65 %Requested EU contribution 55.65 %1,138,549

11.89 %Coordinating Beneficiary's contribution 243,280

664,008 32.46 %Associated Beneficiaries' contribution

0 0.00 %

2,045,837TOTAL 100.00 %

Budget breakdown cost categories

6. Consumables 8.38 %

07. Other Costs 0.00 %

105,7528. Overheads 5.17 %

2,045,8372,045,837 100 %TOTAL

171,500

4.c Prototype 00 0.00 %

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - R2 - Costs per Action

Cost category in Euro

Project action 1. Personnel 2. Travel3. Externalassistance

4.a Infra-structure

4.b Equipment 7. Other TOTAL5. Land6.

Consumables

A1 Selecting survey and interventionareas in the SCIs involved

22,107 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22,107

A2 Collecting data and information oforchid communities in the SCIsinvolved

54,121 2,500 10,000 0 6,500 0 4,000 0 77,121

A3 Chemical and biological analysisof soils

114,333 1,450 14,000 0 0 0 17,000 0 146,783

A4 Data analysis of the preliminaryfield surveys

12,682 0 0 0 0 0 2,000 0 14,682

A5 Elaboration of the action plan 43,268 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 43,268

A6 Artificial pollination and seedcollection of relevant orchid species

29,135 3,000 0 0 0 0 12,000 0 44,135

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C1 Asymbiotic seed germination 51,784 2,500 0 0 0 0 16,000 0 70,284

C2 Mycorrhization and greenhouseplant acclimatization

101,554 0 0 0 0 0 9,000 0 110,554

C3 Soil feedback tests 33,480 800 0 0 0 0 2,000 0 36,280

C4 Orchid reinforcement in the SCIs 106,375 4,100 0 0 0 0 19,000 0 129,475

C5 Germplasm collection 43,272 500 0 0 0 0 10,000 0 53,772

C6 Access limitation to theintervention sites

26,360 0 80,000 0 0 0 0 0 106,360

C7 Controlling plant communitiesthrough mowing

18,910 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18,910

D1 Monitoring transplanted species 80,056 2,550 0 0 1,000 0 0 0 83,606

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D2 Monitoring plant communitydynamics

19,028 1,000 5,000 0 0 0 500 0 25,528

D3 Monitoring soil communities 104,508 2,500 26,000 0 0 0 24,500 0 157,508

D4 Monitoring ecosystem servicesand community stability

41,148 2,000 5,006 0 0 0 13,500 0 61,654

D5 Socioeconomic impact of theproject

30,910 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30,910

E1 Website 38,220 2,000 20,000 0 2,000 0 0 0 62,220

E2 Scientific publications 82,804 3,500 0 0 0 0 0 0 86,304

E3 Kick-off meeting 990 1,250 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,240

E4 First annual conference 7,230 0 0 0 1,500 0 5,000 0 13,730

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E5 Second annual conference 1,650 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,650

E6 Layman's report 11,550 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11,550

E7 After Life 4,003 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,003

E8 Third annual conference 1,326 0 0 0 0 0 3,000 0 4,326

E9 Education and training (schools) 18,354 500 0 0 2,000 0 0 0 20,854

E10 Notice boards, brochures,documentaries

34,240 500 0 0 0 0 10,000 0 44,740

E11 Education and training(universities, farmers, public andprivate bodies)

82,845 4,550 0 0 0 0 13,000 0 100,395

E12 Final conference 20,401 2,000 0 0 0 0 1,000 0 23,401

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E13 General communication 24,720 1,500 0 0 0 0 10,000 0 36,220

F1 Scientific coordination 225,000 2,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 227,000

F2 Administrative and financialmanagement

40,720 3,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 43,720

F3 Project reporting 14,795 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14,795

F4 Audit 0 0 10,000 0 0 0 0 0 10,000

Overheads 105,752

TOTAL 1,541,879 43,700 170,006 0 13,000 0 171,500 0 2,045,837

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - FC

Coordinating Beneficiary's contributionCountry code Beneficiary short name Total costs of the

actions in €(includingoverheads)

Beneficiary's owncontribution in €

Amount of EUcontribution

requested in €

Associated Beneficiaries' contributionCountry code Beneficiary short name Total costs of the

actions in €(includingoverheads)

Associatedbeneficiary's owncontribution in €

Amount of EUcontribution

requested in €

IT CRA 381,638 457,306838,944

IT UNIGE BOT 127,303 152,541279,844

IT UNITO 155,067 232,600387,667

TOTAL Associated Beneficiaries

TOTAL All Beneficiaries

Co-financers contributionAmount of co-financing in €Co-financer's name

TOTAL

IT Portofino 243,280 296,102539,382

0

664,008 842,447

907,288 1,138,5492,045,837

1,506,455

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - F1

Direct Personnel costs

Calculation => A B A x B

Beneficiaryshort name

Actionnumber Type of contract Category/Role in the project

Daily rate(rounded to

the nearest €)Number of

person-daysDirect personnel

costs (€)Portofino A 1 Permanent staff or

civil servantPark technical officer 181 10 1,810

Portofino A 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant

Park guard 130 13 1,690


Park guard 130 20 2,600


Park technical officer 181 25 4,525


Park director/administrative coordinator 330 20 6,600


Park guard 128 5 640


Park guard 121 23 2,783


Park guard 128 20 2,560

Portofino C 4 Permanent staff orcivil servant

Park guard 121 25 3,025


Park guard 128 25 3,200

Portofino C 4 Additional staff Naturalist/emplojed in field actions 250 105 26,250

Portofino C 6 Additional staff Administrative staff/collaborator 125 50 6,250


Park guard 130 10 1,300



Portofino C 7 Additional staff Administrative staff/collaborator 125 48 6,000


Park guard 128 20 2,560


Park guard 130 10 1,300



Portofino D 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant

Park guard 121 25 3,025

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costs (€)Portofino D 1 Permanent staff or

civil servantPark technical officer 112 50 5,600


Park guard 117 13 1,521


Park guard 130 20 2,600

Portofino D 1 Additional staff Naturalist/emplojed in field actions 250 105 26,250





Portofino E 3 Permanent staff orcivil servant

Park director/administrative coordinator 330 3 990








Park guard 128 3 384


Park administrative officer 187 7 1,309


Park director/administrative coordinator 330 3 990


Park technical officer 112 3 336

Portofino E 9 Additional staff Naturalist/emplojed in education actions 250 35 8,750









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costs (€)Portofino E 10 Additional staff Naturalist/emplojed in education actions 250 56 14,000









Portofino F 2 Permanent staff orcivil servant








UNIGE BOT A 1 Additional staff Researcher 235 17 3,995

UNIGE BOT A 2 Additional staff Research fellow 92 35 3,220

UNIGE BOT A 2 Permanent staff orcivil servant

Researcher 304 32 9,728

UNIGE BOT A 6 Additional staff Research fellow 92 100 9,200

UNIGE BOT A 6 Permanent staff orcivil servant


UNIGE BOT C 1 Additional staff Research fellow 92 100 9,200


UNIGE BOT C 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant





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costs (€)UNIGE BOT C 5 Additional staff Research fellow 92 50 4,600





UNIGE BOT D 1 Additional staff Research fellow 92 100 9,200


UNIGE BOT D 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant







UNIGE BOT E 2 Permanent staff orcivil servant




UNIGE BOT E 2 Additional staff Research fellow 92 50 4,600






UNIGE BOT E 4 Additional staff Research fellow 92 10 920






CRA A 1 Additional staff Research fellow/ collaborator 250 8 2,000

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costs (€)CRA A 1 Permanent staff or

civil servantTechnician 242 18 4,356

CRA A 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant



Organizer of the intervention plan 258 22 5,676


Data gathering and analysis/Researcher 334 72 24,048



Chemical researcher 363 66 23,958


Biological analysis reasercher 258 83 21,414








CRA C 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant



Technician 242 26 6,292


Researcher (Plant acclimatization) 258 64 16,512

CRA C 2 Additional staff Research fellow/ collaborator 250 40 10,000




Researcher (Mycorrhization) 258 56 14,448



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costs (€)CRA C 3 Permanent staff or

civil servantTechnician 242 36 8,712




Researcher (Action coordinator) 334 69 23,046



CRA C 5 Additional staff Research fellow/ collaborator 250 28 7,000



CRA D 2 Additional staff Research fellow/ collaborator 250 20 5,000

CRA D 2 Permanent staff orcivil servant




CRA D 4 Additional staff Research fellow/ collaborator 250 20 5,000





CRA E 1 Additional staff Technical collaborator 200 75 15,000

CRA E 1 Permanent staff orcivil servant

Researcher (Webmaster) 258 90 23,220

CRA E 2 Additional staff Technical collaborator 200 50 10,000





CRA E 11 Additional staff Research fellow/ collaborator 250 20 5,000



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costs (€)CRA E 11 Permanent staff or

civil servantResearcher 334 20 6,680

CRA E 12 Additional staff Research fellow/ collaborator 200 20 4,000





CRA F 1 Additional staff Scientific coordinator 250 900 225,000

UNITO A 3 Permanent staff orcivil servant


UNITO A 3 Additional staff Researcher 160 156 24,960

UNITO A 3 Additional staff Researcher 160 78 12,480


Professor 496 15 7,440




Professor 281 51 14,331

UNITO C 2 Permanent staff orcivil servant


UNITO C 2 Additional staff Researcher 160 131 20,960





UNITO D 3 Permanent staff orcivil servant


UNITO D 3 Additional staff Researcher 160 208 33,280





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costs (€)UNITO D 3 Permanent staff or

civil servantProfessor 281 50 14,050

UNITO D 3 Additional staff Researcher 160 208 33,280

UNITO E 2 Permanent staff orcivil servant



Professor 281 60 16,860


Professor 496 22 10,912






Professor 496 28 13,888


Technician 155 5 775









TOTAL => 6,983 1,541,879

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Travel and subsistence costs

Calculation => A B A + B


Act

ion

nu

mb

er

Destination (From / To) Ou

tsid

e E

U(Y

ES

/ N

O)

Purpose of travel/number of trips and persons travelling,duration of trip (in days)

Travel costs(€)

Subsistencecosts (€)

Total travel andsubsistence

costs (€)

Portofino A 2 Santa MargheritaLigure/Park of Portofino

No For collection of data/ 26 trips of full day 400 100 500

Portofino A 6 Santa MargheritaLigure/Park of Portofino

No For pollination and collection of seeds / 26 trips of full day 400 100 500

Portofino C 4 Santa MargheritaLigure/Park of Portofino

No For reintroduction of seedlings / 30 trips of full day 450 150 600

Portofino D 1 Santa MargheritaLigure/Park of Portofino

No For monitoring reintroduced seedlings / 90 trips of full day 1,000 350 1,350

Portofino E 3 From CRA, UNIGE,UNITO to Portofino

No kick-off meeting 1,000 250 1,250

Portofino E 9 Santa MargheritaLigure/Park of Portofino

No To show the Park of Portofino to schools/ 4 trips every yearfor 4 years. full day

400 100 500

Portofino E 10 Santa MargheritaLigure/Park of Portofino

No To show the Park of Portofino for documentaries/ 4 tripsevery year for 4 years. full day

400 100 500

Portofino E 11 Santa MargheritaLigure/ CRA (Sanremo)

No For educational courses /2 trips every year of the duration of5 days for 2 persons

1,000 800 1,800

Portofino E 13 Santa MargheritaLigure/ CRA (Sanremo)

No For general communication /2 trips every, year full day trips.for 2 persons

1,100 400 1,500

Portofino F 2 Santa MargheritaLigure/ CRA (Sanremo)

No Meetings with the scientific coordinator and other partnersfor administrative reasons / 5 trips every years of 2-3 daysfor 1 person

2,300 700 3,000

UNIGE BOT A 2 Genova/Portofino Park No For collection of data/ 26 trips of full day 400 100 500

UNIGE BOT A 6 Genova/Portofino Park No For pollination and collection of seeds / 128 trips of full day 2,100 400 2,500

UNIGE BOT C 1 Genova/CRA (Sanremo) No For sowing/20 trips for 1-2 weeks every year for 1 person 1,800 700 2,500

UNIGE BOT C 4 Genova/Portofino Park No for transplanting seedlings. 25 trips of full day for 1 person 800 200 1,000

UNIGE BOT C 5 Genova/PortofinoRegional Park and CRA

No To take and move germ plasm collection/ 10 trips full dayfor 1 person

400 100 500

UNIGE BOT D 1 Genova/PortofinoRegional Park

No For monitoring transplanted seedlings. 55 trips full day for 1person

950 250 1,200

UNIGE BOT D 4 Genova/PortofinoRegional Park

No To take data for monitoring ecosystem services. 32 trips fullday for 1 person

650 150 800

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Travel and subsistence costs

Calculation => A B A + B


Act

ion

nu

mb

er

Destination (From / To) Ou

tsid

e E

U(Y

ES

/ N

O)

Purpose of travel/number of trips and persons travelling,duration of trip (in days)

Travel costs(€)

Subsistencecosts (€)

Total travel andsubsistence

costs (€)

UNIGE BOT E 11 Genova/CRA (Sanremo) No Training at CRA / 10 trips, 1 person, 4-5 days/trip 300 700 1,000

CRA A 2 CRA (Sanremo) /Portofino Regional Park

No Collection data of orchid communities/ 26 trips full day for 1person

1,100 400 1,500

CRA A 3 CRA (Sanremo) /Porofino Regional Park

No Analysis of soils in orchid communities/ 15 trips full day for 1person

500 300 800

CRA C 3 CRA (Sanremo) /Porofino Regional Park

No Feedback tests on so i ls in re introduced orchidcommunit ies/15 tr ips fu l l day for 1 person

500 300 800

CRA C 4 CRA (Sanremo) /Porofino Regional Park

No Reintroduction in situ / 25 trips full day for 1 person 1,500 1,000 2,500

CRA D 2 CRA (Sanremo) /Portofino Regional Park

No Monitoring/ 25 trips full day for 1 person 800 200 1,000

CRA D 3 CRA (Sanremo) /Ligurian Alps Park andCRA (Sanremo) /Porofino Regional Park

No Monitoring / 26 trips full day for 1 person 850 350 1,200

CRA D 4 CRA (Sanremo) /Portofino Regional Park

No Monitoring / 26 trips full day for 1 person 850 350 1,200

CRA E 1 CRA (Palermo) / CRA(Sanremo)

No Updating of staff about website 1,550 450 2,000

CRA E 11 CRA No Training / 25 trips full day for 2 persons 800 200 1,000

CRA E 12 CRA/Imperia No Conference/ 3 trips flu day for 5 persons 500 500 1,000

CRA F 1 CRA(Sanremo) /Portofino regional Park

No Coordination 1,600 400 2,000

UNITO A 3 UNITO (Torino) /Portofino Regional Park

No Collection of samples for soil analysis (1 trip, 2 persons, 2days/trip)

250 400 650

UNITO D 3 UNITO (Torino) /Portofino Regional Park

No Collection of samples for soil analysis (2 trips, 2 persons, 2days/trip)

500 800 1,300

UNITO E 2 UNITO (Torino) / UE No Presentation of results at scientific meetings/congresses (2trips, 1 person, 4 days/trip)

1,000 2,500 3,500

UNITO E 11 UNITO (Torino) / Italy No Training outside Torino (5 trips, 1 person, 1-2 days/trip) 250 500 750

UNITO E 12 UNITO (Torino) /Imperia

No Final conference (1 trip, 4 persons, 3 days/trip) 250 750 1,000

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TOTAL => 28,650 15,050 43,700


External assistance costs


Actionnumber Procedure Description Costs (€)

Portofino C 6 Direct order Access limitation to the intervention sites by the building of fences with km 0 wood 80,000

Portofino F 4 Direct order External Audit 10,000

CRA A 2 Direct order Molecular and chemical analysis 10,000

CRA D 2 Direct order Molecular analysis on reintroduced plants 5,000

CRA D 4 Direct order Chemical analysis of the volatile fraction on reintroduced plants flowers 5,006

CRA E 1 Direct order Assistance for the creation and maintenance of the website 20,000

UNITO A 3 Direct order Illumina MiSeq sequencing 14,000

UNITO D 3 Direct order Illumina MiSeq sequencing 26,000

TOTAL => 170,006

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - F4b

Durable goods: equipment costs


Actionnumber Procedure Description

Actual cost(€)

Depreciation(eligible cost) (€)

Portofino A 2 Direct order GIS 500 500

Portofino A 2 Direct order Digital camera for collecting data 500 500

Portofino A 2 Direct order 2 Laptops for database 3,000 3,000

Portofino D 1 Direct order Digital camera 500 500

Portofino D 1 Direct order Tablet 500 500

Portofino E 9 Direct order 2 Computers 2,000 2,000

UNIGE BOT A 2 Direct order 1 Computer 1,000 1,000

UNIGE BOT A 2 Direct order 1 digital camera 500 500

UNIGE BOT E 4 Direct order Laptop 1,000 1,000

UNIGE BOT E 4 Direct order Projector 500 500

CRA A 2 Direct order 2 Digital cameras for collecting data in the two Parks 1,000 1,000

CRA E 1 Direct order 2 mirroring computers for website 2,000 2,000

TOTAL => 13,000 13,000

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Consumables


Actionnumbe Procedure Description Costs (€)

Portofino A 2 Direct order Bags and Pots for collecting data 2,000

Portofino A 6 Direct order Sticks for pollination and tags to signal pollinated plants 10,000

Portofino C 4 Direct order Tags to signal reintroduced seedlings 19,000

Portofino E 8 Direct order Tags, bookmarks, brochures, USBs and other material for participants 3,000

Portofino E 10 Direct order Notice boards, brochures, posters and other material 10,000

Portofino E 11 Direct order Folders, recycled pens and tags for participants 5,000

Portofino E 13 Direct order Other Posters, brochures and promotional material 10,000

UNIGE BOT A 6 Direct order Bags, notebooks for data, 2,000

UNIGE BOT C 1 Direct order Tags with LIFEorchids logo and species picture and name 3,000

UNIGE BOT C 5 Direct order Microscope slides, reagents, vassels 10,000

UNIGE BOT D 4 Direct order Tags, vessels, reagents 9,000

UNIGE BOT E 4 Direct order Tags, bookmarks, brochures, USBs and other material for participants 5,000

UNIGE BOT E 11 Direct order Tags, bookmarks, brochures, USBs and other material for participants 3,000

CRA A 2 Direct order Material for preliminary analysis (reagents, lab consumables etc..) 2,000

CRA A 3 Direct order Reagents and lab consumables 2,000

CRA A 4 Direct order Sofware and maintainance for statistical analysis 2,000

CRA C 1 Direct order Reagents for media preparation, Petri dishes, De Witt tubes, parafilm and otherconsumables

13,000

CRA C 2 Direct order Pots, potting soil (with perlite, pumice etc..), plateau, protective nets etc.. 6,000

CRA C 3 Direct order Pots and bags for samples, reagents 2,000

CRA D 2 Direct order Pots and bags for samples, reagents 500

CRA D 3 Direct order Pots and bags for samples, reagents 4,500

CRA D 4 Direct order Pots and bags for samples, reagents 4,500

CRA E 11 Direct order Materials for education and training courses 5,000

CRA E 12 Direct order Material for participants of the final conference 1,000

UNITO A 3 Direct order Pots and bags for samples, reagents and other consumables for DNA extraction, PCRamplification, quantification and purification, and fungal isolation

15,000

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Consumables


Actionnumbe Procedure Description Costs (€)

UNITO C 2 Direct order Reagents and other consumables for fungal culturing and mycorrhization 3,000

UNITO D 3 Direct order Pots and bags for samples, reagents and other consumables for DNA extraction, PCRamplification, quantification and purification

20,000

TOTAL => 171,500

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Overheads

Beneficiary short name Total direct costs of the project in € Overhead amount (€)

12,499UNIGE BOT 267,345

39,282CRA 799,662

25,596UNITO 362,071

28,375Portofino 511,007

105,7521,940,085

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LIFE14 NAT/IT/000286 - Attachments

Proposal attachments

Included?

Attachment title Attachment type Yes Nopublic body declarationPublic body declaration

other documentPortofino Park President ID

other documentProject Title

other documentUNITO Declaration VAT

other documentAgreement between Liguria region and Parks (Regional law 29-2001) part 1

other documentAgreement between Liguria region and Parks (Regional law 29-2001) part 2

other documentProject logo LIFEorchids

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