Good Practice - Project
Protecting herds and flocks from predators in a national park in central Italy (Marche region)
Non-productive investments allow shepherds to carry out breeding activities in harmony with wildlife conservation efforts in a national park.
General information
RDP Priority
- P4. Ecosystems management
RDP Focus Area
- 4A: Biodiversity restoration, preservation & enhancement
RDP Measure
- M04: Investments in physical assets
Beneficiary type
- Farmer / land manager
Summary
Working as a shepherd in a vast national park that is home to several packs of wolves is not an easy business. The Scolastici farm, based in the Apennine mountains of central Italy (Marche region), needed to manage this problem without resorting to methods or tools that would harm protected wildlife. RDP M 4.4. allowed the Scolastici farm to opt for the most appropriate solution, funding the purchase of incredibly effective fences that can be easily installed and moved to wherever they are needed on the land. The results are quite remarkable, and this innovative tool is now being adopted by other shepherds who operate in the park.
Results
- Thanks to the new fence, wolf attacks in the area have decreased by nearly 70%, a staggering result that exceeds expectations.
- The shepherds are now better able to monitor the health of each flock/herd in its entirety, enabling them to carry out their duties more swiftly and effectively.
Promoter
Raimondo Scolastici
Funding
RDP support: 12 870 (EUR)
EAFRD: 5 549 (EUR)
National/Regional: 7 321 (EUR)
Ressources
Liens
Context
The Solastici Family manages a 200-hectare farm in the Apennine mountains, straddling the border between the Marche and Umbria regions (central Italy). Their livestock, which includes some 200 sheep, 40 cattle, and the occasional donkey, graze freely across this rugged landscape. The fact that part of the farm sits within the Sibillini National Park - a biodiverse and protected area - presents some specific challenges to their way of life.
Until 2021, one of the family’s most pressing concerns was the frequent and vicious attacks by the local wolf packs. These incursions caused significant distress not only emotionally but also economically, resulting in injured or dead animals and then a lengthy bureaucratic process to claim compensation for what seemed to be an inevitable cycle of loss. The situation created ongoing frustration and vulnerability in the farm’s daily operations.
Relief came when the Marche Region introduced a Rural Development Programme (RDP) measure that aimed to fund innovative, non-lethal fencing solutions to better protect livestock. Immediately recognising the potential of this opportunity, the family submitted an application, and the support they received marked a real turning point in their efforts to coexist with local wildlife. They are now able to safeguard their animals while still preserving traditional and sustainable farming practices.
Objectives
The aims of this project were to:
- install innovative fences for protecting herds and flocks in strategic grazing places.
- improve the overall management of the farm’s breeding by creating a safer environment.
- enable alignment between commercial breeding and wildlife conservation activities.
- increase the farm’s income by mitigating the risk of livestock loss.
Activities
The project focused on developing and implementing an innovative fencing solution tailored to the unique needs of livestock farming in mountainous terrain. The key activities included:
- designing a new type of metal fence, specifically adapted for use in the rugged landscape of the Apennine mountains. Portability and ease-of-installation were essential factors for the new fence, given the need to move and adjust fencing in remote, uneven areas.
- purchasing and installing 235 metres of fencing in selected locations. These included high-risk areas such as watering points frequently used by sheep and cattle during the summer months- sites that are particularly vulnerable to attacks.
- strategic placement aimed to maximise protection without disturbing natural grazing.
- monitoring the effectiveness of the fences over time, both in terms of preventing attacks but also in terms of maintaining the health and safety of the livestock. This included observing behaviours, stress levels and tracking incidents of predation.
Main results
- The newly designed fence is composed of compact modular units measuring 1 x 2 metres, which can be quickly connected as needed and anchored to the ground using standard steel pickets. These units are significantly smaller and more manageable than conventional fencing panels (typically 2 x 2 or 2 x 3 metres), making them easier to install, dismantle, and transport - even with a standard pick-up truck. The system can also be electrified using a portable solar photovoltaic panel installed nearby, providing an adaptable and eco-friendly power source. This flexibility allows the fencing to be deployed around high-risk areas, such as near watering points, encouraging livestock to remain in easily monitored zones. In cases of night-time attacks, for instance, injured animals can be identified and treated more quickly by the shepherd.
- Since the implementation of this fencing system, wolf attacks in the area have decreased by nearly 70%. As a result, the overall health and safety of the herd have significantly improved. This has led to better production outcomes, including higher-quality pecorino cheese - a traditional and much-loved product of the region - and reduced losses in meat sales.
Key lessons
- The Marche Region managed RDP Measure 4.4 - Support for non-productive investments linked to the achievement of agri-environment-climate objectives very effectively: as well as providing 100% funding for the new fences, project owners quickly received their repayment (in one month).
- Initially, the Scolastici family also thought of purchasing some new guard dogs, but later they opted for managing their own dog group, as the breed - Maremmano - was already adapted to their specific context. For example, as hiking tourism increases in the park area, these shepherd guard dogs are intelligent enough to resist approaching and bothering pet dogs. The family would welcome an RDP payment for maintaining local breeds of guard dogs, which is a more sustainable approach than the purchase of new ones.
We are part of a small group of shepherds (some 15 people) that live in the national park, mainly young people who want to improve their skills and ease co-existence with the wildlife present in the area. We are open to testing new technologies and to diversifying our usual activities: we are currently thinking of using GPS radio-collars in the future, in order to better track the animals’ movements and routes.
Marco Scolastici