Summary

An old clay pit site in Romedenne is a mosaic of wastelands, ponds and small woods that has become a nature reserve, creating a kind of paradise for amphibian and reptile species. The site was included in the Natura 2000 network as it has become a habitat of several rare and endangered species.

An environmental NGO that manages the site used EAFRD support to carry out several activities to preserve and enhance the site including: the deforestation of the edges pf ponds; clearing bushes and shrubs; setting up an enclosure for grazing and building fences to keep away boars; building up piles of wood that favour microhabitats and the wintering of herpetofauna; digging ponds and creating additional glades.

Results

Maintenance of the 3 ha site and it extension and improved management.

Maintenance of two meadows and their extension by 0.4 ha.

Preservation of the good condition of the network of 10 ponds with four more being dug after the project ended;

Rejuvenation of populations of three rare plants (Nitella opaca, Utricularia australis and Hydrocharis morsus ranae) due to the clearing of the embankment.