Green Infrastructures for increasing biodiversity in Agro Pontino and Maltese rural areas
(LIFE17 NAT/IT/000619)
In line with the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and with the Communication from the Commission on Green Infrastructures, LIFE GREENCHANGE intends to contribute to halting the loss of biodiversity and to enhance the ecological value of the agricultural systems of the Agro Pontino and of the northern region of Malta, by planning and implementing Green Infrastructures and multifunctional actions in rural, semi-natural and natural areas.
General objective
The general objective of the project is to preserve biodiversity and enhance the ecological value of the agro-ecosystems of Agro Pontino and Maltese rural areas, by supporting the establishment of decision making processes and governance mechanisms based on the assessment of ecosystem services, and by launching the definition of demonstrative actions aimed at implementing green infrastructures.
Specific objectives
Specific objectives for the same areas are the following:
- Integrating ecological functionality and connectivity goals for agro-ecosystems – based on the acknowledgement and assessment of ecosystem services – into public and private decision-making processes, through the involvement of public entities, management bodies and farmers in the implementation and management of green infrastructures.
- Enhancing ecological functionality and connectivity in pilot agricultural areas, by launching the implementation of green infrastructures and the creation of new core and buffer areas and of ecological corridors among them, thus contributing also to the implementation of the Habitat and Birds Directives.
- Mitigating the environmental impact of farming activities, especially in areas of high ecological value, and increasing their contribution to the maintenance and enhancement of ecosystem services, through actions of dissemination, training and direct involvement of farmers, and the improvement of the social awareness on this issue.
