Divača, 21 June 2024 – We are pleased to announce the launch of the project “The crayfish A. pallipes in the area between Italy and Slovenia: sentinel of the ecosystem” (PALLIPES), co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia 2021-2027 programme. The project started on 22 April 2024 and will run until 21 April 2026.
The PALLIPES project focuses on the protection and conservation of populations of A. pallipes, a freshwater crayfish inhabiting the border area between Italy and Slovenia.
With this project, the partners aim to develop joint monitoring and protection approaches to preserve a native species of great ecological value, as it is in fact an indicator of environmental quality. It will also implement actions to restore polluted sites and eradicate invasive alien species, using green infrastructure networks. The innovation of the project lies above all in its approach. Until now, there has never been coordinated cross-border monitoring and modelling of crayfish populations in relation to the environment in which they live and the ecological pressures they face.
Aims of the projects: The main objective is to improve cross-border cooperation for environmentally sound conservation of crayfish by anticipating future scenarios related to climate change. Project outcomes include innovative joint approaches focusing on A. pallipes, a biological indicator of ecosystem conservation status. Environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring of native and non-native target species will be carried out.
Long-term impacts: The creation of these solutions and the achievement of the results will have positive long-term impacts on local communities and the environmental characteristics of the area. In addition, the project will promote sustainable resource management and biodiversity protection, thus contributing to improving economic and environmental conditions in the region.
Project partners: The PALLIPES project envisages the creation of a cross-border partnership consisting of several organisations, including:
- the Park Škocjanske jame (Slovenia), as lead partner
- the University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences (Italy)
- the municipality Komunala Ilirska Bistrica d.o.o. (Slovenia)
- the Ente Tutela Patrimonio Ittico della regione Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy)
First operational meeting: On Friday 21 June 2024, the first operational meeting of the project took place in Divača. Representatives of the Biodiversity Service of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Municipality of Dolina/San Dorligo Della Valle, both associated partners, and the project partners attended to discuss the first activities and plans for the implementation of the project.
The PALLIPES project represents an extraordinary opportunity for the protection and conservation of this key species in the Italian-Slovenian border area and for the initiation of integrated and joint approaches between the two countries, working towards the harmonisation of practises for the protection of threatened species. Using innovative approaches, digitalization and green infrastructure, the project will contribute to long-term environmental protection and improvement of ecological and social conditions in the region.
The meeting was also an excellent opportunity to visit the Reka river in a sustainable way with rafting rafts, create cohesion among the project partners and taste typical Slovenian cuisine from the Brkini region!
