What's life Eremita?

EREMITA project aims at esnuring the best conditions for the conservation of the residual populations of two species of saproxylic insects of priority interest (Osmoderma eremita and Rosalia alpina) and of two species of lentic and lotic water insects (Graphoderus bilineatus and Coenagrion mercuriale castellanii), by acting on the threat factors of anthropic origin.

The project will last 5 years (1^st January 2016 – 31^st December 2020).

The general objective will be achieved through the implementation of concrete conservation actions, to be carried out in an integrated and coordinated way among all the project partners, throughout the whole Emilia-Romagna territory. The specific objectives of these actions are:

• to improve the knowledge on the presence/absence, distribution and size of the residual populations of the 4 target insect species in the whole project area;
• to increase the availability of adequate habitats for the residual populations, also improving their connections (corridors);
• to elaborate a strategy for the long-term management of the target species, foreseeing the elaboration of management plans and specific conservation measures;
• to create from scratch a regional network of specific habitats able to host the 4 target species;
• to enhance virtuous behaviours in the interest groups, compatible with the protection needs of the species;
• to develop and disseminate solution for the active involvement of the farmers, the managers and users of the forestry areas included in the Natura 2000 network, and stakeholders in general.

Concrete conservation actions, such as making habitat trees available, restoring forest micro-habitats, restoring lotic and lentic waters habitats, captive breeding, re-stocking bred animals and relocating captured individuals, will not only facilitate the maintenance of vital populations, able to support the passage of individuals to neighbouring areas, but it will also represent an absolute innovation in the national framework, thus attaining an important experimental value.

The European Commission approved the project in May 2015, for a total budget of € 2.126.987,00 of which 1.268.863,00 from European co-financing (774.862,00 € allocated for the activities of Emilia-Romagna Region as the coordinating beneficiary).

On September the 1^st 2015 Emilia-Romagna Region, being the coordinating beneficiary, signed the Grant Agreement.

On November the 12nd 2015 the regional government acknowledged the project with Deliberation n. 1733  and approved the scheme of the Partnership Agreement to be signed by all the project partners: Ente di Gestione per i Parchi e la Biodiversità Romagna, Emilia Centrale, Emilia Occidentale, Emilia Orientale, Ente Parco Nazionale dell’Appennino Tosco-Emiliano e Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona e Campigna.