Lake of Frassino Environmental Restoration Enhances Faunal Habitats
Anecological oasis of great environmental value, especially from a faunal perspective, to the point of being designated as a Site of Community Importance (SCI), Lake of Frassino, a protected area of the Province of Verona, is now becoming also more aesthetically appealing. Protecting nature, according to experts from the provincial administration and specifically from the Department of Faunal and Environmental Protection represented by Camillo Filati, does not necessarily mean simply imposing restrictions and bans, but also actively managing natural dynamics by accelerating the rebalancing within each ecosystem or halting phenomena of degradation and disturbance to these balances.
In keeping with this approach, which can be defined as active environmental management, an important intervention has been carried out, already planned for some time, to improve the vegetational arrangement of the banks and immediate surroundings of Lake of Frassino. The goal is not so much to enhance the external appearance broadly, but to improve the structure and botanical-vegetational composition of the various faunal habitats found within the riparian areas around the lake.
Improvement interventions and collaboration
The project, which is carried out in collaboration with the Comune di Peschiera and will unfold over two additional phases, primarily aims to revitalize the reed bed located on the northern shore of the lake adjacent to the railway line. This area is currently suffering from a progressive infilling process that leads to the expansion of ruderal and bush vegetation at the expense of the marsh reed itself.
In this initial phase, priority was given to reducing the volume of bramble thickets choking the lake’s shores, which prevent the renewal of shrub and tree species and create an impenetrable barrier that hinders access and enjoyment of this biotope. Developed by the regional company Veneto Agricoltura, which is also tasked with directing and executing the work, this environmental maintenance and improvement project, as explained by experts from the provincial administration, represents an investment of resources not only for the conservation of the natural environment but also with the expectation of a positive secondary effect on the local economy.
«This intervention,» emphasizes Bruno Mastini, the official responsible for protected areas of the Province, «will also enhance the aesthetic aspect of the oasis by opening what could be called a sort of circum-lake pathway, which will be especially useful for future naturalistic-educational programs focused on this biotope, as well as for studying and observing the fauna.» Naturally, this will be a gentle cultural utilization with minimal environmental impact, and with the consent of the landowners of the surrounding area. Therefore, access will be limited to a few visitors per visit, with the number and date determined in advance by volunteers from the conservation association responsible for promoting the site’s cultural significance.
