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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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TUSCAN ISLANDS |
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| General Description | The Tuscan Islands Biosphere Reserve consists of an archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea composed of seven main islands and a few isolated islets. It represents an interesting system in the Mediterranean Region encompassing a wide range of geological, geomorphological and biological diversity. Islands are covered by sclerophyllous evergreen forest, Mediterranean pine woods, maquis, scrub and hardwood forest with deciduous oaks and chestnuts. The recent development of tourism has created an enormous pressure on the natural environment: consequently certain terrestrial and marine areas and some islands are protected within a National Park, particularly with a view to conserving rare and endemic species. Today (2004) more than 30,000 people live permanently in the archipelago and depend mostly on services related to tourism, with relatively little employment in agriculture and fisheries. Projects are planned to introduce renewable energy resources, to bring innovations to the agricultural sector and to enhance the availability of water by means of alternative technologies. Current research focuses on geology and geomorphology, corals and fish distribution, monitoring of sea water quality, restoration of populations of rare species, such as the Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and bats (Rhinolophus euryale). The Biosphere Reserve will enable to coordinate the work of the National Park with action to promote sustainable development and environmental protection in the entire archipelago. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Evergreen Mediterranean vegetation types ; coastal and marine systems | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Evergreen sclerophyll forest, forest and plantations of Mediterranean pine trees, evergreen maquis and scrubs, herbaceous vegetation, forests of hardwood trees with deciduous oaks and chestnuts. Coastal halophyte vegetation | |||
| Location |
Latitude : 43°25’04’’ N and longitude: 09°55’02’’ E 42°13’42’’ N and 11°06’36’’E |
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| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 264,800 | |||
| Core area(s) | Terrestrial zone: 1,200 Marine zone: 3,000 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | Terrestrial zone: 16,400 Marine zone: 58,300 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | Terrestrial zone: 10,900 Marine zone: 175,000 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0 - 1,018 m | |||
| Year designated | 2003 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Ministerio dell’Ambiente | |||
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| Brief description |
Research activities on geology and geomorphology of Islands Measurements of greenhouse gas exchanges to validate new models that simulate the effect of the environment and climate on gas fluxes. Soil quality assessment in relation to land use and past management practices. Identification and taxonomy of rare plants of the archipelago Habitat restoration for rare animals (fish, mufflon) Study of coral and fish distribution Study of colonisation of abandoned agricultural land by Mediterranean vegetation. Assessment of wild goat population dynamics. Underwater archaeology activities (shipwrecks) Sea water monitoring to ensure sustainable fishery and aquaculture activities. |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Air quality, climate, geology, geomorphology, geophysics, meteorology, monitoring/methodologies, soil, water quality/chemistry. | |||
| Biodiversity | Biology, coastal/marine, coral reefs, ecosystem assessment, fishes, island systems/islands, lagoon systems, mediterranean type/scherophyll, plants, population genetics/population dynamics, rare/endangered/threatened species, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment, species inventorying/inventory, taxonomy, vegetation studies/plant cover. | |||
| Socio-economic | Archaeology/Paleontology, cultural aspects, demography. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Environmental change, land use/land cover, modelling, monitoring/methodologies. | |||
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| Contact address |
Ente Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano Via Guerrazzi, 1 57037 PORTOFERRAIO Italy |
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| Telephone | (39.565) 919411 | |||
| Fax | (39.565) 919428 | |||
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parco@isoleditoscana.it |
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| Last updated: 8/4/2004 |
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