Traditional terracing in Veneto, Italy

General

National Id:

Italy_04

Site name:

Valstagna, Verta Valley

Summary:

The initiative is aimed at the recovering and maintenance of a cultural and historical heritage with the promotion of new agricultural activities (not necessarily for economic purposes). A large part of terraces are no longer used today, as landowners either emigrated or are too old to take care of them. As a consequence, these terraces are increasingly degraded. The Committee "Adotta un terrazzamento" (Adopt a Terrace) acts as a mediator among landowners and people interested in "adopting" a terrace": with a contribution of 10 euros, any private citizen can be assigned a terraced plot to establish a vegetable garden. In exchange, the private citizen commits to restore and take care of the terrace at his/her disposal. The recovery of the terraces permits the valorization of the local resources, combining social/economic aims with the need to safeguard infrastructures that prevent hydro-geological instability.

NUTS Code:

Veneto

RBD code:

ITA

Transboundary:

Data provider:

Gloria De Paoli, ACTeon

Source(s):

www.adottaunterrazzamento.org

I suoli dei versanti terrazzati di Valstagna

NWRM(s) implemented in the case study:

Traditional terracing

Longitude:

11.394828

Latitude:

45.520801

Site information

Climate zone:

cool temperate moist

Mean rainfall:

1400

Mean rainfall unit:

mm/year

Average temperature:

Type:

Actual Test Site

Light or indepth?:

Light

Average slope range:

5-10%

Monitoring maintenance

Monitoring impacts effects:

Monitoring parameters:

soil evaluation, soil water balance, soil attitude

Performance

Performance impact estimation method:

Edge of Field/Plot

Performance impact estimation information:

The terraced slopes were compared with non terraced areas of a neighboring area. The evaluation was done through soil evaluation (under phisic and chemical aspects) and Thornthwaite-Mather model for the rendering of the potential/effective evapotraspiration compared to the annual precipitation. the results of the evaluations testify that in terraced areas the soil has better agronomic potential and a greater water retention capacity.

Biophysical impacts

Information on retained water:

Additional information not available

Increased water storage:

Increased water storage unit:

% Percent

Information on increased water storage:

Additional information not available

Information on runoff reduction:

Additional information not available

Water quality overall improvements:

N/A info

Soil quality overall soil improvements:

Positive impact-SQ improvement

Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements:

Increase of depth available for root development, greater water retention and reduction of the stone portion.

Lessons, risks, implications...

Key lessons:

The initiative is aimed at the recovering and maintenance of a cultural and historical heritage with the promotion of new agricultural activities (not necessarily for economic purposes). A large part of terraces are no longer used today, as landowners either emigrated or are too old to take care of them. As a consequences, these terraces are increasingly degraded. The Committee "Adotta un terrazzamento" act as a mediator among landowners and people interested in "adopting a terrace": with a contribution of 10 euros, any private citizen can be assigned a terraced plot to establish a vegetable garden. In exchange, the private citizen committs to restore and take care of the terrace at his/her disposal. The recovery of the terraces permits the valorization of the local resources, combining social/economic aims with the need to safeguard infrastructures that prevent hydrogeological instability.

Financing mechanism information:

The Committee "Adotta un terrazzamento" act as a mediator among landowners and people interested in "adopting a terrace": with a contribution of 10 euros, any private citizen can be assigned a terraced plot to establish a vegetable garden. In exchange, the private citizen committs to restore and take care of the terrace at his/her disposal. Further information on financing is not available.

Success factor(s):

Financing:

Type	Comments
Other	The Committee "Adotta un terrazzamento" act as a mediator among landowners and people interested in "adopting a terrace": with a contribution of 10 euros, any private citizen can be assigned a terraced plot to establish a vegetable garden. In exchange, the private citizen committs to restore and take care of the terrace at his/her disposal.

Barrier:

Driver:

Type	Role	Comments
Other	main driver	The initiative is aimed at the recovering and maintenance of a cultural and historical heritage with the promotion of new agricultural activities (not necessarily for economic purposes). A large part of terraces are no longer used today, as landowners either emigrated or are too old to take care of them. As a consequences, these terraces are increasingly degraded

Socio-economic

Costs total information:

No information on costs is available; however, costs are likely to be purely administrative and linked to the activities of the Committee, due to the particular nature of the initiative. the initiative is aimed at the recovering and maintenance of a cultural and historical heritage with the promotion of new agricultural activities (not necessarily for economic purposes). A large part of terraces are no longer used today, as landowners either emigrated or are too old to take care of them. As a consequences, these terraces are increasingly degraded. The Committee "Adotta un terrazzamento" act as a mediator among landowners and people interested in "adopting a terrace": with a contribution of 10 euros, any private citizen can be assigned a terraced plot to establish a vegetable garden. In exchange, the private citizen committs to restore and take care of the terrace at his/her disposal.

Ecosystem provisioning services:

Information on Ecosystem provisioning services:

The terraces permit agricultural practices.

Ecosystem water supply:

Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

No information available

Ecosystem erosion control:

Policy, general governance and design targets

Policy description:

The restoring of traditional terraces (built around the XVII century) is aimed at the maintenance of the terraces, the prevention of landslides and the provision of cultivable land.

Part of wider plan:

Policy pressure:

Policy requirement directive:

Policy impact:

Policy wider plan:

Wider plan type	Wider plan focus	Name	Comments
		AlpTer Project, EU programme Interreg Alpine Space

Policy area:

Policy target:

Target purpose
Increase Water Storage
Erosion Control
Oher Societal Benefits

Design & implementations

Application scale:

River Basin

Installation date:

2010

Performance timescale:

Immediate

Basis of design:

annual precipitations

Constraints:

Information not available

Favourable preconditions:

Information not available

Contractural arrangements:

Design contractual arrangement:

Arrangement type	Role	Responsibility	Name	Comments
			Free "loan of use" contracts	he initiative is aimed at the recovering and maintenance of a cultural and historical heritage with the promotion of new agricultural activities (not necessarily for economic purposes). A large part of terraces are no longer used today, as landowners either emigrated or are too old to take care of them. As a consequences, these terraces are increasingly degraded. The Committee "Adotta un terrazzamento" act as a mediator among landowners and people interested in "adopting" a terrace": with a contribution of 10 euros, any private citizen can be assigned a terraced plot to establish a vegetable garden. In exchange, the private citizen committs to restore and take care of the terrace at his/her disposal.

Design consultation activity:

Design land use change:

Design authority:

Authority type	Role	Name	Comments
Other	Implementation	Municipality of Valstagna	Municipality
Other		Solagna, Campolongo, S. Nazario, Cismon del Grappa municipalities	Municipalities
Other		Veneto Region	Regional administration
	Implementation	Committee "Adotta un Terrazzamento"	The Committee is responsible for mediating between landowners and private citizens interested in "'adopting" a terraces plot. Thus the Committee manages the project and assigns the plot to users
	Implementation	University of Padua	University
	Implementation	Italian Alpine Club - "Highlands" Research Group	No-profit association

Last updated: 12 Jan 2015 | Top

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Traditional terracing in Veneto, Italy

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