Traditional terracing in Veneto, Italy

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
0
Data provider
Gloria De Paoli, ACTeon
NWRM(s) implemented in the case study
Longitude
11.394828
Latitude
45.520801
Climate zone
cool temperate moist
Mean rainfall
1400
Mean rainfall unit
mm/year
Average temperature
9
Type
Actual Test Site
Light or indepth?
Light
Average slope range
5-10%
Monitoring impacts effects
1
Monitoring parameters
soil evaluation, soil water balance, soil attitude
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.
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
1
Design contractual arrangement
Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name
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.
Free "loan of use" contracts
Design consultation activity
Activity stage Key issues Name Comments
Design land use change
Land use change type
Design authority
Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments
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
Other
Implementation
Municipality of Valstagna
Municipality
Implementation
University of Padua
University
Implementation
Italian Alpine Club - "Highlands" Research Group
No-profit association
Other
Solagna, Campolongo, S. Nazario, Cismon del Grappa municipalities
Municipalities
Other
Veneto Region
Regional administration
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)
Success factor type Success factor role Comments
Financing
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
Barrier type Barrier role Comments
Driver
Driver type Driver 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
Financing share
Financing share type Share Comments
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
1
Policy target
Target purpose
Oher Societal Benefits
Erosion Control
Increase Water Storage
Policy pressure
Pressure directive Relevant pressure
Policy area
Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments
Policy impact
Impact directive Relevant impact
Policy wider plan
Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments
AlpTer Project, EU programme Interreg Alpine Space
Policy requirement directive
Requirement directive Specification
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
1
Information on Ecosystem provisioning services
The terraces permit agricultural practices.
Ecosystem water supply
1
Ecosystem impact climate regulation
No information available
Information on retained water
Additional information not available
Increased water storage
50
Increased water storage unit
% Percent
Information on increased water storage
Additional information not available
Information on runoff reduction
Additional information not available
Ecosystem erosion control
1
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.

Partners

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