"Renaturation of the Po River area" PNRR - National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Italy
Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security
(
Government
)
#SDGAction51117
Description
The "Renaturation of the Po area" project is one of the most important commitments envisaged by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). It is an investment covering the entire river course, from which a great impact is expected for the improvement of the river ecosystem, safety and quality of life for those who live in the areas and tourists. The morphological restoration and protection of biodiversity are the main issues addressed by the project which provides for ecological restoration and environmental restoration interventions, with the reactivation of oxbow lakes and abandoned branches and natural reforestation to consolidate and expand the present forests, for adjustment of the groins for navigation, which have become too high over the years, following the lowering of the river bed, to be overcome by the ordinary flow rates of the Po and for the containment of invasive alien plant species. In summary, the project pursues the objective of reducing the artificiality of the riverbed, an issue closely linked to the European Strategy for biodiversity to 2030 which includes among its lines of action the restoration of freshwater ecosystems, thus contributing to the achievement of the objectives of Directive 2000/60/EC through the restoration of the ecosystem functionality of watercourses. The project is, therefore, a river requalification project, divided into a series of "integrated interventions to reduce hydrogeological risk and to improve the ecological status of waterways and protect ecosystems and biodiversity (...)", and in implementation of the measures programmed by the Flood Risk Management Plan pursuant to Directive 2007/60/EC and by the Water Management Plan pursuant to Directive 2000/60/EC of the hydrographic district of the river Po. At the same time, the planned interventions will contribute to the consolidation of the ecological-river corridor and to the improvement of the conservation status of species and habitats, in compliance with the significant areas of biodiversity present along the river branch, in the numerous "Natura 2000 Network" areas, established and protected in accordance with Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats) and Directive 2009/147/EC (Birds), as transposed into national legislation. Finally, in order to respond to the morphological rebalancing needs affecting the Po River branch, the interventions contribute to the implementation of the "General program for the management of alluvial sediments of the Po riverbed", prepared and adopted in 2008 by the MASE and by all the Regions of the river Po, in the Institutional Committee of the District Authority of the river Po. The "Renaturation of the Po area" project consists of an Action Program divided into 56 intervention areas distributed along the entire Po River, down to its delta. The interventions are divided in to the following types: Hydraulic - morphological interventions: - Reduction of the artificial sectors of the riverbed (adaptation of navigation groins, decommissioning/modification of defense works); - Reactivation and reopening of oxbow lakes and abandoned branches and opening of new river branches; Environmental – naturalistic interventions: - Redevelopment of oxbow lakes and abandoned branches; - Naturalistic reforestation; - Control of invasive alien vegetation species.
- The realization of the interventions envisaged by the Renaturation Project will allow the Po River Basin District Authority and the Regions crossed by the river to implement a widespread action of environmental restoration and will represent the first step for a wider and important restoration ecology of our country, in line with the future implementation of the EU Regulation on the Nature Restoration Law. In particular, the project will allow to: - - conserve and restore fluvial and peri-fluvial ecosystems, through the recovery of the river bed and the lateral connection with the flood plain, also through solutions based on nature and green infrastructure. This will contribute to the reduction of the coastal populations' vulnerability to flooding and other climate-related natural disasters (SDG 13.1) and at the same time will allow for the reconstruction of the river ecological corridor which is currently fragmented (SDG 15.1, 15.5); - - redevelop and reactivate oxbow lakes and abandoned branches, allowing the protection and restoration of wetlands, the recovery of the naturalness of floodplains and riparian plant communities and halt the loss of biodiversity (SDG 6.6 15.1, 15.5); - - to reforest degraded areas, through the planting of native species and the fight against invasive alien plant species, helping to recreate a widespread naturalness of the floodplains and river areas and contributing to the strengthening of the Po River ecological corridor (SDG 15.2, 15.5, 15.8); - - restore natural habitats, recover ecosystems, also with the aim of tackling climate change, in response to the objectives set by the climate change adaptation strategy. The project contributes both in terms of climate change mitigation through forestation as a contribution in terms of decarbonization, and in terms of adaptation through the river connection, to have a more resilient river (SDG 13.1); - - favor the increase of ecosystem services, conferring direct benefits to satisfy the needs and requirements of the individuals and of the community which depend decisively on the healthiness of the environment and on the capacity of natural capital to support human life. They include: the production of food, the availability of water, of raw materials, of genetic resources, but also fundamental functions and processes such as the absorption of pollutants, protection from erosion, regulation of surface water flow, maintenance of water quality, disease control, soil formation and regeneration. The increase in the aforementioned ecosystem services will allow multiple benefits provided in the form of goods and services that guarantee the community to achieve and satisfy its well-being (SDG 6.3, 6.6, 13.1, 15.1, 15.2, 15.5); - - increase awareness and territorial responsibility (Landcare) in favor of the active protection of the MAB Po Grande biosphere reserve, educate on river heritage and the sustainable use of ecosystems (SDG 15.1, 13.1).
Po River Basin District Authority Interregional agency for the river Po (AIPo) Piemonte region Lombardia region Emilia Romagna region Veneto region
https://www.adbpo.it/la-morfologia-fluviale-del-fiume-po/ https://www.pogrande.it/
SDGS & Targets
Goal 6
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations
6.2.1
Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally
6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated
6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
6.4
6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time
6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
6.6
6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
6.a
6.a.1
Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management
6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management
Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
13.1
Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.1.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
13.1.2
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
13.1.3
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
13.2.1
Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
13.2.2
Total greenhouse gas emissions per year
13.3
Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
13.3.1
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
13.a
Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
13.a.1
Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025
13.b
Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
13.b.1
Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Goal 15
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
15.1
By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
15.1.1
15.1.2
15.2
By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
15.2.1
15.3
By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
15.3.1
15.4
By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development
15.4.1
15.4.2
15.5
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
15.5.1
15.6
Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed
15.6.1
15.7
Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products
15.7.1
15.8
By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species
15.8.1
15.9
By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
15.9.1
(a) Number of countries that have established national targets in accordance with or similar to Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 in their national biodiversity strategy and action plans and the progress reported towards these targets; and (b) integration of biodiversity into national accounting and reporting systems, defined as implementation of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting
15.a
Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
15.a.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments
15.b
Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation
15.b.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments
15.c
Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities
15.c.1
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|
Deliverables & Timeline
Action Program for the Renaturation of the Po River
Review of the legal framework for renaturation interventions in the Po area
Reduce the artificiality of the riverbed at least 13 km
Reduce the artificiality of the riverbed at least 37 km
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
| Title | Progress Status | Submitted |
|---|---|---|
| "Renaturation of the Po River area" PNRR - National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Italy - Tue, 05/07/2024 - 14:32 | On track |
Feedback
Action Network
Share
Timeline
Entity
Region
- Europe
Other beneficiaries
Population residing in the catchment area of the river Po Community of the Network of UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserves present in the District
More information
Countries
Contact Information
Alessandro, Secretary General of the Po River Basin District Authority