Notes: Internet website in pdf format

Transcription

1 Dupré, E., Pedrotti, L., & Arduino, S. Alpine Ibex Conservation Strategy - The Alpine ibex in the Italian Alps: status, potential distribution and management options for conservation and sustainable development WWF International. Keywords: 8IT/Alps/Capra ibex/conservation/development/distribution/growth rate/ibex/large Herbivore Initiative/LHI/Malme/management/population size/reintroduction/ strategy/susceptibility/translocation Abstract: This study presents the first comprehensive overview of the status of Alpine ibex in the Italian Alps, based on an extensive data collection used according to a standardized methodology. For the first time, a thorough synthesis of information on the 69 Italian ibex colonies is available, covering traditional themes such as distribution, population size and growth rate, but also more specific issues such as the year and cause of origin, number of translocated ibexes, and type of management. Then, a comparison is made between current and potential ibex status and distribution, and implications for the conservation and management of the species are presented. The potential situation (distribution, size, density) is estimated by applying two models that assess the quality of ibex habitat and predict ibex potential distribution at the local scale for the entire Italian Alps. The two models had already been conceptually developed from data on different ibex populations living in the Italian Alps (one for the siliceous substratum and one for the calcareous-limestone-dolomite substratum), but, for the purpose of this study, they were redesigned to reflect the coarser scale of the data available for the whole Italian Alps. Their application to the study area according to the underlying lithological substratum revealed the gap between current and potential status and contributed to identifying conservation and management issues and developing recommendations for future reintroduction programs. Notes: Internet website in pdf format

2 Alpine Ibex Conservation Strategy The Alpine ibex in the Italian Alps: status, potential distribution and management options for conservation and sustainable development Istituto Oikos Istituto Nazionale per La Fauna Selvatica "Alessandro Ghigi" file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (1 of 126) :58:51

3 Università degli Studi dell Insubria Dipartimento di Biologia Strutturale e Funzionale With the contribution of: Gruppo Stambecco EuropaFederazione Italiana della Caccia Pending Eugenio Dupré, and Luca Pedrotti and Serena Arduino DRAFT, JuneSeptember October 2001 Authors: Eugenio Dupré, Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica "Alessandro Ghigi" (National Wildlife Institute), Bologna, Italy. file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (2 of 126) :58:58

4 Luca Pedrotti, Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica "Alessandro Ghigi" (National Wildlife Institute), Bologna, Italy. Serena Arduino, Istituto Oikos, Varese, Italy. This study draws extensively from the Italian Ungulate Database and recognizes the following scientists as essential contributors: Damiano Preatoni, Università degli Studi dell Insubria, Dipartimento di Biologia Strutturale e Funzionale, Unità di Analisi e Gestione della Biodiversità (State University of Insubria, Biology Department, Biodiversity Analysis and Management Unit), Varese, Italy. Guido Tosi, Università degli Studi dell Insubria, Dipartimento di Biologia Strutturale e Funzionale, Unità di Analisi e Gestione della Biodiversità (State University of Insubria, Biology Department, Biodiversity Analysis and Management Unit), Varese, Italy. Silvano Toso, Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica "Alessandro Ghigi" (National Wildlife Institute), Bologna, Italy. Project coordination: Serena Arduino, Istituto Oikos, Varese, Italy. The study was funded by WWF International through the Large Herbivore Initiative (Project 9E ). The Italian Ungulate Database was funded by Ministero per le Politiche Agricole, Ministero dell Ambiente Servizio Conservazione della Natura and Federazione Italiana della Caccia (Ministry of Agricultural Policy, Ministry of Environment-Nature Conservation Service, and the Italian Hunting Federation). TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Acronyms AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgements iii iv v 1. Introduction 1 file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (3 of 126) :58:58

5 Problem statementt Background Project goals and objectives Project design Organization / Project team 4 2. Overview of ibex issues in the Italian Alps The Italian Alps Brief history Current status Ecological distribution Main policy and decision-making levels Hunting Protected areas Status of Alpine chamois and its relationship to ibex Present status of ibex in the Italian Alps Collection of data on existing Alpine ibex colonies: methodology Present distribution Population size Status and evolution of population size Hunting and numerical control Assessing potential distribution of Alpine ibex in the Italian Alps Review of similar studies 35 file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (4 of 126) :58:58

6 4.2 Methodology Study area and management units Ibex ecology The database and the GIS Data analysis The predictive model for siliceous environment Case study Model implementation The predictive model for limestone environment Case study Model implementation Model validation Model application Synthesis Conclusdiveing remarks Conclusions Recommendations Drafting guidelines for a future conservation strategy of Alpine ibex in Italy Next steps 756 file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (5 of 126) :58:58

7 6. References 767 Annex 823 ABSTRACT This study presents the first comprehensive overview of the status of Alpine ibex in the Italian Alps, based on an extensive data collection usingaccording to a standardized methodology. For the first time, a thorough synthesis of information on the 69 Italian ibex colonies is available, covering traditional themes such as distribution, population size and growth rate, but also more specific issues such as the year and cause of origin, number of translocated ibexes, and type of management. Then, a comparison is made between actual current and potential ibex status and distribution, and implications for the conservation and management of the species are presenteddrawn. The potential situation (distribution, size, density) is estimated by applying from the application to the entire Italian Alps of two models that assess the quality of ibex habitat and predict ibex potential distribution at the local scale. The two models had already been conceptually developed from data on different ibex populations living in the Italian Alps (one for the siliceous substratum and one for the calcareous-limestone-dolomite substratum), but, for the purpose of this study, they were redesigned to reflect the coarser scale of the data available for the whole Italian Alps. Their application to the study area according to the underlying lithological substratum revealed the gap between current and potential status and contributed to identifying conservation and management issues and developing recommendations for future reintroduction programmes. ACRONYMS file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (6 of 126) :58:59

8 EU European Union GP Game Park GPNP Gran Paradiso National Park INFS Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica (National Wildlife IInstitute) LCIE Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe LHI Large Herbivore Initiative MU Management Unit NP National Park ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Several people contributed to this study, by both providing data and discussing various aspects of ibex conservation in the Italian Alps. The authors wish to thank them for their assistance. Bruno Bassano Parco Nazionalea Gran Paradiso Sandro Bergamo Parco Naturale Alta Valsesia Pierre Bertieux Regione Valle d Aosta Radames Bionda Parco Naturale Alpe Veglia Devero Carlo Borgo Enrico Boscaini Ufficio Operativo Azienda Regionale delle Foreste Alto Garda Sandro Brugnoli Provincia di Trento Giuseppe Canavese Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime Marco Cantini Provincia di di Como Giorgio Carmignola Provincia di Bolzano file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (7 of 126) :58:59

9 Ermanno Cetto Provincia di Trento Barbara Chiarenzi Istituto Oikos Paolo Craveri Provincia di Cuneo Michele Da Pozzo Parco Naturale Dolomiti d Ampezzo Renzo De Battisti Coordinamento Regionale Veneto Corpo Forestale dello Stato Paolo De Martin Foresta Demaniale di Tarvisio Andrea De Matteis Università di Torino Mauro Devalier Provincia di Belluno Di Bernardo Foreste Demaniali di Tarvisio Lilia Domeneghetti Regione Valle d Aosta Renato Dotta Heinrich Erhard Provincia di Bolzano Luca Favalli Parco Naturale Dolomiti Friulane Maria Ferloni Provincia di Sondrio Pietro Ferraris Parco Naturale Alta Valsesia Pietro Gatti Provincia di Lecco Fulvio Genero Parco Naturale Prealpi Giulie Marco Giovo Romano Maséè Provincia di Trento Silvano Mattedi Parco Naturale Dolomiti Friulane Piergiuseppe Meneguz Università di Torino Benito Moriconi Comprensorio Alpino Alta Valtellina Daniele Moroni Provincia di Sondrio Giacomo Moroni Provincia di Bergamo Andrea Mustoni Istituto Oikos Paolo Orellier Regione Valle d Aosta Michele Ottino Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso Piergiuseppe Partel Parco Naturale Paneveggio Pale di S.Martino file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (8 of 126) :58:59

10 Franco Perco Provincia di Pordenone Aurelio Perrone Stefano Piccinini Lucia Pompilio Alberto Ricci Parco Nazionale Stelvio Luca Rotelli Ettore Sartori Parco Naturale Paneveggio Pale di S.Martino Giovanni Scherini Istituto Oikos Graziano Simonini Provincia di Sondrio Gianmaria Sommavilla Provincia di Belluno Marco Testa Provincia di di Como Andrea Vanotti Provincia di Sondrio Vittorio Vigorita Regione Lombardia Gilberto Volcan Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta Mathias Zoeschg Provincia di Bolzano. Alpine Ibex Conservation Strategy The Alpine ibex in the Italian Alps: status, potential distribution and management options for conservation and sustainable development Eugenio Dupré and Luca Pedrotti file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (9 of 126) :58:59

11 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Problem statement The Alps are a unique mountain ecosystem threatened by increasing human pressure. In this region, conservation and development issues have usually been addressed at the local or national levelscale; rarely at the scale of the entire ecosystem. What seems to have been missing is a regional approach and an overall strategy for the Alps. Only recently have attempts been made to look at the whole Alpine range beyond national boundaries: one is the work of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (LCIE); another is the ecoregional conservation initiative launched in 1999 by the WWF organizations of the Alps. These initiatives deserve to be encouraged and need to be integrated with others. The LCIE sponsored a study of the large carnivores on of the Alps (bear, wolf, lynx) and was responsible for the development of action plans at European level. As part of the study, the current distribution and the areas suitable to large carnivores throughoutin the entire Alps were identified, as well as were potential corridors (Corsi et al. 1998). SA similar effort research for large herbivores hasdoes not yet exist been undertaken but it would nicely be extremely interestingcomplement the carnivore study. This study on Alpine ibex is a first attempt to remedy the lack of information on herbivores, and this report describes its results for the entire Italian Alps. Far from being as comprehensive as that of the LCIE on large carnivores, it is a first step towards an Alpine-wide map; it does no t cover the entire Alps but atl least and for the first time it covers the whole Italian portion. 1.2 Background The purpose of the study is to provide a tool that will assist in planning ibex management and distribution in the Italian Alps through an estimation of the extent of available habitat and a comparison of current and potential population. is to assess the present status of Alpine ibex in Italy, to develop a GIS-based model to evaluate the potential ibex winter distribution, to estimate the extent of available habitat, to compare current and potential population, and to provide a tool that will assist in planning ibex presence and management in the Italian Alps. To do so, two models that were already available (one for siliceous and one for calcareous substrata) were redesigned and extended to the entire Italian Alps. The first model (predictive of the potential distribution of Alpine ibex over siliceous substratum in South Tyrol) was developed by the INFS (Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica, the Italian National Wildlife Institute) in cooperation with the public administration in of Bolzano (Pedrotti & Dupré 2000). The second model (for the potential distribution of Alpine ibex on sedimentary/calcareous substratum) was also recently developed by Istituto Oikos as part of the feasibility study for the re-introduction of ibex in the south-western Dolomites (Paneveggio-Pale di S. Martino Natural Park and Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park) (Pedrotti et al. 2000). These two substrata (siliceous-metamorphic and sedimentary-calcareous or limestone) represent the main and most common habitat types in the Alpine range. Both models are based on wintering areas because winter is considered the most critical period for ibex survival (Nievergelt 1966, Wiersema 1983a). Assessing the range and distribution of ibex potential wintering areas assists in predicting ibex potential range and driving sound management options. The validation of the two sub-models has proven excellent. The two predictive models were applied to the whole Italian Alps, according to the different geological substrata, to compare actual current and potential ibex winter distribution. Potential wintering areas turned outwere determined to be much more extended and widely distributed than the actual ones: ibex populations are currently distributed over only about 5,000 km 2 only, which represents a small portion of the estimated suitable areas, and the present current distribution ranges of ibex populations are is still small limited in all management units. file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (10 of 126) :58:59

12 However,It is important to state that the two original models were calibrated based on estimated from local data sets;, therefore, a simple extrapolation to the whole alpine range based on data sets collected aton a different scale may presented an intrinsic weakness that needed to be addressed and which is due to the fact that the covariates coefficients of the regression/classification functions were estimated from local spatial data sets acquired at a detailed map scale. Namely, the predictions of the models may have been give incorrect if the models had been applied to environmental data sets arranged (acquired) at a different scale level (i.e., less or more detailed), or may have been misleading if the characteristics of the spatial data set of the predictions area did not conform to the model ones. For this reason,, for the purpose of this study the two original models were redesigned to yield more generally applicable results and, as a trade-off, they are less accurate when considered at at a small (i.e., small (i.e., more detailed)) scale. 1.3 Project goals and objectives Project goal: To contribute to the conservation and management of ibex in the Alps through an assessment of their current status (chapter 3) and through the implementation of two models of potential distribution models in the Italian Alps (chapter 4). The synthesis of this information will help to identify the conservation and management priorities and define courses of action at a broad levellarge scale (chapter 5). Project objectives: 1. To collect preliminary ibex data available in Italy (distribution, population size, type of management of ibex colonies) (paragraphs 3.2., 3.3 and 3.5). 2. To digitise and harmonize data into GIS as necessary (chapter 3 and 4). 3. To define the current status (population size evolution and future trend) of ibex in the Italian Alps (paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4). 4. To briefly analyse briefly the types of ibex management in the Italian Alps (paragraphs 3.4 and 3.5). 5. To briefly review briefly other similar studies or habitat suitability models (paragraph 4.1). 6. To assess the areas ecologically suitable to ibex (i.e., / the potential distribution of ibex) in the Italian Alps (at a broad regional scale) (chapter 4). 7. To evaluate whether new field surveys are needed (paragraph 4.5). 8. To draft guidelines/action plan for future conservation and management strategies (including reintroductions) of ibex populations and their important habitat in the Italian Alps, while ensuring the compatible development of human activities (chapter 5). In particular, chapter 3 is devoted to a thorough overview of ibex status in the Italian Alps. It refers to all the existing ibex colonies and presents an overall census, archive and database with information on year and cause of colony their origin, colony size and growth rate, type of management, etc. This wealth of information had never before been compiled and synthesized for the entire Italian portion and is thus a new contribution.real novelty. Chapter 4 focuses on the two redesigned models and their extension to the entire Italian Alps. Specific colony data refer only to the sample colonies used to develop the models and file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (11 of 126) :58:59

13 the relevant environmental variables. This colony database is more detailed than that described in chapter Project design The project was undertaken in five different phases: Phase 1: Preliminary activities Contacts with relevant agencies, organisations, local experts and universities of the Italian Alps to ensure their cooperation. Fine-tuning of the ibex models and definition of sample areas for the application extension of the models to other areas. Phase 2: Data collection Collection of environmental data (for the data already obtained and used for the Ungulate database of INFS, seeking ofk new permission to re-use the material (for the data already obtained and used for the Ungulate database of INFS). Collection of the ibex data available in all Italian Alpine regions: data concerning distribution, population size and management of each Alpine colony; data concerning location and range of ibex wintering areas in the sample units. Evaluation of whether field surveys are needed to integrate the available data. Phase 3: Data input and harmonisation Digitisation of data into GIS (for data obtained in hard copy only) and harmonisation of other digital data (for ibex only; environmental data had already been digitised by public administrations). file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (12 of 126) :58:59

14 Phase 4: Data analysis Analysis of the status of ibex. Analysis of the types of ibex management. Review of similar studies of habitat evaluation models for ibex. Analysis of the areas ecologically suitable to ibex (at the regional scale). Validation of the models. Production of maps (species distribution and density, areas ecologically suitable to ibex and potential connecting areas, priority areas). Phase 5: Development of guidelines for an action plan Contacts with local administrations, organisations (GSE European Ibex Group) and uuniversities of the Italian Alpine regions to present and discuss preliminary results in order to outline regional management priorities. Production of a final report including the results of the data analysis and the management guidelines defined in cooperation with the local agencies, taking into account the regional management needs that have emerged from the study. 1.5 Organisation/Project team The project team is composed of the Istituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica, the Biodiversity Analysis and Management Unit of the State University of Insubria, the non-profit organisation Istituto Oikos. Istituto Oikos was the project promoter and was responsible for project management; INFS and the State University of Insubria were responsible for the technical implementation and the scientific supervision. Financing for the project was provided by the Large Herbivore Initiative (LHI) through WWF International. Co-financing to outline status, distribution and population size of all ungulates distributed in the Italian Alps, and to compile a database for the Italian ungulates was provided by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural Policy, te, the Italian Ministry for Environment and Federazione Italiana della Caccia (FIdC, the main national hunting association). file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (13 of 126) :58:59

15 2. OVERVIEW OF IBEX ISSUES IN THE ITALIAN ALPS 2.1 The Italian Alps Italy is a mountainous country with about 35% of its 300,000 km 2 lying above 2000m. The Italian Alps are arc-shaped and form the country s northern border with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. They can be divided into three contiguous sections: 1) the Western western Alps running south from Aosta almost to the Gulf of Genoa; 2) the ccentral Alps stretching east from Aosta as far as the Brenner pass between Italy and Austria and. They includinge Italy s highest mountains (Monte Cervino, 4,478m, and Monte Rosa, 4,634m ) and of course Mont Blanc, the highest peak of the entire Alps, (4,808 m), the highest peak of the entire Alps); and 3) the eeastern Alps extending east from beyond the BBrenner to Trieste, and includinge the Dolomites. According to the boundaries of the Alpine Convention, tthe Italian Alps cover 45about,39052,600 km 2, from the Imperia province to the west, to the province at of Trieste to the east (but the study area of this project is slightly smaller). Fourty-oneTwenty-eight percent of the Alpsir land area lies below 1000m;, 4739% lies between 1000 and 2000m, and the remaining 215% is found above 2000m (Fig. 2.1). The three sections, however, are not homogeneous. T: the Wwestern Alps (Piemonte and Valle d Aosta regions) have higher peaks on average;. h Here, only 21% of the land area is below 1000m while 34% is above 2000m. I; in the ccentral Alps, 31% of the area lies below 1000m and 27% above 2000m. I; and in the Eastern eastern Alps, with the lowest average elevation, 32% is found below 1000m and only 15% above 2000m. file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (14 of 126) :58:59

16 Figure Distribution of elevation in the Italian Alps: highest massifs are mainly located in the north-western and central portions. The red lines represent the borders of the management units for ibex conservation and management (see par. 3.1 for further explanations). 2.2 Brief history Ibex (Capra ibex) is distributed in Eurasia and Ethiopia in extremely fragmented areas corresponding to main mountain ranges. Systematicss of Genus Capra is still controversial due to the different classification criteria in use. Capra ibex is subdivided into the following subspecies: Capra i. ibex, the Alpine ibex, distributed all over the Alps; C. i. sibirica, the Siberian ibex, present in Asia, the Russian Turkestan and Central central Siberia, Mongolia, Chinese Turkestan, Kashmir, a limited portion of Tibet, Chitral (Pakistan) and north-western Afghanistan; C. i. nubiana, the Nubian ibex, in Northern northern Egypt, Northnorth-eastern Sudan, Oman and some parts of Arabia, Israel and Jordan; C. i. walie, the Walie ibex, in the Semien massif; C. i. caucasica, in the Westernwestern Caucasian tur or Kuben tur (C. i. severtzovi, according to Ellerman & Morrison-Scott 1951). Recently a subdivision into 5 different species has been proposed, whereby and ibex populations presently occurring in northern Africa and Asia at present would be are usually treated as species distinct from Capra ibex (C. nubiana, C. sibirica, C. walie). The ancestors of Genus Capra appeared between the end of Miocene and the beginning of Pliocene in Centralcentral-western Asia. Subsequently, according to Geist s hypothesis (1985, 1987), four radiations originating in the Caucasus led from Ammotragus to the current species of Genus Capra. The most recent one led, during the Riss glaciation, led to file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (15 of 126) :58:59

17 today s form of Capra ibex. During the last glaciation (Riss) ibex ended up occupiedying their most extended ranges in the Alps and in other mountain areasranges, both in Alpine and non-alpine countries: Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, Slovenia and Croatia up to Montenegro, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. In Italy, past distribution reached the southern regions of Campania, Basilicata, Puglia and perhaps Sardinia. After the last ice age, ibex disappeared from the territories surrounding the Alps as soon as forests recovered their former, larger ranges, as showed by Neolithic findings in the upper high Po Rriver Bbasin. After centuries of active extermination mainly due to intensive hunting, at the beginning of the XIX century only about individuals of Alpine ibex survived in the Gran Paradiso massif (Valle d Aosta region, Italy), due to the protection granted by the Royal Savoia Royal Family. Current ibex populations found inon the Alps are generally restricted to mountain areas above the tree line and are the result of both translocations from the original core of 100 individuals and natural colonisation. Re-introductions began at the end of the XIX century in the Swiss Alps, while in Italy they have been significant only in the last years. These efforts, together with spontaneous migration from adjoining countries, have increased the number of areas inhabited by ibex, although the distribution is still discontinuous (Stüwe & Nievergelt 1991). With current conservation and management practices the status of Alpine ibex is now considered safe and the species is listed as Lower Risk in the 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. 2.3 Current status Nowadays Alpine ibex is currently distributed throughoutall over the Alps due to re-introduction projects and natural population dispersion. Up to 1990, ibex reintroduction involved 175 different Alpine areas sites were interested by ibex immissionintroduction.! Ibex distribution starts in goes from tthe western Maritime Alps (Argentera massif) in the west and continues eastward to the Stirian limestone Alps in Austria and the eeastern Karawanken Alps on the border between Austria and Slovenia, covering all Alpine countries. In 1993, At present, 31,000 ibex live in the Alps (Weber 1994, Pedrotti & Lovari 1999). Populations have been growing steadily since the 1960s, showing a mean annual growth rate between 3% and 6% (Table 2.1). About 15,000 ibex wereare estimated in Switzerland, 9700 in Italy, 3,200 in Austria, 3,300 in France, 250 in Slovenia and, and 220 in Germany (Shackleton 1997). On the whole, 1455 different colonies are are estimated in the Alps (Giacometti 1991, Weber 1994). There exist about 1456 colonies; Oof these, 50% of the individuals and 33% of the colonies are found in Switzerland. However, a wide gap between actual and potential distribution is still present in a large portion of the Alps, although even if with major differences among the Alpine countries. In Switzerland and Austria, for example, all suitable ibex habitat is considered occupied; in France the policy for ibex conservation is to continue re-introducing and restocking populations in appropriate habitat; in Germany only a limited portion of the country provides suitable ibex habitat and the species has a patchy and isolated distribution; and in Italy between 1985 and 2000 ibex increased from 5,100 to 13,000 individuals with and more than 50% (6,900) are found within protected areas. Table 2.1 Increase of Alpine ibex population in the Alpine range ( ). Year Abundance 6,500 15,000 18,000 23,000 31,000 Mean annual growth % 3.1% 6.3% 5.1% file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (16 of 126) :58:59

18 2.4 Ecological distribution Ibex is a good climber, well adapted to rocky, steep and arid environments and to a fibreer-rich diet. These characteristics, together with a preference for open habitats, make ibex a typical glacier follower like other wild Caprinae. Most habitat suitable to ibex is located both in sub-mediterranean climate and continental regions, where dry climate characterizes inner valleys. In the Alps, ibex live mainly above the tree line, visiting lower elevations only in winter and spring. C (chamois, on the contrary, are more adaptable and range from submontane, mixed broadleaf woodlands around 500m or lessower in winter, to alpine areas in summer). The most important ecological constraints to ibex spatial distribution are the elevation of the rocky montanemountain regions and the type of vegetation available type. Ibex occupy elevation ranges between 1,600 and 2,800m during winter and between 2,300 and 3,200m during summer. Rock cliffs and alpine meadows are most frequented throughout the year. Wintering areas, situated at intermediate elevation, are steep rugged south-exposed slopes (35-45 ) with grassy vegetation,, rugged and interspersed with rocks. Rock cliffs and alpine meadows are the land cover categories most frequented throughout the year. Rock vegetation and scree at the highest elevation are frequented exclusively during summer. Closed and continuous forests and glaciers interfere with ibex dispersal and slow down the colonization of new areas. Alpine ibex and Alpine chamois ranges overlap substantially, but because the former tends to keep stay at higher altitudes, competition between them is unlikely to occur (Pfeffer & Settimo 1973, Schröder & Kofler 1984) (see also 2.8). Exceptions are ibex colonies introduced in atypical locations, wheren the two species completely overlap during winter (Kofler & Schröder 1985, 1990). The ibex dispersion strategy when colonizing new areas is quite slow. Due to their ecological constraints, wwinter ranges characterize ibex as an insular species. are used in a "traditional" way, especially by females (Pedrotti 1995). When colonizing new areas, ibex dispersion strategy is quite slow. Their ecological constraints characterize ibex as an insular species. Ibex do not disperse as fast as like chamois or roe deer, but tend to remain in their traditional ranges while increasing their density (Gauthier et al. 1994). Indeed, only when a certain population density level is reached will new areas will new areas be colonized by young, pioneer individuals, but in winter these individuals stage actual annual migrations as they tend to return to their original wintering areas. Wintering areas are thus used in a "traditional" way, especially by females (Pedrotti 1995), and Ccolonization of new areas becomes permanent only one generation later, with the offspring of pioneer females. The whole process takes years (Nievergelt 1966, Gauthier & Villaret 1990). 2.5 Main policy and decision-making levels In Italy, at the national level, the Ministry of Agricultural Policy and the Ministry of Environment are responsible for the management and protection policies of wildlife. Regional and provincial services, as well as national and regional park agencies, are responsible for local management. In both cases (local administrations and protected areas) the advisory agency is the Italian National Wildlife Institute (INFS). Several independent groups have a strong interests in Alpine ibex conservation, such as the European Ibex Group and the Friends of the Rhaetian Ibex. 2.6 Hunting Based on current hunting legislation, hunting activity is organized according to sub-provincial management units called "Comprensori Alpini" (Fig. 2.2). Each Any hunter is entitled file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (17 of 126) :58:59

19 to hunt in only one unit. Within each Comprensorio, hunting of wild ungulates is regulated according to annual harvest plans which specify the sex and age class of the individuals to be hunted. These plans are developed on the basis of the numerical evolution of the populations, determined through censuses (exhaustive or by sample areas). The INFS has recently developed a data management system (Ungulate Database, Pedrotti & Dupré 2001) containing all the information available for hunting units and protected areas on: size and characteristics of area; size, structure and evolution of the ungulate populations from 1996 to 2000; management strategies adopted (harvest plans, actual harvest). This is an unparalleled source for information on hunting practices in Italy. The mmean extension of the 49 Comprensori in the western Italian Alps (Piemonte, Valle d Aosta) is 41,710 ha (min 8,260 ha, max 96,050 ha, sd 23,235 ha); in the western-central Italian Alps (Lombardia, some provinces of Veneto) the mean extension of the 39 Comprensori is 38,360 ha (min 8,210, max 126,680, sd 24,960 ha). In the central-eastern Italian Alps (Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia), instead, the administration of hunting activities mainly follows central European criteria and the basic management unit is the "Riserva Comunale di Diritto" (Community Reserve) open to the access of residents only. The extension of these 845 Community Reserves is a great deal smaller than that of the Comprensori, with a mean value of 2,970 ha (min 73 ha, max 29,365 ha, sd 3,000 ha). file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (18 of 126) :59:00

20 file:///n /MALME/_work%20folder/_Cecilia/Literature_New%20pdf/Not%20yet%2...n/Add/05_ibex/Management/OIKOS_2001_Alpine_Ibex_Conservation_Strategy.htm (19 of 126) :59:00