Biodiversity

ELP Ticino

A cross-border alliance to protect a natural heritage at risk

Restoring the Ticino River Landscape. One River, Many Systems, One Landscape

The over-exploitation of the Ticino region has led to habitat fragmentation and the degradation of several ecosystems. This project aims to fully restore the ecosystems of the Ticino ecological corridor, while promoting the social and economic well-being of the communities that depend on them.

The Ticino landscape, shared between Italy and Switzerland, is one of the most important natural areas in Europe: it is the only one connecting the Alps with the Apennines through the Po Plain, home to rich biodiversity and a key resource to counter the adverse effects of climate change.

The historical colonization of the banks of the Ticino river, with the consequent economic activities linked to the presence of man, has partly modified the natural course of the river with embankments and barriers. Infrastructures and urbanization have fragmented different ecosystems in the area. The heart of the Ticino Valley, on the other hand, has remained intact: in many areas it still retains a high naturalness. But man, in the course of the centuries, has also had positive impacts on the area by shaping the traditional agricultural landscape closely linked to the waters of the Ticino river. This peculiar environment, which characterizes especially the southern part of the basin, is home to a unique biodiversity. But the spread of intensive agriculture and unsustainable farming practices, together with the effects of climate change, have led to the degradation of the agro-ecosystems and their biodiversity.

These are the reasons why we work for the complete recovery of the Ticino landscape, in harmony with the social and economic well-being of the communities. With an Italian-Swiss alliance involving institutions, universities, protected areas, environmental protection associations and SMEs, we have planned the most concrete and effective measures to protect fragile ecosystems and endangered species, increase the resilience of ecosystems and communities to climate change and ensure a coordinated management of the area between Italy and Switzerland. The result of this great teamwork is the delivery of the Ticino Landscape Restoration Plan, available here.

We also want to encourage sustainable behavior: because all of us can take care of the territory in which we live, and we must do it.

Il progetto in numeri

180k

persone hanno accesso all'acqua
potabile in Tanzania

22k+

kg di plastica
raccolti a Ibo, Mozambico

52k+

mangrovie piantumate
in Mozambico e Myanmar

11k+

bambini coinvolti in campagne
di educazione nel mondo

200

donne supportate nell’avvio
di attività economiche

in Tz e Myanmar

1700

docenti formati
in Italia

1700

docenti formati
in Italia

52k+

mangrovie piantumate
in Mozambico e Myanmar

1700

docenti formati
in Italia