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.

Light or indepth?

Light

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

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.

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	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	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

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)

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, 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 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

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

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

Ecosystem erosion control

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.

Full Context

Collection(aka Doorway or Gallery)

Case Studies

Pathway(aka Context)

Default view

Area(aka Level or Site)

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