olive tree management during construction (eng)

INDICE

OLIVE TREE MANAGEMENT

DURING CON“TRUCTION

Report commissioned by :

Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG

Lindenstrasse 2

6340 BAAR, SWITZERLAND

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Report written by:

OFRIDE srl

Spin-off dell’Università del “alento

c/o Di.S.Te.B.A.

via prov.le Lecce-Monteroni 6

73047 MONTERONI DI LECCE, ITALY

JULY 2014 / rev_2

OLIVE TREE MANAGEMENT DURING CON“TRUCTION

2

OFRIDE s.r.l., University of the Salento Spin-off

dell’U i ersità del “ale to

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 3

2. LANDSCAPE FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................................... 3

2.1. THE RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE ..................................................................... 5

3. CLIMATE .............................................................................................................................................. 6

4. PHYTOCLIMATE ................................................................................................................................... 7

5. MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION OF IMPACTS ON VEGETATION AS A RESULT OF PIPELINE

CONSTRUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 8

5.1. TRANSPLANTING OF OLIVES TREES AND RESTORATION OF THE STATUS QUO ANTE......... 8

5.2. TYPES OF LAND USE AFFECTED BY THE PIPELINE AND RESTORATION OF VEGETATION .. 11

5.3. CHARACTERISATION OF FAUNA IN THE AREA OF STUDY .................................................. 12

5.4. THE DISTINCTIVE GASTRONOMIC HERITAGE OF THE AREA .............................................. 13

5.5. RESTORATION OF OLIVE TREES TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION AND CONSERVATION OF

THE AREA’“ OLIVE CULTIVATION PATTERN“ ............................................................................ 14

5.6. TEMPORARY STORAGE OF TREES AWAITING REPLANTING .............................................. 15

5.7. MONITORING PLAN ........................................................................................................... 15

6. COMMENTS ON THE THEMATIC CARTOGRAPHY .............................................................................. 16

6.1. NATURAL HABITATS CROSSED BY THE PIPELINE ............................................................... 16

6.2. OLIVE TREE PLANTING GRIDS ............................................................................................ 16

6.3. LAND USE ........................................................................................................................... 17

6.4. DRY-STONE WALLS CROSSED BY THE PIPELINE ................................................................. 17

6.5. THE IMPACT OF THE PIPELINE ROUTE ON THE PPTR ........................................................ 17

6.6. TEMPORARY STORAGE AREAS ........................................................................................... 18


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1. INTRODUCTION

This technical report was written in connection with the Environmental Compatibility Study for the

Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) Project. Specifically it deals with issues of olive tree management and

plant biodiversity along the proposed route of the Onshore gas pipeline, which runs from the Block

Valve Station in the San Basilio district (about 650 m from the shoreline) to the Pipeline Receiving

Terminal, near Masseria Capitano, in Melendugno municipality (LE).

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline project aims to build a new gas pipeline that will connect Italy and

Greece, via Albania allowing the flow of natural gas from the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea.

The Pipeline will connect with the existing greek-turkish network (Trans-Anatolian Pipeline TANAP)

and will reach the coast of Italy near San Foca, in the municipality of Melendugno on the Adriatic

coast of the Apulia region. It will be approximately 800 km long, with an offshore stretch in the

Adriatic sea of about 115 km. The maximum altitude will be about 1800 m above sea level in the

Albanian mountains and the maximum depth in the offshore section will be about 820 m. The

pipeline will have an initial gas flow rate of about 10 billion m3/year, which may be increased to 20

billion m3/year. Two compression stations are envisaged in the initial phase, with a 48-inch diameter

pipeline when ashore and 36-inch where offshore.

2. LANDSCAPE FRAMEWORK

The municipality of Melendugno has a population of about 10,000 and an area of about 91 km2

. It is

located midway between the provincial capital Lecce and the historic city of Otranto (away

respectively 18 km and 22 km) in the central-eastern Salento peninsula. Its economy is mainly based

on farming, in addition to significant tourist flows during the summer bathing season. The

Municipality has six towns: Borgagne, Roca Vecchia (an important archaeological site), San Foca,

Torre “pe hia, Torre dell’Orso a d Torre “a t’Andrea.

From a landscape point of view Melendugno is part of the plain known as the Ta oliere sale ti o ,

and specifically the coastal landscape which extends from San Cataldo to the Frassanito pinewood

and Alimini lakes (source: PPTR – Puglia Region).

Most of the Salento is a karst plain, called the Ta oliere sale ti o , except for some hilly formations

a ed “erre to the south.

These are characterized by the alternation of flat areas of varying dimensions and modest ridges

running in a NW-SE direction. The “erre are ore o ple a d more densely packed in the west of

the Salento and sparser in the east, where they extend to the coast, generating high cliffs and deep

coves.

The northern Tavoliere is generally flatter. In the absence of distinctive morphological features, in

these areas the only visual landmarks are anthropic in origin, such as bell towers, church domes and

watchtowers, which stand out above the olive trees or at the edges of depressions (such as the Valle

della Cupa). From the road network, the landscape can be seen as a mosaic of vineyards, olive

groves, arable fields, horticultural crops and xeric grassland.


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In the Central Salento a dense network of roads connects small towns situated at short distances

from each other. Here, the agricultural landscape is mainly characterized by the presence of soils

with outcropping rocks. Smallholdings of arable fields alternate with xeric grassland and small

patches of woodland. A distinctive feature of the landscape here is the presence of numerous dry-

stone structures, including the walls marking property boundaries and various traditional buildings

including pagghiare , fur ieddhri , hipuri and ali a i . Continuing eastwards the landscape is mainly characterized by olive groves. From Punta Palascìa

(marking the narrowest point of the Strait of Otranto) down to the southern cape of the Salento, the

east coast is characterized by the presence of high cliffs (up to 130 m above sea level).

North of Punta Palascìa the coast is lower, with retrodunal lakes (some of which, such as the Alimini

lakes, are of considerable size) and some of the most important and beautiful dunes in the Salento.

From Alimini to Frassanito the coast is low, except between “a t’Andrea and San Foca where there is

an alternation of sandy and rocky areas. The marshy areas in the coastal strip have frequently been

subject to reclamation by drainage.

In sub-area 10.3, Il paesaggio ostiero profo do da San Cataldo agli Ali i i Coastal landscape

from San Cataldo to Ali i i , the coastline runs more or less straight with an alternation of sandy

areas and cliffs. In proximity to the latter are caves where, in some cases, traces of prehistoric

occupation have been found. Moreover, in some cases, at the foot of the cliffs are sandy beaches.

The long beaches of the central-eastern Salento were once all characterized by the presence of

retrodunal wetlands, caused by the obstruction of brackish water outflows to the sea by the cordon

of sand dunes.

For a long time, the wetlands also prevented human occupation, which tended to develop inland, as

these areas were less vulnerable to raids by pirates from the eastern and southern Mediterranean.

Indeed, until a few decades ago the only anthropic presence along the coast was the dense system of

watchtowers built during the sixteenth century.

From the watchtowers it was also possible to communicate with the surrounding areas (e.g. Acaya

castle) by means of beacons and sound signals. The area surrounding Acaya castle was characterized

by wheat fields interspersed with Mediterranean maquis and wetlands, often used for grazing.


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FIGURE 1 – Landscape divisions in the Salento

2.1. THE RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE

The rural landscape of the Ta oliere “ale ti o is hara terized by intense agriculture and the

presence of wetlands, which are mainly located along the Adriatic coast. This area is a plain

characterized by a mosaic of vineyards, olive groves, arable and horticultural crops and pastures

(source: PPTR – Puglia region).

The agricultural landscape is closely related to the presence of settlements and their layouts, e.g. the

agricultural mosaic around Lecce and its outlying towns. The strong presence of this agricultural

mosaic is also seen along the Ionian coast, where the succession of small towns with no obvious chief

settlement has resulted in a widespread residual rural-periurban landscape.

In contrast, the Adriatic coast from Campo di Mare to Torre Rinalda is characterized by a dual rural

landscape, as the coast is highly urbanized, with a periurban agricultural mosaic originating from the

continuous fragmentation of agricultural land ever since the reclamation of the coastal wetlands

began before the Second World War. Moving from this area inland towards the first ring of towns

surrounding Lecce, the landscape is mainly characterized by olive groves, either as monocultures or

in association with arable fields.

The landscape of this area is also enhanced by a high number of traditional dry-stone artefacts (e.g.

walls, pagghiare, furnieddi, etc.).

LANDSCAPE DIVISIONS

Coastal landscape from

San Cataldo to Alimini


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In contrast, the coastal strip in the southern portion of sub-area 10.3 is characterized by greater

naturality. Indeed, in this area large tracts of shrub and forest vegetation alternate with coastal lakes

(or lagoons) and broad xeric grasslands. Here the presence of urban settlements is less invasive and

therefore the rural landscape hosts a greater number of seminatural and silvopastoral systems.

The agro-silvo-pastoral mosaic includes variously alternating olive groves, woods, arable fields and

xeric grasslands.

Moving along the coast towards Otranto, the agro-silvo-pastoral landscape gives way to a dense

patchwork of crops, sometimes characterized by the prevalence of arable fields and sometimes by a

more complex agricultural mosaic.

Moving inland from this coastal stretch, the settlement system becomes less dense, with the rural

landscape dominated by olive groves, dry-stone walls and traditional fortified farmhouses.

Vineyards are typical of the rural landscape between the first and second rings of towns around

Lecce and towards the Ionian coast (San Pancrazio Salentino, Salice Salentino, Novoli, Veglie,

Leverano, Copertino, etc.). In contrast, along the Adriatic coast vineyards are very rare. As mentioned

above, the main crop in the coastal landscape between San Cataldo and Alimini is olive groves, either

as monocoltures or in association with horticultural and/or cereal crops.

3. CLIMATE

In terms of climate the study area, like the Salento peninsula in general, has a Mediterranean climate

with mild winters (peak rainfall occurring November and March) and long dry periods in summer.

The thermo-rain gauge station of Lecce-San Cataldo shows greatest rainfall in autumn (October-

November-December), with about 270 mm compared to an average annual total of 642 mm. There is

also a second rainfall peak in late spring.

In contrast, temperature is a continuous phenomenon that can affect the phenology of plant species

directly or indirectly. In the study area the highest mean temperature values are seen in July and

August (over 31° C), and the minimum values in February (5.7° C).

The six months from January to June are the generally the most unpredictable, with March the most

variable month.

The average annual maximum temperature is close to 22 °C, while the average annual minimum is

close to 13 °C.

A detailed study of water exchange at the soil-atmosphere interface can be conducted using

Thornthwaite’s ethod Figure 2). This analyzes average monthly temperature against average

monthly rainfall (the data include parameters such as altitude, sun exposure, latitude, et … making

it possible to determine climatic trends.


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FIGURE 2 – Thornthwaite climograph (San Cataldo weather station)

The li ati ear egi s at the e d of “epte er, he the first rai s slo l redu e the soil’s ater

deficit.

In this way real and potential evapotranspiration tend to coincide, enabling the winter replenishment

of the soil’s ater reser es. This reserve usually lasts until the end of April, when increasing temperatures lead to the opposite

phenomeno , ipi g out the soil’s ater reser es a d reati g a e ater defi it. Summer, which starts in June, is dry with occasional summer rains.

The prevailing winds are from the SE and S and less frequently from the NW and N, the latter being

prevalent in summer and the southerly winds prevalent in winter.

4. PHYTOCLIMATE

Real evapotranspiration (ETr) is defined as the loss of water as vapour from ground covered by low

vegetation under natural climatic conditions.

Potential evapotranspiration (PET) is defined as the maximum quantity of moisture that can be lost

by evaporation and transpiration per unit of time, assuming sufficient moisture is always available to

meet the needs of the vegetation covering the area. PET does not take account of agronomical,

biological or pedological factors.

The ETr of the Salento is definitely lower than its PET, as summer rainfall is insufficient to allow the

full growth of plants. This leads to non-optimal growth conditions that are often offset by the use of

irrigation systems for crops and/or ornamental plants.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Months

Precipitations (mm)

Temperature (°C)

Potential evapotranspiration

Surplus

Water uptake

Deficit

Water recharge


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The whole of the north-eastern Salento from the boundary of Brindisi province to Otranto is

characterized by patches of Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.), which are found where PET values range from

820 to 860 mm/year and rainfall is higher than 600 mm/year.

The climate diagram shows how the replenishment of water reserves occurs early (starting in

September-November). In March, just before PET overtakes precipitation, the vegetation begins to

rely on the water reserves.

The early and rapid temperature rise and the falling PET values during June, July and August are

probably the most important factors affecting the vegetation of the Adriatic Salento.

Indeed these factors generate suitable conditions for Holm oak forests to flourish, in contrast to the

area south of Otranto, where the vegetation begins to draw on reserves in May and from April to

September the PET is higher than Melendugno. For these reasons the dominant phytocoenosis of

this area is Palestine oak formations (Quercus calliprinos Web.), with Holm oak formations present

only where the phreatic zone is close to the surface or in depressions with deep substrates.

The Holm oak’s dependence on the soil’s water reserves arises partly from this species’ need for

edaphic water during the period of maximum vegetative activity, which occurs in the first half of

May, when the ETr is very high.

The exploitation of water reserves, which normally goes from April to May, is much more intense in

the area south of Otranto than Melendugno. Quercus calliprinos Web. is highly tolerant of sharp

variations in water reserves, while Quercus ilex L. requires a more constant water supply.

The Holm oak needs an average temperature of about 15° C to start its vegetative season, which

explains its scarcity in areas where the temperature increase is late but sharp. The plant may not

then have sufficient water supply to meet the high transpiration rate imposed by the young and

undifferentiated leaves (Macchia, 1985).

5. MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION OF IMPACTS ON VEGETATION AS A RESULT OF PIPELINE

CONSTRUCTION

On the basis of the issues raised by preliminary studies of the natural and agricultural vegetation of

the area, we drew up a series of specific proposals for managing olive tree transplantation and

mitigation/remediation of the impact on wild vegetation, especially near dry-stone walls.

5.1. TRANSPLANTING OF OLIVES TREES AND RESTORATION OF THE STATUS QUO ANTE

The landscape and the areas lying along the path of the pipeline are mainly characterized by olive

groves, in some cases hosting trees (which are regularly surveyed) of considerable size. In olive

groves affected by the TAP, the law stipulates that o u e tal pla ts ature spe i e s that meet dimensional and qualitative criteria) must be temporarily transplanted in order to allow the

laying of the pipeline and subsequently replanted, in accordance with the original layout, once

construction is complete.

The handling of these monumental plants is regulated by Regional Law n° 1576 of 3 September 2013

("Guidelines for explantation/replantation of monumental olive trees .


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The olive tree has a shallow root system, which facilitates transplanting. The olive trees selected for

transplantation will be heavily pruned during the winter, in accordance with the phenology of the

species. The pruning will aim to decrease the wood mass, eliminating most of the terminal branches

with leaves in order to limit evapotranspiration and hence maintain a good balance of water in plant

tissues following transplantation. The pruning should be substantial but not excessive, allowing the

tree to maintain its basic structure and recover its previous appearance in a few years.

Specifically:

The branches must be cut at least 1 m from their attachment to the trunk;

Large scars must be treated with disinfectant putty;

The cutting of the main branches or the trunk is not allowed;

Assuming the transplant operations are performed with care and without unforeseen complications,

heavily pruned and transplanted olive plants take a few years (generally three) to resume

production;

The transplanted trees should be assisted with emergency irrigation during the summer;

The olive trees selected for transplantation must be extracted from the soil with an appropriate

amount of substrate (contained with jute tarp or wire mesh) in the period between December and

February, thus respecting dormancy.

Plants with cracked or compound trunks (affected by structural weakness) must be protected with

wooden cages and must not be transported over long distances but transplanted to nearby locations.

All the extracted olive plants can be placed directly in the ground or plastic pots while awaiting

replanting in their original locations. For this purpose, various arable lands and olive groves (with a

minimum planting grid size of 10 x 10 m) have been identified as temporary storage areas for the

olive trees awaiting replanting.

These storage areas will be chosen with a view to avoiding long-distance movement from the original

sites and avoiding complex transport arrangements. Many plants will be placed in existing olive

groves next to the pipeline, where the current olive planting grid size permits.

The transplanting operations require the following:

Preparation of holes with sufficient quantities of soil and peat;

In case of poor drainage, the laying of an appropriate substrate before replanting;

Correct placement of the root collar and the preferential use of biodegradable material to contain

the root system (jute tarp);

Final compaction of the soil and additional irrigation;

In the post-transplant phase, anchoring systems will be prepared where necessary, with appropriate

structures to help the plants respond to mechanical stresses. Also envisaged is essential post-

transplantation monitoring for plant pathogens, as well as adequate fertilization in the vegetative

growth period of the year following transplantation (preferably with organic-mineral compost).

The costs of removal and replanting of olive trees are estimated on the basis of the price list

published by the PUBLIC WORKS department of PUGLIA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION (2012 Edition).

The costs given below are for each plant, with related steps and maintenance to ensure optimal

germination.


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CODE DESCRIPTION QUANTITY PRICE*

Preparation for transplantation, consisting of: pruning of the

tree crown; disinfection of cut surfaces (diameter greater than

5 cm) with specific fungicides; binding of the crown where

necessary; removal of the plant from the original site ensuring

the conservation of a sufficient portion of the root system;

transportation of pruning waste to an authorized landfill and

filling of the hole with topsoil. Costs of waste disposal and

transfer of trees to new sites not included.

Inf 02 05.01 b Trunk circumference between cm 45 and cm 100 Each plant. € ,

Inf 02 05.01 c Trunk circumference more than cm 100 Each plant. € ,

Transplanting of trees, consisting of: excavation of new hole;

supply of soil and peat mixture; elimination of dead and/or

infected roots; planting; soil filling; anchorage with stakes (at

least n. 3 elements of suitable size); first watering; filling in any

cracks in the ground due to settling of soil after transplanting.

Price includes necessary mechanical equipment and labour;

price excludes transfer to the new site.



Arboreal care following transplantation (for three years)

consisting of: irrigation during dry periods no fewer than 10

times per year with sufficient water volume for the pla t’s requirements but not less than 200 litres at a time; periodic

removal of weeds; control and recovery of the anchorage

and/or possible restoration of the stakes; fertilization and

pesticide treatments. Price includes necessary mechanical

equipment and labour; price excludes water.



(*) Costs excluding VAT and Safety Duties

Olive trees for which no space is found during the pipeline’s construction will be moved, preferably

to the margins of arable fields near the site, with the la do ers’ consent, or along the roads.

Alternatively, surplus olive plants will be donated to Public Administrations, especially Municipalities

and Local Authorities, which can use them for urban regeneration and restoration of parks and public

gardens. A portion of these olive trees will be available to Research Institutions such as the Botanical

Garden of Salento University.

Inspections in the field confirmed the substantial accuracy of the olive tree mapping conducted by

Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG, and specifically concerning the monumental specimens lying in the path

of the pipeline. The few inconsistencies detected can be resolved during construction, with

appropriate extraction and transplanting operations in compliance with Regional Law n° 1576/2013

"Guidelines for explantation/replantation of monumental olive trees".

The pipeline route also runs across several dry-stone walls, typical of the landscape of the Salento.

Their distinctive structure allows for their dismantling and reconstruction at the end of the

construction process in conformity with their current features. In this case too, temporary storage

facilities for the stones have been selected. These areas are close to the construction site to avoid

complex transport arrangements. The identified areas for temporary storage consist of arable fields.


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In several cases the dry-stone walls are characterized by natural vegetation consisting of

sclerophyllous shrubs, especially Quercus calliprinos, holm oak (Quercus ilex), mastic tree (Pistacia

lentiscus), Phillyrea latifolia, buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) myrtle (Myrtus communis), etc.. Often

the shrubs cannot be transplanted because their structures adhere to the dry-stone walls, with the

root systems partly penetrating the stones of the walls, or they have very deep taproots. Following

reconstruction of these walls, similar species to those that are removed will be planted in order to

restore the original vegetation.

As a compensation measure, the plan is to replant twice as many shrubs and trees as are removed.

The replanting must be performed using indigenous ecotypes (of local origin), in order to prevent the

introduction of foreign genetic ecotypes among local populations. In this case too,

replanting/transplanting must be implemented during winter, the period of vegetative stasis for

plants. The planted shrubs will be assisted with emergency irrigation during summer.

The replanting of olive trees and maquis species will be subject to a three-year monitoring plan. This

involves checking the vegetative status of all replanted olive trees, in order to follow root and crown

development and to ensure the restoration of each plant.

For transplanted trees and shrubs the plan provides for the identification and replacement of any

dead plants in order to ensure the recovery of the original volume of vegetation.

5.2. TYPES OF LAND USE AFFECTED BY THE PIPELINE AND RESTORATION OF VEGETATION

Considering a buffer of 11 metres on each side of the pipeline (medium width 22 metres), detailed

analysis of its route shows that the following types of land use and vegetation are affected:

AREA

DESCRIPTION SQUARE METRES HECTARES

Uncultivated fields 7910 0.791

Holm oak forests 2934 0.293

Maquis/garrigue 2141 0.214

Olive groves 156778 15.678

Pseudosteppes, grasslands 4647 0.465

Arable fields 3881 0.388

Roads 3058 0.306

The route crosses 84 dry-stone walls in varying condition with heterogeneous levels of natural

vegetation coverage.

With reference to the habitats of the Natura 2000 network, the following types are identified as

being crossed by the pipeline route:

9340: Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests (2934 square metres);

6220*: Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea (4647 square metres).

In order to restore the environmental state of the terrain crossed by the pipeline after its

completion, with the specific intention of compensating for the loss of vegetation from the area’s


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well-developed and well-established agro-ecosystem phytocoenosis, we propose the following

measures:

Complete restoration of the natural vegetation affected by the project, including the shrubs at the

margins of fields and along dry-stone walls (combined with restoration of the walls themselves), the

vegetation having already been qualitatively and quantitatively surveyed;

Increasing the number of trees and shrubs and enlargement of spontaneous vegetation (holm oak

forests, maquis and garrigue) via compensation initiatives in agricultural fields, planting double the

surface area of the original vegetation. Thus, two square metres of shrubs will be planted for each

square metre of natural vegetation damaged by the route (in case of insufficient space, adjacent

areas will be evaluated for the purpose);

Where the pipeline crosses natural grassland, garrigue species will be planted (at random and

sparsely, so as to mask the route where the pipeline was laid), and suitable soil and ecological

environmental conditions for the growth of herbaceous species typical of this habitat will be restored

as much as possible;

The restoration/compensation activities will be conducted in accordance with the best natural

habitat restoration and bioengineering techniques available. The planted species will have an

average density of 1600 plants/ha and specific precautions will be taken (periodic cultivation care,

mulching discs, emergency irrigation in summer, replacement of failed plants, etc.). The described

activities aim to achieve optimal restoration of existing natural vegetation and an enhancement of

the ecological functions of the area thanks to increased woodland and maquis. All operations will be

performed during the winter (from November to March);

Plant species to be used include:

Quercus ilex;

Quercus calliprinos;

Phillyrea latifolia;

Myrtus communis;

Pistacia lentiscus;

Rhamnus alaternus;

Osyris alba;

Smilax aspera;

Ruscus aculeatus;

Rosmarinus officinalis;

Thymus capitatus;

Satureja cuneifolia;

Erica manipuliflora.

Plants for propagation will be supplied from places near the site and will therefore be properly

certified as indigenous ecotypes (local propagation material).

5.3. CHARACTERISATION OF FAUNA IN THE AREA OF STUDY


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The pipeline crosses areas that are mainly characterized by olive groves. Olive farming requires

practices including chemical weed management, ploughing, regular pruning, periodic pesticide

treatment and harvesting from October to January. All this makes it impossible for wild fauna to build

nests or find refuge areas, due to both the continuous agricultural practices and the high human

disturbance. Only birds can use olive groves as a trophic area, but they do not use olive groves as

nesting areas for the reasons previously mentioned.

Of greater natural value for fauna are the shrubby hedgerows and patches of maquis along the dry-

stone walls, which are used by birds as refuge and nesting areas.

During the inspections carried out along the pipeline route, no animal dens were detected in these

bands of vegetation. However, these environments are clearly potentially suitable for other types of

wild fauna; their partial or total elimination would interrupt the continuity of vegetation coverage,

which plays a key role in interconnecting natural areas, providing ecological corridors for species such

as small mammals. For these reasons their recovery must recreate this continuity, as they not only

have a landscape value but are also necessary to restore ecological connectivity.

The inspections also highlighted the absence of natural ponds along the gas pipeline route.

Finally, the refuge function of dry-stone walls is well known. Indeed, their fissures and cavities create

a habitat suitable for micromammals, reptiles, amphibians (frogs) and many invertebrates such as

insects, molluscs, isopods, myriapods, arachnids, etc. Their reconstruction will allow the walls to

continue to perform this important function.

5.4. THE DISTINCTIVE GASTRONOMIC HERITAGE OF THE AREA

As can be seen from land use maps, the area within the municipality of Melendugno crossed by the

TAP is mainly characterized by olive groves, with few arable fields. The latter are sparsely distributed

and are not associated with any distinctive local food products.

In contrast, the olive groves of these areas are almost entirely used for the production of an olive oil

covered by a protected designation of origin (PDO), namely "Terra d'Otra to DM August , – Official Gazette n° 193 dated 20 August 1998, entered in the "Register of protected designations of

origin and protected geographical indications" within the meaning of Regulation 1065/97).

The Terra d’Otra to PDO is reserved for an extra-virgin olive oil which meets conditions and

requirements established by a specific set of production rules governing the olive tree varieties, area

of production, cultivation, harvesting, processing and marketing. Indeed, in order to obtain Terra d’Otra to PDO certification at least 60% of the oil must be from the following varieties of olive

trees, alone or in combination: Cellina di Nardò and Ogliarola (locally known as Ogliarola Leccese or

Salentina). Up to 40% of the oil can therefore be from other varieties. The area crossed by the

pipeline falls within the territorial limits of this PDO, which includes the whole of the province of

Lecce and a part of the provinces of Taranto and Brindisi.

The regulations also state that the environmental and pedological conditions of the olive groves must

be traditional and typical of the area. Accordingly, only olive groves up to an altitude of 517 m above

sea level are accepted. The land used for oil production is calcareous, from the Cretaceous period,

with patches of lower or middle Tertiary limestones and extended sandy-clayey-calcareous


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sediments of the Pliocene and Pleistocene, found in brown and red soils, which are often found in

alternating layers lying on a calcareous rock substrate.

The planting systems, the types of cultivation and the pruning systems must be traditional, or at the

very least they must not alter the characteristics of the olives and the oil derived from them. The

maximum permitted density is 400 trees/ha.

Lastly, in the light of inspections and surveys carried out in several sample olive groves, almost all the

olive groves crossed by the pipeline exhibit the territorial, climatic, soil and agricultural features

specified by the PDO for Terra d’Otra to extra-virgin oil.

In terms of safeguarding areas associated with characteristic local food and agricultural products, the

introduction of crops other than olive groves is not advised. Indeed, although other crops (e.g.

viticulture) are potentially more profitable per unit area than olive groves, in order to safeguard the

local environmental and landscape heritage it would be best to preserve the existing olive groves.

In addition, although a hypothetical conversion from olive groves to vineyards would be more

compatible with the technical constraints imposed by the gas pipeline in terms of root development,

it would entail high installation costs as well as low productivity in the first few years of production.

Indeed, vineyards have a higher economic yield than olive groves only in the medium-to-long term.

The use of cultivars other than Cellina di Nardò and Ogliarola Lecce (typical of the Salento) would

increase olive production, but would not be consistent with the current average size of the olive

trees, thus altering the appearance of the agricultural landscape.

5.5. RESTORATION OF OLIVE TREES TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION AND CONSERVATION OF THE

AREA’“ OLIVE CULTIVATION PATTERN“

As explained in greater detail below, the pattern of olive cultivation will not undergo substantial

variation as a result of laying the pipeline: the status post-operam will be more or less identical to the

status ante-operam.

In some cases, if monumental olive trees are found to be directly interfering with the pipeline, their

position can be exchanged with smaller specimens. However, as expressed below, it is important

where possible to replant the explanted trees within their plot of origin.

Most of the olive trees present in the area affected by the construction of the Gas Terminal (in the

Masseria Capitano district) will be replanted along the perimeter of the building as a green fence.

The olive trees that will be explanted from the site of the Block Valve Station in the San Basilio

district will be replanted along the perimeter of the surrounding arable area or in neighbouring olive

groves.

As mentioned before, the layout of trees in the olive groves will not undergo substantial variation. All

the explanted trees will be properly catalogued with references to the grove of origin and their

location within it. Olive trees have shallow root systems. Given that the pipeline will be buried 1.5 m

below the surface, it should be possible to restore even large trees to their original position.

During the inspections some variability in the size of olive trees within the same plot of land was

observed. This variability in size could be useful, as the smaller olive trees could be replanted directly

above the pipeline and the larger ones in the buffer zone on either side of it.


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Small movements (up to a few dozen cm) from their original locations are also acceptable, as they

would not result in substantial changes to planting layouts.

The only areas that will see significant structural changes are the olive groves in the San Basilio and

Masseria Capitano districts, where the Block Valve Station and Gas terminal will be respectively

located.

5.6. TEMPORARY STORAGE OF TREES AWAITING REPLANTING

For storage and custody of explanted olive trees that are awaiting replanting, suitable fields and/or

groves are currently being evaluated. All the plots of land identified as potential storage areas are

suitable for temporary storage of the olive trees transplanted to allow the laying of the pipeline.

In some cases, access to the storage areas is difficult due to the poor quality of local roads and rural

lanes. It should be pointed out however that during surveys of the agricultural land crossed by the

route of the pipeline, a large number of olive groves with a broad planting grid (at least 10m x 10m)

were identified. These areas may be suitable as temporary storage areas, placing one olive tree in the

centre of each grid square. This requires that the transplanted trees are properly pollarded during

explantation (in order to redu e the pla t’s e apotra spiratio a d pla ed i ats of appropriate diameter. In some cases it will also be necessary to prune neighbouring olive trees, but this should

not be considered problematic, as periodic pruning is standard practice in commercial olive groves.

This solution could also provide greater safeguards for the explanted trees as they would remain

near the construction site. It would also be easier to monitor them and provide appropriate care (e.g.

irrigation).

The following maps (Plates F1 and F2) show potential temporary storage areas for olive trees

extracted mainly from the building sites of the Block Valve Station and Gas terminal, respectively

located in the San Basilio and Masseria Capitano districts.

5.7. MONITORING PLAN

The successful replanting of the olive trees and restoration of the natural vegetation will be verified

by a Monitoring Plan. The plan will have a term of three years and will assess the purely vegetative

aspects (vigour, phenology, etc.), the overall outcome of the restoration / recovery operations and

the impact of replanting and compensation measures on natural vegetation.

Specifically, the assessment will focus on the degree to which the transplanted olive trees (duly

catalogued), maquis and natural vegetation restored along the dry-stone walls take root.

Surveys will be periodically conducted to identify plants requiring special care or protection

treatment. All losses will be noted and replaced in a timely fashion.

The three-year monitoring plan entails two inspections a year (one per semester), making a total of

six. The surveys will be conducted during April / May to check vegetative growth and flowering

(anthesis), and during September / October to assess the degree of fruiting / dissemination of

individuals and theirs reproductive success.


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6. COMMENTS ON THE THEMATIC CARTOGRAPHY

The following section contains brief comments on the thematic maps produced during the

inspections.

6.1. NATURAL HABITATS CROSSED BY THE PIPELINE

Plates A1 to A5 show the types of natural vegetation crossed by the gas pipeline and its associated

construction site, which includes a buffer of about 11 m either side of the pipeline, i.e. a total width

of 22 m.

Along the pipeline route there are three main vegetation types that are subject to various levels of

protection (the table below also shows their surface area):

Pseudo-steppe (priority habitat cited in Dir. 92/43 EC – Annex I, cod. 6220*: Pseudo-steppe with

grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea);

Holm oak forests (Habitat of Community Interest cited Dir. 92/43 EC – Annex I, cod. 9340: Quercus

ilex and Quercus rotundifolia forests);

Mediterranean maquis/Garrigue (Habitat of national/regional interest).

AREA

DESCRIPTION M2 ha

1 Pseudo-steppe 4647 0.465

2 Holm oak woodlands 2934 0.293

3 Mediterranean maquis/Garrigue 2141 0.214

6.2. OLIVE TREE PLANTING GRIDS

Among the olive groves crossed by the route of the pipeline, the surveys recorded six different

planting grid sizes (measured as the average distance between trees on the same plot). Plates B1 to

B5 show the frequency and total surface area of each grid size.

When calculating the average distance between trees, the presence of small clearings or empty

spaces left by previous extraction of olive trees was also assessed.

GRID SIZE FREQUENCY AREA (HA)

7 x 7 2 13.8

8 x 8 16 11.6

9 x 9 23 13.0

10 x 10 27 34.4

12 x 12 5 4.0

14 x 14 4 1.7


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Olive groves with planting grids of 10m x 10m or more can be used for storage of trees explanted

from the pipeline construction site, placing one tree at the centre of each grid cell. These plants

should be properly pruned and prepared in accordance with the "Guidelines for

explantation/replantation of monumental olive trees" in Law DGR 03/09/2013 n ° 1576.

6.3. LAND USE

As mentioned in section 5.2, considering that the pipeline construction site will have a total width of

30 m including buffers (maximum width), the project was found to cross land characterised by the

following use categories and vegetation types (Plates C1 to C5; relative surface areas are shown in

the table below):

AREA

DESCRIPTION ha

Ruderal vegetation 1,05

Holm-oak woodland 0,40

Mediterranean maquis/garrigue 0,27

Olive groves 20,54

Pseudo-steppes 0,65

Arable fields 0,55

Roads 0,44

The prevailing Land use category is Olive groves, accounting for 20.54 ha, followed by Ruderal

vegetation with 1.05 ha and Pseudo-steppes with 6,500 m2. Woodland and Maquis each account for

less than 4000 m2.

6.4. DRY-STONE WALLS CROSSED BY THE PIPELINE

During the inspections 84 dry-stone walls were counted in varying condition and with varying levels

of natural vegetation coverage (Plates D1 to D5).

All the dry-stone walls that are currently partially or completely covered by arboreal or shrubby

vegetation will be restored in terms of both structure and vegetation in accordance with the

instructions cited in section 5.2.

6.5. THE IMPACT OF THE PIPELINE ROUTE ON THE PPTR

Plates E1 to E5 show the natural and semi-natural areas governed by the botanical and vegetational

sections of the PPTR (Regional Landscape Plan).

In addition to olive groves, the official maps of the PPTR indicate that the gas pipeline crosses some

natural grassland areas. However the inspections found that the area crossed by the pipeline does

not host the priority habitat vegetation described in Directive 92/43 EEC as Pseudo-steppe with

grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea (code: 6220*). Indeed, this habitat is found near


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the area of interest but the pipeline itself crosses sta le u ulti ated la d i.e. fields that were

once cultivated but have not been ploughed or used for a several years) rather than natural

grasslands hosting Thero-brachypodietea or Lygeo-stipetea.

6.6. TEMPORARY STORAGE AREAS

Plates F1 and F2 show two additional areas for the temporary storage of olive trees. Specifically, one

area is located to the north of the Gas Terminal in the Masseria Capitano district (a plot of

approximately 3.0 Ha with herbaceous crops and olive trees, see F1). The other is in the San Basilio

district, near the Block Valve Station (see F2). The latter area is about 1.2 ha and can accommodate

explanted olive trees intended for relocation to alternative sites.


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OLIVE TREE MANAGEMENT

DURING CONSTRUCTION

ANNEXES:

Plates A: Natural habitats i ter epted the pipeli e

Plates B: Oli e’s pla ti g la out

Plates C: La d Use uffer 15m + 15m

Plates D: Dr alls

Plates E: Pipeli e’s i terfere es ith PPTR Regional Landscape Plan)

Plates F: Temporary storage areas

olive tree management during construction (eng)

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