Osservatorio della Biodiversità della Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta

Vertebrates

Animals presenting, as a distinctive and peculiar feature, a spine that gives support to the body and allows it to move. The vertebrates represent approximately just 2% of all animal life on Earth. They are present in Italy with about 1300 species, accounting for 1 to 2% of the entire Italian fauna. In Aosta Valley about 350 species are present.

Search Gallery

Invertebrates

Large and heterogeneous set of animal species without an internal skeleton. They represent about 97% of all animal life forms on Earth. First to colonize our planet, about 4 billion years ago, they populate any terrestrial environment. In Italy there are about 55100 species, accounting for 98-99% of the Italian fauna

Search Gallery

Protection

The conservation of wildlife must consider multiple biological characteristics of vertebrates and invertebrates species, including high mobility and interactions among even distant populations. More and more often the legislative protection interventions must be transnational and thus they are shared by several Countries and Regions.

Open

Vascular flora

It represents the set of all those plants equipped with a specialized vascular system for the transport of water, minerals and sugars. Are part of the vascular flora the pteridophytes and phanerogams, all plants equipped with seeds and flowers more or less specialized, which represent, by themselves, about half of all species of the vegetable kingdom.

Search Gallery

Protection

With the Regional Law No 45/2009 - Regulations for the protection and preservation of alpine flora, the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley regulates the protection and conservation of spontaneous and native alpine flora, as well as some species of ferns, mosses and lichens. Through habitat protection, promotion of conservation and management programs, research and promotion activities, this law is intended to ensure, on the basis of international, community and national laws, the proper conservation of the flora heritage.

Open

Lichens

Symbiotic organisms resulting from the close association between a fungus and an algae. The fungus absorbs the nourishment from the algae, and in return it provides water, minerals and support. Thanks to this symbiosis the lichen can live in extreme environments, generally inaccessible to other forms of plant life.

Search Gallery

Protection

With the Regional Law No 45/2009 - Regulations for the protection and preservation of alpine flora, the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley regulates the protection and conservation of the species of lichens, which reproduction and diffusion occur in natural way. Through habitat protection, promotion of conservation and management programs, research and promotion activities, this law is intended to ensure, on the basis of international, community and national laws, the proper conservation of the natural heritage.

Open

Bryophytes

Very primitive plants that have structures similar to leaves and stems, but they are not provided of real roots and vascular tissues, and for this reason they are small. They are generally pioneer plants, able to colonize inhospitable places, where they retain water and limit soil erosion, thus favoring the settlement of species with more ecological requirements.

Search Gallery

Protection

With the Regional Law No 45/2009 - Regulations for the protection and preservation of alpine flora, the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley regulates the protection and conservation of the species of mosses whose reproduction and distribution occur in a natural way. Through habitat protection, promotion of conservation and management programs, research and promotion activities, this law is intended to ensure, on the basis of international, community and national laws, the proper conservation of the natural heritage.

Open

Mushrooms

Systematic heterogeneous group, which includes organisms with very different shapes and sizes. In general, being unable to perform the photosynthetic process, unlike the plant they must draw nourishment from other organisms. They can be parasites of animals or plants or they can live on dead organic matter, accelerating its processes of decomposition.

Search Gallery

Signalisations

In this section you can enter the signalisations for:
-Fauna
-Flora
-Lichens
-Bryophyte
-Mushrooms

To access this section you have to be registered

Username

Password

Password forgotten?

Regional Laws

The Valle d'Aosta Autonomous Region protects the wildlife present on its territory with specific regional laws. The protected species of birds and mammals are listed in the law n. 64/1994. The law n. 22/1987 is one of the first, at national level, that provides forms of protection for lower vertebrates: amphibians and reptiles. The law n. 16/1977 establishes partial protection for some invertebrates, ants and molluscs of the genus Helix.

Open Vertebrates Open Invertebrates

National Laws
The law n. 157/1992 is one of the main standards promulgated by the Italian parliament for wildlife protection. It regulates the exercise of hunting and introduces principles for the conservation of birds and mammals, according to the criteria of EU directives and international conventions.
Open Vertebrates Open Invertebrates

Birds Directive
The EU directive n. 147/2009 protects populations of European avifauna. For the most threatened species (Annex I) are provided conservation measures for the protection of their habitats and also the identification of Special Protection Areas (SPAs). For other species (Annex II and III) are identified less restrictive forms of protection.
Open Vertebrates Open Invertebrates

Habitats Directive

The EU Directive n. 43/1992 provides the protection of natural habitats and of European wildlife. It identifies habitats and species of Community interest: in Annex II, are listed the species of invertebrates and vertebrates (birds excluded) whose protection requires the identification of Special Areas of Conservation. In Annexes IV and V are inserted species that need of strict protection, and those whose withdrawal or exploitation must be managed.

Open Vertebrates Open Invertebrates

International conventions and agreements

Many international conventions deals with the protection of fauna: Washington (1973) on the control of international trade of species threatened with extinction; Berne (1979) on the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats in Europe and Bonn (1972) on the protection of migratory species (not only birds, but also mammals, reptiles, fish and insects). Among the most recent international agreements: AEWA, on aquatic birds of the European-African region and EUROBATS, on the conservation of European Bats.

Open Vertebrates Open Invertebrates