Reintroduction program of A pallipes as a promising tool for the conservation of the species in Italian Natura Sites

The Italian populations of A. pallipes has been showing a considerable fragmentation and decline on a widespread basis over recent decades, under the influence of the habitat degradation and by the introduction of non-indigenous species. The reintroduction of native crayfish into water courses is a crucial part of management and conservation strategy of the species. Some management projects have been conducted to conserve threatened populations of native crayfish in most European countries. In Italy there are few government programs and management plans for the rearing and reintroduction of A. pallipes. The most important financial instrument is LIFE program. The LIFE project “Conservation and Recovery of Austropotamobius pallipes in Italian Natura 2000 Sites – CRAINat” is taking place in 47 Italian Natura 2000 Sites in the regions of Lombardy and Abruzzo, in the provinces of Chieti and Isernia, and in the “Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park”. The project is aimed to realized specific actions of rearing for the reintroduction of young individuals of A. pallipes. In the last three years we produced 4481 young crayfish in 6 rearing centres. These crayfish were reintroduced in 17 watercourses, while 127 adults were reintroduced in 5 brooks. We have conducted monitoring actions, which have given us an important information about the outcome of reintroductions, and some indications for the future management and conservation plans of this specie.