Timeline

Project Results Presented in Can Grau, Catalonia

The results of the Stonewallsforlife project were presented on November 26th in Can Grau at the Nature School of Garraf Park. The event was attended by Xesco Gomar, Vice President of the Department of Natural Areas and Green Infrastructure, accompanied by Marta Verdejo, Mayor of Olivella, and José Luis Herrera, Director of Garraf Park. During the meeting, two practical guides on dry stone walls were presented. The first focuses on how dry stone walls represent a resilience tool for adapting to climate change, while the second contains best practices in the restoration of dry stone walls and traditional architecture.

In Rome for the presentation of the Park's Adaptation Plan

The Climate Change Adaptation Plan was presented in Rome on March 27 at the Spazio Sette bookshop. All project partners were present, and great satisfaction was expressed with the outcome. «The Plan marks a decisive moment for the protection and enhancement of our territory. Here, environmental protection does not depend on the exclusion of humankind, but on its active involvement. Projects like ours demonstrate that traditional knowledge is not a thing of the past, but rather represents a key to addressing climate change with concrete and sustainable solutions». This was the comment of Lorenzo Viviani, President of the Cinque Terre Park.

New course for maintenance workers

A new course for dry stone wall maintenance workers has been launched by the Cinque Terre National Park. The course aims to deepen construction techniques but also includes several hours of theory and is part of the project's planned activities.

Planting the first vine cuttings

The Cinque Terre Winery, which was assigned the first lot of land, planted the first vine cuttings provided by the Cinque Terre Park. This is a key step in the restoration of the terraced landscape.

Diplomas awarded to 18 new maintenance workers

On December 5th, at the Cinque Terre Park headquarters, qualification certificates were awarded to the first 18 "operators responsible for the protection and maintenance of the Park's territory and environmental resources." Park President Lorenzo Viviani expressed great satisfaction, commenting: «The role of Maintenance Worker could only have arisen in the Cinque Terre, a highly anthropized territory, created thanks to the work of man, who has designed unique terraces here, a UNESCO World Heritage Site»

Project Extension Request Approved

The project extension request has been approved by CINEA, the LIFE program's managing authority, which has given the green light to continue the project until the end of 2025. This will allow for the completion of all interventions aimed at reclaiming the terraces in the Manarola Giants' Amphitheater for agricultural purposes, from rebuilding the walls to planting vines and other planned crops.

First agricultural land assigned

Following the publication of the Call for Proposals by the Fondazione Manarola, the first agricultural land—a total of 1.33 hectares located in the area above the town of Manarola—was assigned to Heydi Bonanini's Possa farm and to the agricultural companies of Cantina Crovara and Alessandro Bordone.

Monitoring activities with the University of Genoa

Experimental investigations were conducted in the Manarola amphitheater by geologists from the DISTAV department of the University of Genoa in collaboration with colleagues from the DISTAR department of the Federico II University of Naples. Investigations were carried out to simulate the phenomena of rainwater infiltration into the terraces and innovative and rapid techniques were tested to obtain digital models of the dry stone walls in order to monitor their deformations.

The notice for the assignment of land has been published

The Manarola Cinqueterre Onlus Foundation has published the tender for the assignment of part of the agricultural land located in the area above Manarola. The announcement is aimed at agricultural companies or private citizens interested in bringing back traditional cultivation.

The project in a video

Filmed by Matteo Poddie, the video tells the importance of the project in a fragile territory like that of the Cinque Terre. Dry-stone walls have the capability to drain water efficiently and preserve the soil by reducing geo-hydrological risks. Abandonment in recent decades, combined with increasingly extreme weather events, poses a serious threat for people. The Stonewallsforlife project aims to demonstrate how the ancient technology of dry-stone walls, typical of agriculture in the Cinque Terre, can be effectively used to improve resilience to climate change.

Meeting with stakeholders and local community

It was a well-attended meeting that took place with stakeholders and the local community to present the Climate Change Adaptation Plan of the Cinque Terre National Park. The event, organized in collaboration with the CMCC Foundation and Legambiente, had the aim of encouraging discussion and involvement of all the subjects present and active in the Park. Soon the story of what was discussed at the three thematic tables.

Second course started

As scheduled, the second course on dry stone wall construction techniques has started. Eighteen participants in the course - organized with the support of Isforcoop La Spezia, which includes 32 hours of training divided between theoretical and practical parts.

Fourth Monitoring Visit

The fourth monitoring visit of the LIFE Program Management Authority (CINEA) which finances Stonewallsforlife took place on 19th and 20th September. The program included a first day of meetings with the project partners which took place in the Park headquarters and a second day "in the field" where the Program representatives were able to visit the giants' amphitheater and see the latest progress of the project.

First walls completed

First walls completed and restored using traditional and innovative techniques in the amphitheater of Manarola, project intervention site.

Last lessons of the training course

The last lessons of the training course were held to learn innovative and experimental techniques for the restoration of dry stone walls. The tested technique is based on the vibro-driving of bars with continuous thread to increase friction in the ground.

The Net Zero teams (ICCROM) conducted a study visiting the Cinque Terre to learn from these heritage-centric climate adaptation projects Stonewalls4life and Life-A-Mar Natura 2000. The participants in the workshop on “Developing Integrated Strategies for Heritage Safeguard, Climate Action, Disaster Risk Reduction and Peacebuilding” had the chance to discover the Cinque Terre cultural landscape, strategies and activities of our project.

First meetings for the preparation of the climate change adaptation plan of the Cinque Terre Park continue. The CMCC supports the project partners, boasting extensive experience in developing science-driven adaptation and mitigation policies in a changing climate.

Beginning of the first training course for learning dry-stone wall building techniques, identified as a tool for resilience to climate change. Two different courses are planned: an advanced training course for maintenance workers already enrolled in the Park's Register, and a basic training course for those approaching the world of traditional building techniques.

Researchers from the University of Genoa (DISTAV) have installed four multi-parameter stations in the ground to study the response of dry stone walls to extreme climatic events

Third Monitoring Visit

Meeting and project monitoring visit with all partners to present the progress of the works on the pilot site. During the morning the technical-administrative session took place in the Cinque Terre Park headquarters, in the afternoon they went to the intervention site in Manarola.

Emanuele Raso and Francesco Marchese presented the Stonewalls4life project at the International Conference during the National Dry Stone Week organized by the Italian School of Dry Stone - ITLA Italia.

The Distav working group of the University of Genoa was in the Manarola Pilot Site to carry out stratigraphic, geotechnical, and seismic investigations. These studies aimed at deeply characterizing the sites identified for carrying out the monitoring and reconstruction of dry-stone walls. The activity involved dynamic penetrometer tests, seismic refraction surveys, GPS surveys, on-site density measurements, and soil sampling for subsequent laboratory analyses.

After the removal of the weeds on lots 1 and 2, detailed topographic surveys are in progress

The total station (pictured) serves to define points in space - with the aim of reconstructing the original morphological structure of the terraces, largely erased by decades of neglect.

Partnership meeting

After the midterm submission, all the beneficiaries are at work on the implementation of the project activities: dry stone walls restoration and climate change adaptation.

In Athens to present Stonewalls4life

We were invited to present the results achieved so far and the future prospects at the final event of the LIFE Terracescape project, held at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Athens. It represented an opportunity to compare two different models of terraced landscape conservation and development.

Inspection of the intervention area, after the cleaning works

With the planning team, on the day of the inspection of the intervention area, after the cleaning works of the infesting vegetation were carried out and the walls emerged. It is therefore possible to quantify the works to be done to recover the area and to cultivate the terraces.

In the intervention area after the first works

Meeting at the headquarters of the Cinque Terre Park and then inspection in the intervention area with researchers from the University of Genoa, the project managers, the Manarola Foundation, the representatives of the Cinque Terre Park and Legambiente after the cleaning interventions in the first two lots to evaluate the next actions to be carried out.

Work begins on the pilot site

In recent days, the process of assigning the works of the first lot within the pilot site, the amphitheater of Manarola, has been completed with the aim of removing the rampant vegetation from the land and thus being able to verify the state of conservation of the walls to subsequently proceed with the restoration of the dry stone walls. The farms in charge will have ninety days to clean the uncultivated land from the vegetation.

Stonewallsforlife in Mora La Nova, Catalonia

The Stonewallsforlife project was presented during the meeting dedicated to Dry Stone and Traditional Architecture of the Catalan-speaking territories which took place from 5 to 7 November in Mora La Nova.

Meeting with the representatives of EU Environment

Meeting with the representatives of the Directorate General (DG) of the European Commission for the Environment and the Directorate General for Climate Action organized by the managing authority of the LIFE programme to discuss the main aspects of the project and the current progress in relation to the start of the cleaning work in the intervention area in Manarola. The representatives of the DGs showed great interest in the themes of climate change and the preservation of the terraced landscape.

Second monitor visit in Manarola

During the second monitoring visit, the project monitor visited the project intervention area and inspected the ongoing works. The project staff, together with the monitor, climbed the Beccara trail until they reached the Corniolo Hill to overview the intervention area and concluded the visit on the grounds of Fondazione Manarola.

Stonewallsforlife at Politecnico di Milano

On Monday, May 3rd (11.30-13.00) our project was part of an open lecture in the master's degree course in European Environmental and Landscape Politics and Projects at the Politecnico di Milano. Emanuele Raso and Francesco Marchese spoke on behalf of the Cinque Terre National Park, respectively as Demonstration Site Manager and Junior Program Manager of the project.

Second “Virtual” Monitor Visit

On April 20th, the second meeting was held with the monitor Chiara Spotorno of NEEMO EEIG, once again in virtual mode, due to the health emergency. During the videoconference the Stonewallsforlife team presented the progress of the project. DISTAV is working on the geotechnical characterization of the site where the stations will be placed. The National Park of Cinque Terre, coordinating beneficiary, has identified the first area of intervention, while Fondazione Manarola stipulated 38 contracts to collect land for the restoration of dry-stone walls. The National Park is about to conclude a public tender for a group of professionals to carry out the intervention that will take place in the “amphitheater” of Manarola. Both partners are also working on the elaboration of the technical training documentation for the courses, including the procedures for hiring the training provider who will be in charge of organizing the courses. Legambiente presented a group of stakeholders interested in collaborating on the project and reported on the communication and dissemination activities undertaken. ITRB proposed Sierra de Tramontana in Mallorca as a site for possible future projects and has already spoken with the Council of Mallorca, which responded enthusiastically. DIBA has already received around one hundred positive responses and is still collecting data for future replication projects. After an afternoon financial and administrative session, the meeting ended positively, hoping to meet in person soon.

Meeting between the Partnership of the Project and the Advisory Board

Two meetings took place on March 26th: in the morning, a progress meeting between partners to discuss the latest developments and actions carried out and plan the next steps; while in the afternoon, the first meeting with the members of the Advisory Board, made up of associations and professionals active at an international level in the recovery of terraced landscapes.

Garraf Park presents Stonewallsforlife

Garraf Park organised two meetings to present the Stonewallsforlife project, one with the Municipalities of Garraf Park and Olèrdola Park (26 January) and the other with local organisations and stakeholders (23 February) with the aim of seeking new collaborations and inviting them to participate. The meeting on the second day took place on a digital platform and can be seen on You Tube.

Tender for the assignment of the works

The Cinque Terre Park has initiated the tender procedure for the assignment of the project of designing, managing and executing the restoration works on the terraces and dry stone walls.

Webinar with University of Camerino

Emanuele Raso, geologist of the Cinque Terre Park, and Francesco Marchese, consultant of the park, spoke during the webinar on excellent landscapes and climate change organized by UNICAM to showcase how the Stonewalls4life project represents an innovative model in the context of climate change adaptation.

New stakeholders for the project

About thirty Italian and European associations have positively responded to the invitation of the Cinque Terre Park Director Patrizio Scarpellini to collaborate in the growth of the Stonewallsforlife project. Among them stand out the European countries that, together with Italy, are registered in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List because of their dry stone walls: Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland.

Field activities

The researchers from the University of Genoa conducted fieldwork to delineate the geological and geomorphological setting of the intervention area and to understand the spatial distribution and maintenance conditions of dry stone walls.

“Virtual” monitor visit

On 8th April 2020, the monitor, Chiara Spotorno by NEEMO EEIG, discussed with the STONEWALLSFORLIFE partners the project activities so far, in a “virtual” visit due to the current Covid-19 health emergency. In a long videoconference, stock was taken of the progress of the project, which is proceeding despite some slowdown due to contingent problems. Fondazione Manarola had already identified the first lots to work on, while researchers from DISTAV were evaluating the best technologies for intervening on dry stone walls and drainage channels. Cinque Terre Park started to prepare the paperwork for the organization of the courses, which were likely to begin the following autumn. Legambiente and ITRB Group carried on contacts with stakeholders, while Diputació Barcelona identified the best area for the project replication. The meeting ended positively, hoping to meet personally soon.

The Siggen Seminar

Emanuele Raso participated in the Europarc seminar entitled "Helping Protected Areas Adapt to Climate Change”, which was held in digital format due to the COVID-19 emergency.

With the students of the Erasmus Loresu project

In Manarola, at the headquarters of the Cinque Terre Park, the students of the Erasmus LORESU project from the Fossati-Da Passano institute took part in a meeting on natural and cultural heritage and sustainability.

With Monash University students

The students were presented with the project and were then accompanied to the pilot area, where they were shown the work carried out by the Fondazione Manarola for the identification of uncultivated plots of land, their restoration and reassignment to agricultural companies and landowners.

Activities in the pilot site

Researchers from the Cinque Terre Park, the University of Genoa and ITRB developed a new survey form for the mapping and classification of dry stone walls.

Kick-off Meeting

The official presentation of Stonewallsforlife took place in Vernazza, in the Cinque Terre. In addition to the project partners, many local citizens and associations were present.

In Brussels

The Kick-off Meeting organized by EASME, the European Union agency that manages the LIFE funding programme for environmental protection, took place in Brussels.