The consequences of the fires – which in recent weeks have devastated large areas of Sardinia, Calabria, Campania and Sicily – do not stop even after the fires are extinguished. “They are devastating for Mediterranean biodiversity and, of course, for people, their properties and the economy in general,” explains Isabella Pratesi, director of the WWF Italia Conservation Program. “Forests destroyed can no longer provide the large number of services that offer to the community: hydrogeological risk reduction, soil protection from erosion, carbon absorption, regulation of the water cycle, protection of biodiversity, reduction of the effects of extreme events such as heat waves, as well as important benefits for the tourism and recreational activities in general ».
The fires, continues Pratesi, «are there consequence of an enormously serious and worrying problem: the climate crisis. Emergency that jeopardizes our well-being and our future on the planet and which should see us immediately operational to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen the resilience of ecosystems “.
In Calabria, among the particularly threatened animals in the Aspromonte National Park, there are all the species unable to escape the fury of the flames, such as the rare driomio, a small rodent endemic to Calabria, similar to a dormouse, already a victim of poaching because it is considered a traditional dish.
In one of the most biodiverse regions in the Mediterranean, the Sardinia, the flames are threatening several endemic species, such as the Sardinian deer, saved from extinction by the WWF in the 1980s, the Sardinian partridge, the Sardinian hare. The flames had a huge impact on reptiles including, in Sardinia, an important tortoise, the testudo marginata.
“Any destruction of forest habitats in Central and Southern Italy”, explains the WWF, “has a huge impact on wildlife and important ecosystems that are already reduced by fragmentation, land transformation, hunting and poaching and illegal logging. “.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
