Identifying, mapping and prioritising obsolete river barriers in the Sannio area to enable future removal actions and the restoration of freshwater connectivity and biodiversity.
The project takes place in the Sannio area of southern Italy, within the Calore Irpino catchment, one of the main tributaries of the Volturno River. Covering almost 2,900 km² and around 324 km of rivers, the study area includes the Tammaro, Tammarecchia and Calore Irpino rivers, together with the Sassinora and Lenta streams.
These watercourses flow through a predominantly mountainous and hilly landscape rich in biodiversity, connecting 21 Natura 2000 sites, the recently established Matese National Park, and the WWF Campolattaro Lake Oasis.
The catchment represents an important ecological corridor between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic sides of the Italian peninsula and supports several protected freshwater species, including the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and native fish such as the Italian barbel (Barbus tyberinus), South European nase (Telestes muticellus), South Italian bleak (Alburnus albidus), and Italian trout (Salmo ghigii), all of which benefit from well-connected river habitats.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Barrier identification and prioritisation |
| Country | Italy |
| River | Tammaro, Tammarecchia, Calore Irpino, Sassinora, Lenta |
| Focal species | Alburnus albidus, Barbus tyberinus, Salmo ghigii |
| Organisation | ASNU aps - Associazione Scienze Naturali Unite aps |
| Website | asnuaps.it/unchaining-the-rivers |
Despite its high ecological value, the Sannio river network is fragmented by the Campolattaro Dam and numerous small weirs that interrupt natural river processes and limit the movement of aquatic species. Many of these structures are obsolete, yet there is currently no comprehensive inventory of barriers or strategy to identify which ones could be safely removed.
As a result, opportunities for restoring river connectivity remain largely unexplored in this part of southern Italy. This project will provide the evidence needed to prioritise future removals and establish a clear restoration pathway, helping to accelerate river restoration in an area where no dam removal projects have yet been implemented.
The project aims to lay the foundations for restoring free-flowing rivers in the Sannio area by identifying obsolete barriers that no longer provide significant benefits but continue to fragment freshwater ecosystems. By improving knowledge of river connectivity and producing a robust, science-based prioritisation of barriers, the project will enable future restoration actions where they can deliver the greatest ecological benefits.
The expected outcomes include a publicly accessible geodatabase of river barriers, a clear pipeline of priority structures for future removal, and stronger collaboration between local authorities, stakeholders and communities. Beyond the technical outputs, the project seeks to promote a new approach to river management in southern Italy, demonstrating how barrier removal can contribute to healthier river ecosystems, the recovery of native species and greater public awareness of the value of free-flowing rivers.
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