Simone Giovacchini, Biome srl

After decades of conservation efforts, the Apennine brown bear remains critically endangered, with long-term survival depending on population growth and expansion beyond its core range. The Roveto Valley connects the core area to the widest suitable habitat patch across Central Italy, but State Road 690 may hinder the dispersal movements through the risk of collision with vehicles. Thanks to IBA funds, we analysed traffic data (volume, speed, vehicle type, daily and seasonal patterns) and assessed road permeability using Infrastructure Obstruction Profiling. All barriers, under- and overpasses were inspected to verify their functionality. A wildlife suitability map was overlaid to the road’s barrier profile and species-specific movement abilities to produce a bear road-kill risk map. Both wildlife presence and road mortality was monitored to validate suitability and road-kill risk maps. Traffic volume is high, especially during daylight, and speed limits are often ignored. However, the road includes numerous functional under- and overpasses and limited continuous barriers. It does not appear the road acts as a complete physical or behavioural barrier. The upper valley, where habitat suitability and crossing structures are greater, likely supports more crossing attempts for bears. Higher-risk segments occur mainly in the middle and lower valley. Roadkills have been rare for large mammal in the last 15 years and mainly affected synanthropic mesomammals. Nevertheless, low mortality on large mammals may reflect their very low densities in the valley (especially bear and red deer) rather than representing truly safe crossings along the road. Thus, as we hope bear densities will grow in the next years in this area, the implementation of correct mitigation measures along the State Road are claimed, especially in the upper valley to support female dispersal and in the middle/lower valley to protect roaming males crucial for future genetic connectivity across the Apennines.