GIOVENCO FREE TO FLOW

Giov&Go

The first removal of river barriers in Central Apennines

Bruno D'Amicis

GIOVENCO FREE TO FLOW

Giov&Go

The first removal of river barriers in Central Apennines

The initiative

Thanks to funding from the Open Rivers Programme, Rewilding Apennines removed the first artificial barriers in the central Apennines in the protected territory of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park in autumn 2024. We knocked down five concrete barriers and the bank walls that went with them, which let 11.2 km of river be reconnected. This is a pilot action never seen before in this region, and it’s designed to offer an operational and administrative model that can be replicated in other similar contexts.

Taking down the barriers on the river Giovenco is a big step towards fixing up watercourses in the Apennines, and it lines up with the goals of the European Biodiversity Strategy and the Restore our Ocean & Waters EU Mission to protect aquatic ecosystems.

Why remove these barriers?

The removal of these five barriers will bring important benefits to the Giovenco river ecosystem. In particular, it will facilitate the migration of fish and macroinvertebrates – such as Mediterranean trout and native crayfish – by increasing genetic diversity and improving population health, restore natural sediment flow through erosion and deposition processes, improve habitat quality and variety for the benefit of aquatic species and riparian vegetation, and increase the river’s resilience against flooding. We also estimate that the positive effects may extend some 25 km downstream, triggering a wider ecological “domino effect”.

A free-flowing river is not only an environmental success, but also an opportunity for growth and awareness for local communities that have lived with these precious natural resources for centuries.

“The removal of the five concrete barriers obstructing the natural flow of the river Giovenco was a difficult challenge, but we were up to the task! We had to learn along the way how to deal with this long and complex process, both in terms of planning and the tedious (though necessary!) bureaucratic process, but every research and investigation we conducted confirmed the benefits this would bring to the river and all the living beings that depend on it.

This revelation was our greatest motivation to persevere and not give up. After three years of dedicated effort, there were moments when we feared we might have to abandon the dream. But today, as we witness the fulfilment of our aspirations, all our hard work and sacrifices seem worthwhile. River barrier removal operations no longer seem so daunting.

Thanks to this initiative, Rewilding Apennines proudly joins the growing movement of positive change across Europe and the world. Breaking these barriers was not just a rewilding action for us, but a symbolic message: to show that it is possible”.

Mario Cipollone – Team Leader, Rewilding Apennines

Barrier removal on the Giovenco river supported by the Open Rivers Programme.
Bruno D'Amicis

Una guida per il futuro: i partner e la governance

GIOV & GO was developed in cooperation with the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, the Municipality of Bisegna, Rewilding Europe and other strategic partners. This collaboration between NGOs and public institutions was incredibly effective, ensuring inclusiveness of choices and a science-based approach, providing truly valuable guidelines for similar initiatives. The main challenge was the total absence of previous experience in the area, which made this a truly pioneering project. Thanks to the close coordination of our partners, we successfully tackled the complex technical phases, developed pre- and post-intervention surveys, and managed the numerous administrative procedures required – from permits to the assessments required by the relevant authorities.

Giov&Go is a pilot initiative, offering a replicable model for other small and medium-sized rivers in the region and beyond to be freed.

Monitoring: the key to success!

Monitoring before and after the intervention is going to be a vital part of the project. Starting with the initial surveys, our technicians and consultants will be on the lookout for changes in flow and sediment load, the presence of fish and macroinvertebrates, the emergence of new natural refuges, and finally assessing the possibility of repopulating native species such as Mediterranean trout and freshwater crayfish. It will also be crucial to observe the spontaneous colonisation of vegetation, as ensuring a stable cover means promoting the resilience of the river in the long term.

Special attention will be paid to habitat diversification and the river’s ability to cope with periods of drought, so as to fully understand its resilience in the face of present and future environmental challenges.

“Removing these barriers will allow the river to repair itself.
A practical example of a rewilding approach, where targeted interventions reactivate the regeneration potential of ecosystems”

Fabien Quétier, Head of Landscapes at Rewilding Europe

Bruno DAmicis

“Removing these barriers will allow the river to repair itself.
A practical example of a rewilding approach, where targeted interventions reactivate the regeneration potential of ecosystems”

Fabien Quétier, Head of Landscapes at Rewilding Europe

Loving the Giovenco river: community engagement and sustainable development

The active participation of residents and the desire to promote sustainable development form the backbone of this initiative, designed to strengthen the bond between the Giovenco river and the valley’s inhabitants. We organised targeted meetings with the stakeholders to present the objectives and overall benefits in detail of the barrier removal, flanking these opportunities for discussion with a series of education and awareness-raising activities aimed at increasing awareness of the value of the interventions carried out. At the same time, we showed how a healthier river environment can translate into real economic and social benefits, such as an increase in nature tourism.

We will continue along this path, convinced that the support and involvement of local communities is essential to make any rewilding action truly complete.

The Giovenco river

The Giovenco river, 44 km long, has its source in an area generous with springs and flows through the villages of Bisegna, Ortona dei Marsi and Pescina, before flowing into the Fucino collector canal, known as the ‘Immissario Torlonia’, and finally into the Liri. Along its course it collects water that has always supported local communities and activities: many springs, seasonal and perennial, are in fact captured for civil and industrial uses. At the end of the upstream course, near the village of Pescina, the flow of the river is blocked by a dam that serves to store water for irrigation; further downstream it becomes a highly modified, regulated and concreted body of water that flows into the Fucino drainage canal.

Since 2000, the enlargement of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park has included the Giovenco Valley within its boundaries, thus recognising its high naturalistic value. The watercourse, extending towards the Fucino plain, acts as a crucial ecological corridor between the southern area of the park and the Sirente-Velino massifs, protected by the Sirente-Velino Regional Park. In its upstream section, the Giovenco River still retains a remarkable naturalness and has wide riparian strips. However, as many as 15 small dams – scattered in just 25 km – fragment its flow. Some of these artefacts, such as those serving the aqueduct and irrigation, remain in use; others are abandoned or have long since lost their function. In any case, they all interrupt the continuity of the river.

We have chosen to remove the first five barriers, but our view goes further: we are confident that freeing the river of these barriers is possible, one step at a time. The Giovenco deserves to flow free again, to bring new life and hope not only to its valley, but also to those who live there and love it.

Find out more about River Restoration