Healed wounds: the naturalistic restoration

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Until few years ago, Ampola Lake looked very different: in the past it has been ruined by the man and its ecosystem was in real danger. Considering its scientific importance, the lake has been placed under protection since 1986 and declared "biotope of provincial interest". In 1990 the Section for Nature Parks and Forests of the Autonomous Province of Trento started the reclaim of the area with important projects to restore the previous natural landscape and the original bio-ecological characteristics of the habitats of Lake Ampola. The first intervention regarded the reclaim of a dump for the garbage of a local factory that works metal located on the oriental shore of the lake. Because it was not possible to remove all the materials, it has been covered by a layer of ground. A long drainage between the dump and the forest prevents that the water which comes from the forest flows through the dump and becomes impure. The second one regarded the removal of a road that linked the National Road to the dump, cutting in two the damp meadow of the biotope. This compromised the flow of superficial water streams and disturbed the fauna. Another of these interventions regarded the oriental shore, which has been much damaged, especially the flora, by the construction of a road along the lake. The botanists took as an example a part of shore still complete and have gave back to the ruined ones a natural form. They planted also trees and shrubs taken from the surrounding area. Beside the western shore of the lake there was a small building used only sometimes in summers for village parties and dance-evenings. It has been transformed in the Visitor Centre of the biotope.