The Xylosandrus spp sampling campaign is currently underway, as part of the SAMFIX project co-funded by the European Union LIFE program. These days the Circeo National Park Authority (project leader), in collaboration with the Parks of the Lazio Region and the Castelporziano Nature Reserve, is busy with the installation of traps for the capture of this invasive alien beetle species scolitis, a serious threat to the natural ecosystems of the Mediterranean.

Last Friday, in collaboration with the Professional Institute of Environmental Agriculture of Itri, the traps were installed in the Monti Aurunci Park; this morning, however, Samfix’s team is active in the Castelli Romani Park, while this afternoon it will move to the Castelporziano Reserve.

The capture protocol is necessary to monitor and stem the dangerous infestation. In fact it is only by activating specific protocols that the eradication or containment of current infestations can be achieved and future expansions prevented. All this is carried out in synergy with the entire territory and the scientific bodies involved in the project: institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (France); Regione Lazio-Natural Capital Regional Directorate, Parks and Protected areas (Italy); Terrasystem SRL (Italy); Universidad De Alicante (Spain); University of Tuscia (Italy); Ville d’antibes Juan-les-Pins (France).