Background Pavia province, in the west of the Padana plain, hosts thousands of breeding pairs of night herons and little egret, forming the largest colonies in Europe. Squacco herons, purple herons, bitterns, little bitterns, marsh harriers and several further other EU-listed species also breed on the same sites. The presence of such a variety of species is due to wide expanses of paddy (rice) fields, which provide feeding grounds, and to remnants of lowland forest vegetation. These are typified by the EU-priority habitat of residual alder (Alnus glutinosa) woodland, in which the herons nest. The Lombardy region established a network of eight Natura 2000 sites in order to introduce conservation and safeguard biodiversity in the Po plain. The problems threatening alluvial woods are common to all the sites: changes in irrigation systems and irrigation canals; reduction in the level of the water table and invading exotic vegetation. Objectives The aim of the project was to halt the degradation of the alder woods and safeguard the presence of the heron. A total of five hectares of land in four of the eight sites would be purchased to allow execution of water management works and the creation and restoration of alder woods. The project would also introduce a water management plan, essential for the survival of the alluvial forest. The plan would include checking of the level of the water table, management of water circulation and restoration of springs, channels and locks. Degraded alluvial forests would be restored through removal of alien trees and planting of locally grown indigenous species, in order to favour the growth of continuous forest coverage. Finally, construction of paths and observation hides on the sites and educational and publicity material in schools would be used to increase awareness of the European importance of these alluvial forests among the local population. A nature education centre would be set up in an existing building on one of the sites. Results The project achieved its goals regarding the extension of reforested area, creation of wet areas, restoration of hydrological systems and extension of flooded area. These results were possible thanks to the active involvement of the local farmers in the interventions. For the future maintenance of the achieved results their involvement is absolutely necessary, especially for the maintenance of the hydrological system. Land purchase targets, though modified slightly, were also achieved. Where land was not purchased, the beneficiary secured the agreement of owners to the project plan, which included actions such as artificial plantation and agricultural cultivation. Moreover, nature conservation of the land not purchased will continue after agreements with the owners expire. Two types of conservation intervention were employed: first, selective thinning to eliminate the dead and unstable trees; second, rejuvenating of the reed bed by cutting the old vegetation and by tilling the sub-soil. A great number of suitable habitats were created. New tree plantations consisted mainly of common alder (Alnus glutinosa), in areas where cultivated fields were totally or partially included within the perimeter of natural forests, in order to reduce the edge between forest and open land. Reforestation was also carried out in plots were the wooden vegetation showed signs of regression. With the final goal of improving biodiversity; the plantation aimed to offer micro-habitats to a variety of living organisms other than trees. Overall, the forested area covered 8.35 ha; the number of planted trees and bushes was around 11 170, which were planted at a relatively high density in order to account for natural mortality during the first years after planting. The project also focussed on acquiring accurate information about the area. Alder woodlands are strongly influenced by the availability of water, and monitoring the water table was essential. Recorded data on variations of subterraneous water levels through the study period were very accurate and allowed, for the first time, the comparison of water tables by geological location, season, irrigation and land use of the surrounding areas. Additionally, field surveys were carried out in order to classify the botanical value of the area and to explore differences between woodlands managed with different criteria. Also. nesting bird populations were censured using the point count method. A Territorial Informative System was established and implemented with the data of the monitoring survey on birds, vegetation and the performed interventions. It is available on the project’s website. Observations showed that water should be present on the surface throughout the year to maintain ecological conditions suitable for alder forests. As a result, springs, which had long been abandoned, were drilled, in order to allow the upper water table to come to surface and sediments of the surrounding pools were removed. In some areas, the pools were enlarged to create new surfaces of open waters, which can be suitable for plants and animals. These activities can be contrasted by the action of some canals which take off surface water and by the periodic lowering of the water table, mostly during winter. To avoid these problems, various management actions were adopted. Canal profiles and existing throughways were reshaped. Specially shaped metal and wooden sluices were placed in order to retain water and regulate water levels inside some areas. The project also created a series of footpaths and ten observatories in five SPAs. Several information and dissemination initiatives were carried out among schools, teachers and the general public. A documentary on the garzaie in three languages (Italian, French and English) was also produced.