Vegetation Dynamics on Clay Landslides After Bioengineering Works: Three Case Studies in North Apennines, Italy

Abstract

Landslides in Italy and especially in the Emilia Romagna region represent a characteristic component of the Apennines landscape, characterized by predominantly argillaceous lithology of sedimentary origin. The total landslide area in Emilia Romagna is about 2717 km2, there are about 758 km2 of active landslides, mainly found on agricultural land. The paper examined three representative landslides of the Emilia Apennines (province of Bologna), characterized by anthropogenic abandonment during the last 70 years. The three case studies, Vimignano, Marano and Ca′ dei Ricci landslides, are located in the Reno River Mountain Basin and are united by lithological and climatic features that have caused the recurring and simultaneous land movements that occurred in the ′90 s. The study analyzed the effectiveness and status of stabilization and bioengineering intervention about 15–20 years after their execution and the ability of the natural vegetation to colonize and grow on the landslides in the calanchive basins (badlands) after stabilization, despite the unfavorable climatic and edaphic conditions. We also determined the standing vegetation which developed on the landslides on field sites.