Life Ponderat is a project co-financed by the European Union whose objective is the improvement of the state of conservation of species and habitats of the Ponziane Islands.
Eradication of invasive alien animals (like rats and goats).
Implementing a strong biosecurity effort to prevent rat reinvasion.
Eradication of invasive alien plants (Carpobrotus sp.pl.).
Fencing of key land plot on Zannone to exclude wild alien ungulates (mouflons) to restore native habitats (holm oak forest).
The ailanthus is a tree of Asian origin, with a high invasive potential. It is present on the islands of Ponza and Ventotene, included in the special protection areas Islands (SPA), but in a Site of Community Importance (SCI). Indeed, the SPAs are established for the protection of the bird species listed in the annexes of the Birds Directive. The removal of ailanthus can not be financed by the instrument used for PonDerat, because it does not directly threatening bird species.