Background The Comacchio lagoons, situated on the Adriatic Coast in the Emilia-Romagna region of north-east Italy, form part of the country’s largest and most important wetlands area. Salt has been produced there over many centuries, leading to the lagoons being transformed by man to take in seawater which could then be evaporated for salt. The whole saltpans system covers 10 000 ha. Although artificially created, these salt marshes became a rich and vital source of rare plant and bird life. The site, part of the Po Delta Regional Park, is recognised as a Special Protection Area for birds and is a Site of Community Importance under the Habitats Directive. But it has slowly been losing its distinctive ecological make-up. The salt works ceased operation in 1984. Since then the seawater which replenished the evaporation basins has no longer been regulated. Rainfall and insufficient inflow of seawater have contributed to a gradual freshening of the lagoons, altering the composition of vegetation on the banks. Changes in the water’s flow have led to almost total disappearance of the small islands that were vital nesting sites for many protected birds wintering there. Among those threatened have been the Mediterranean gull, the slender-billed gull and the sandwich tern. Conversely, development of thick herbaceous vegetation has led to more herring gulls, which prey on other species. Objectives The project beneficiary became convinced that the old salt works area should be restored for public benefit as a conservation area. Fears that the site might instead go to private sale led to plans for this LIFE project, which aimed to rehabilitate the salt marshes and recover the habitats and species associated with them. The size of the saltpans system meant that work could only realistically cover a part. The project’s objective was to restore the 550 ha area of the Comacchio salt works. Work was to be directed at re-establishing water circulation and re-starting the salt works on a small scale, according to traditional practices, both to help the ecological balance of the area and for educational and public information purposes. Establishing a monitoring system that could continue after the end of the project was also a priority objective. Power lines, which are a particular hazard to nesting birds in the area, would be buried or removed and a building made from asbestos cement demolished. Public access to the area was prohibited. The project hoped to make it accessible for guided tours and educational activities which would respect the halophytic plant life, protected birds and other fauna. Results The project endured an unexpectedly long wait before the saltpan site could be removed from the list of public properties to be sold to the private sector; but this was achieved. Po Delta Regional Park was given control of the site and the planned restoration was completed. The area is now open to the public in a controlled way and its future secured under a Management Plan than makes conservation its priority. Early work to survey the site and establish a re-instatement plan was assisted by retired salt workers who provided valuable historical information. Water circulation was improved by a number of measures including excavation of the Duomo Canal, a main artery in the system, and the re-building of a dyke which had collapsed over 180 metres. Six sluice gates were installed to allow selective distribution of water flows. New drains were constructed and pumps put in to provide control of water levels. A particularly innovative aspect of the project was the installation of a system to monitor the chemical and physical properties of the water in the lagoon. A total of 19 earth hillocks were built up to provide nesting grounds for gulls and terns, using techniques that favour the Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus), the black-headed gull (Larus Ridibundus) and other priority birds. An increase in numbers of the targeted birds was very soon recorded. A “salinetta” - little salt works - was constructed on 4 ha of the site and salt production using traditional practices has been in progress since the last two years of the project. The landscape was greatly improved and hazards to birds removed by burying or removing electric power lines and demolishing unsightly buildings. One former salt works building was restored and improved to be a monitoring and tourist information centre. Guided visits and educational trips for schools were established and will continue into the future, as will monitoring of water, habitats and populations of birds, fish and flora under the area’s new long-term management plan.