Background The NEMOS project concerns seven SICps, whose total surface area amounts to 193 hectares in the three main valleys running through the southern Alpine area within the territory of the Province of Trento. The prevailing environment in all the sites is wetland habitat. In particular there is valuable alluvial forest, herbaceous river vegetation and underwater vegetation, priority habitats included in the Annex I of the Directive 92/43/CEE, which characterise these Alpine wetlands. These wetland areas provide specific habitats for many rare species, including many species of rare birds who use the sites as important resting points when crossing the Alps. For some decades, human intervention has reduced and impoverished these habitats. Among the most serious reasons for their decline are the intensification of agriculture and the reduction of wetlands caused by draining and modification of the watercourses. Such operations were carried out largely because the local population was unaware that such habitats existed and were of value. Four of the sites have already received LIFE funding in the last decade under the NIBBIO (LIFE95 NAT/IT/000742) and NECTON (LIFE97 NAT/IT/004089) projects. The NEMOS project represents the logical continuation and completion of actions already undertaken with positive results. Objectives The project aimed to restore and improve the network of small valley-bottom wetlands in Trento. It sought to integrate and complete two previous LIFE Projects in the same region - "NIBBIO" and "NECTON" - building on their experiences. It planned to acquire land and carry out restoration work on the wetlands and riverine vegetation. Canals were to be renaturalised and new wetland areas created. It also foresaw the designation of new Special Protection Areas for birds to foster the recovery and improvement of the wetlands. The project envisaged the drawing up of an action plan for the future management of the wetlands using the experience gained over ten years by the Province of Trento in the management of Alpine wetland areas. Efforts would be made to reduce the impact of human activity by improving existing agricultural practices. These efforts would be accompanied by information and publicity campaigns addressed at the local population to increase their awareness of the importance of the wetlands. Results The project succeeded in increasing biodiversity within the Trento province by the re-creation of humid habitats of EU interest for amphibians, fish and birds listed in the EU Directives on nature conservation. It was able to expand and reinforce the NATURA 2000 network following the establishment of new SPAs. Following difficult negotiations with landowners, the project was able to: plant 3.85 ha of riparial forests - Alnus, Populus, etc; create 0.57 ha of new hydrophytic coenosis; create 2.94 ha of new wetlands; restore 2.2 ha of wet meadow; and restore 2.43 ha of hay meadow. Five out of seven SCIs (Fontanazzo, Inghiaie, Rocchetta, Adige e Lago d’Idro) covered by the project were designated as SPAs, thanks to the study and the lobbying activity carried out within the LIFE project. The restoration and new creation of these priority humid habitats favoured the presence of species linked to water, in particular fish, amphibians and birds. The link between the fluvial wetlands and the river allowed for the re-colonisation of rare species of fish. The new ponds and canals represent new breeding sites for amphibians, among which the Yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegate), included in the Annex II of the Habitats Directive. The project is particularly important for migratory birds, many of which are listed in the Birds Directive, along the route from South to North Europe. The new riparian woods, hedges and ponds increased the staging areas and the availability of food. The project successfully implemented didactic activity, including an awareness campaign and the realisation of a trail for visitors. The campaign involved the holding of public meetings and the production and dissemination of press releases, leaflets and brochures. This has helped increase local acceptance of the project’s work and to share the experience acquired with other managers within the NATURA 2000 network. Finally the project produced multilingual management plans to guide the continued maintenance of the wetland sites beyond the duration of the LIFE project. Farmers will continue to be involved in the works carried out and in the transformation of other cultivations from intensive to extensive. Scientific monitoring will continue to consolidate the data acquired during the project in the long-run.