Background The Alta Tuscia Viterbese, in central Italy, is characterised by a volcanic landscape with a unique mosaic of valuable habitats included in seven proposed SCIs. The Rupicolous grasslands of the Alysso-Sedion albi, the semi-natural grasslands with orchids of the Festuco-Brometalia, the pseudo steppe of the Thero-Brachypodietea and the Apennine beech forests with Taxus and Ilex are only a few examples of the priority habitats present in the area. The sites are also important for amphibians and bats. The natural and semi-natural habitats are, however, threatened by agricultural activities. The agricultural practices in the area – periodical fires of the riparian vegetation, the use of chemical fertilisers and the sowing of selected exotic species – contributed to the reduction of the surface of key habitats and to the pollution of local streams and Mezzano lake. In addition, the abandonment of traditional practises, such as the periodical mowing of the pasturages and the maintenance of the channels, allowed shrubs and other species to expand inside the priority grasslands and led to the disappearance of suitable habitats for the Bombina variegata and Rana dalmatina. Another threat to the area is the exploitation of the woods for the furniture industry, which affected beech forests with Taxus and Ilex. Objectives The Viterbo Province has started a process for the sustainable management of the Alta Tuscia Viterbese. For this purpose, the management plans of six proposed SCIs have already been prepared; the last one will by prepared during the LIFE project. Actions to minimise the impact of agriculture and industrial exploitation of the woods on the natural habitats would also be carried out. An intense awareness-raising campaign would be implemented to inform the farmers of the ecological value of the sites and the best agricultural practises. At the same time, the project would help restore riparian vegetation and amphibian habitats as well as regularly mow the grasslands. The monitoring of the Mezzano lake and the creation of a phyto-depuration plant would address the water pollution problem, while sylvicultural works would be carried out in order to improve the ecological conditions of the woods that are publicly managed. In addition, the province would promote the adoption of pan-European forest certification criteria for the exploitation of the woods. Results The project restored priority habitats, characteristic of the wetlands and the steppe environments, compromised or degraded by direct or indirect human activities, in seven SCIs of the heart of Alta Tuscia. A territorial data bank was produced and a Pan European Forest Certification was adopted by the Selva del Lamone Natural Reserve. Silvicultural interventions (phytosanitary cuttings, thinning, conversion to high stand and elimination of allochthonous species) were mostly carried out in the Selva the Lamone Reserve in a total of 140ha. About 1,500 of riparian channels were restored and phytodepuration interventions were carried out along 800m of the Olpeta river and 650m of the Mezzano lake. Light infrastructures were installed in Crostoletto and Vallerosa SCIs to protect important orchids habitats and about 15km of paths were restored. Water monitoring of the Mezzano lake was carried out and the knowledge of its trophic dynamics was improved. Bat populations were also monitored. An increased awareness among local stakeholders, above all farmers, was achieved through dissemination activities. Brochures on the project activities were produced and distributed. As a result of the project, forestry interventions will be continued following the indications of the Forest Management Plan of the Natural Reserve of Lamone (elimination of invasive species; maintenance and improvement of paths; mowing and restoration of grasslands formations) with regional and provincial funds. Moreover, the building of the St. Maria Church will be restored as an environmental dissemination centre. Fire control interventions will be carried out: maintenance of the fire-breaks, installation of fences, construction of wells. The distribution of the brochures will be continued by the Viterbo province. The environmental benefits of the project activities include an improved quality in the management, status and protection of the SCI sites targeted by the project, and better knowledge of the status (also for an improved protection) of the project target species (in particular, bats).