The Protected areas and SCI

The network of protected areas of WWF Italy comprises around 100 nature reserves across the country. Mora than 75% of these areas fall within Natura 2000 sites protecting EU priority habitats and species.

 

They protect a unique natural heritage of exceptional landscapes, habitats and species threatened by habitat destruction and fragmentation. The network of protected reserves means that areas like the Lagorai Alps in the north, the shores of Torre Salsa in Sicily, the last wetlands of Tuscany and the few stretches of woodlands in the Padania plain are today protected under national and EU legislation.

 

Terre dell’ Oasi’s story begins in one of these unique areas: in the regional nature reserve Lago di Penne in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, where a small group of cooperatives has for years been managing the nature reserve and dedicating part of their time to farm the fields of the protected area by organic farming principles.

Their work is an example of how nature conservation and sustainable activities can be compatible.

 

A successful model that has been replicated by creating Terre dell’ Oasi, a new cooperative to include new and existing producers and replicate the case in other nature reserves. Since 2010 new nature reserves have been introduced into the project s. As of today, in addition to Penne nature reserve (SCI IT7130214), the other areas involved are: Oasi WWF della Laguna di Orbetello (Tuscany) SCI IT51A0026, Oasi WWF Saline di Trapani e Paceco (Sicily) SCI ITA010007, Riserva naturale regionale del Bosco WWF di Vanzago (Lombardy) SCI IT2050006.

 

A further area involved for a new product lies in the SCI IT9150002 Costa Otranto - Santa Maria di Leuca. More information on the single nature reserves can be found at: www.wwf.it/oasi