ABRUZZO: ITALY’S WILD HEART
Italy is one of the most densely populated countries of Europe. Since thousands of years humans have tamed, cultivated and inhabited the land, leaving virtually no space behind for wilderness. When even the last bears and wolves had been eradicated from the Alps, these predators could be found only in the Central Apennines of Abruzzo. Protected by this region’s remoteness, rugged territory and pastoral lifestyle, those animals survived by learning how to live next to people and close to metropolis like Rome and Naples.
Besides the obvious large vertebrates, the biological richness of Abruzzo lies in its vast beech forests, deep valleys and solitary mountain plateaus. Here human and natural history meet in a unique mix. Only in a few other spots on the continent so many endemic species have been discovered. Even less are the places in Europe, where the food web can be still considered complete. Thus, the value of having such a wilderness in our backyard goes beyond the Italian borders: it belongs to the natural heritage of whole Europe.
Italy is one of the most densely populated countries of Europe. Since thousands of years humans have tamed, cultivated and inhabited the land, leaving virtually no space behind for wilderness. When even the last bears and wolves had been eradicated from the Alps, these predators could be found only in the Central Apennines of Abruzzo. Protected by this region’s remoteness, rugged territory and pastoral lifestyle, those animals survived by learning how to live next to people and close to metropolis like Rome and Naples.
Besides the obvious large vertebrates, the biological richness of Abruzzo lies in its vast beech forests, deep valleys and solitary mountain plateaus. Here human and natural history meet in a unique mix. Only in a few other spots on the continent so many endemic species have been discovered. Even less are the places in Europe, where the food web can be still considered complete. Thus, the value of having such a wilderness in our backyard goes beyond the Italian borders: it belongs to the natural heritage of whole Europe.
ABRUZZO: ITALY’S WILD HEART
Italy is one of the most densely populated countries of Europe. Since thousands of years humans have tamed, cultivated and inhabited the land, leaving virtually no space behind for wilderness. When even the last bears and wolves had been eradicated from the Alps, these predators could be found only in the Central Apennines of Abruzzo. Protected by this region’s remoteness, rugged territory and pastoral lifestyle, those animals survived by learning how to live next to people and close to metropolis like Rome and Naples.
Besides the obvious large vertebrates, the biological richness of Abruzzo lies in its vast beech forests, deep valleys and solitary mountain plateaus. Here human and natural history meet in a unique mix. Only in a few other spots on the continent so many endemic species have been discovered. Even less are the places in Europe, where the food web can be still considered complete. Thus, the value of having such a wilderness in our backyard goes beyond the Italian borders: it belongs to the natural heritage of whole Europe.
Italy is one of the most densely populated countries of Europe. Since thousands of years humans have tamed, cultivated and inhabited the land, leaving virtually no space behind for wilderness. When even the last bears and wolves had been eradicated from the Alps, these predators could be found only in the Central Apennines of Abruzzo. Protected by this region’s remoteness, rugged territory and pastoral lifestyle, those animals survived by learning how to live next to people and close to metropolis like Rome and Naples.
Besides the obvious large vertebrates, the biological richness of Abruzzo lies in its vast beech forests, deep valleys and solitary mountain plateaus. Here human and natural history meet in a unique mix. Only in a few other spots on the continent so many endemic species have been discovered. Even less are the places in Europe, where the food web can be still considered complete. Thus, the value of having such a wilderness in our backyard goes beyond the Italian borders: it belongs to the natural heritage of whole Europe.
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