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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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COLLEMELUCCIO-MONTEDIMEZZO |
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| General Description |
This biosphere reserve is situated in the Isernia (Molise) province in central Italy, and encompasses 637 hectares of calcareous-clay ground. The Penna Mountain (1,277 meters above sea level) borders the area to the east and the ‘Colle San Biagio’ to the west. Collemeluccio has smoother and lower relifs (1,080 meters above sea level). Main habitats include silver fir forests, mixed forest of silver fir and turkey oak, turkey oak forest with coppices of hornbeam, hash, field maple and stone, and beech forests. Silvicultural intervention has been carried out to replenish turkey oak stands. Furthermore, phytosociological and entomologic analysis has been carried out. The area is not populated and is subject to some tourism. Small villages are spread around the biosphere reserve with about 4,000 inhabitants (2003). Their main economic activities are agriculture, breeding and traditional handicraft. Many people also commute to the town of Molise. A new biosphere reserve zonation project is in progress. The two separate core areas of Collemeluccio and Montedimezzo will be included into an enlarged area delimited by two ancient sheep-tracks, which will also comprise several villages. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Mixed mountain and highland systems | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Silver fir (Abies alba) forest; mixed forest of silver fir and turkey oak (Quercus cerris); beech (Fagus sylvatica) forest; turkey oak forest with coppices of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), stone (Corylus avellana) and field maple (Acer campestre); mixed forest of turkey oak and beech; mixed forest of turkey oak, beech and ash (Fraxinus excelsior); mixed forest of hornbeam, field maple and stone with silver fir coppice | |||
| Location |
Collemeluccio: 41°44'N; 14°15'E Montedimezzo: 41°35'N; 14°15'E |
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| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 637 | |||
| Core area(s) | No zoning - Biosphere Reserve consisting of two units (preliminary definition) (Collemeluccio: 363 and Montedimezzo: 274) | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | ||||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | Collemeluccio: +790 to +1,065 Montedimezzo: +921 to + 1,284 | |||
| Year designated | 1977 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Ministero delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali - Corpo Forestale dello Stato - Gestione ex- A.S.F.D. | |||
| Last updated: 22/01/2002 |
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