Nature

Parks and protected areas

More than 300,000 hectares of protected areas, from the Adriatic sea to the heart of the Apennines, makes Abruzzo the Italian region with the highest percentage of protected territory – more than 30% - over the national average of about 10%.
This immense variety of environments and spectacular landscapes boasts three national parks - Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga, and the Majella – which are flanked by the Sirente Velino Regional Park and a dense network of regional and state natural reserves and equipped territorial parks (areas with significant natural and environmental characteristics that have been developed to meet recreational demands while respecting the environment and wildlife), and no hunting zones and WWF oases.
Each protected territory boasts its own organisation, management, and founding mission.
The vast network of parks and protected areas in Abruzzo, which includes Siti di Importanza Comunitaria (SIC – Important Community Sites) and Zone di Protezione Speciale (ZPS – Special Protection Zones), may be likened to a sort of “green” safe where unique natural environments are kept safe, together with their rare plant and animal species, now all but extinct on the rest of the continent, and local indigenous species. Mother Nature, in her goodness, makes a treasure of everything for everyone to enjoy. Here, each of us can find a place of our own where we can fulfil our own interests in nature, as well as in history and culture.