Anthropized Landscape

For the preservation of biodiversity, it is fundamental to keep protected its habitats, including the rural landscapes and the small mountain village ones, matching perfectly their territory.

Once farmers took care of the preservation of some natural elements such as fences, dry-stone walls, small woods, ponds and isolated tree because they were breeding or feeding environment and haunts for several birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and entomophagous insects useful to the agricultural activities. In fact, if an environment is full of wild flora and fauna, is in biological balance, needing less human intervention to contain those species dangerous for the farming. The so-called “macerine” are a characteristic feature of traditional rural landscape in Majella National Park. These are rock piles placed most of the times at the edges of allotments, once very common while remaining today only as cultural evidence in wastelands.

The “Macerine” stand as an important proof of farmers work during the centuries, who after taking them off the ground, used them again to build dry-stone walls. Today these dry-stone walls covered with mosses and ferns are haunts for several invertebrates and reptiles like the wall-Lizard, the Riccioli Coluber and the Aesculapius’ Snake.

The pastures are another very common anthropized habitat on Majella (covering more than 20% of the territory) known in the past as the land of the sheep. These environments have been suitable to several endemic vegetable species, which are preserved by this particular habitat generated during centuries of sheep-farming activities.

The clearings and the open spaces originated from pastures allow the life of various ornithological species like Greek Partridge, Ortolan, Woodlark, Meadow Pipit. All of these species are included in the “Birds Directive” and here can find their nourishment based on grass insects.