The Collemeluccio-Montedimezzo Biosphere Reserve, recognized in 1977 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is located in the province of Isernia, in central Italy, and includes two very large forests in a sub-mountainous area, with peaks over 1200 meters above sea level.
The main habitats include silver fir forests, oaks, beech forests and the inhabitants of the small villages scattered in the reserve are dedicated to agriculture. To breeding and traditional crafts
The landscape is characterized by reliefs, river and lake plains and some water springs and boasts the presence of numerous animal species, including the salamander occhialuta, the Italian frog, the gray wolf and the polecat.
The demographic development in the area surrounding the reserve has followed the decreasing trend typical of inland mountain areas and both craft activities and tourism do not have a great impact on the territory.
The main users of the reserve are schools in April and May, and occasional visitors, especially in summer. In addition to being important areas for the conservation of biodiversity, they are also ideal places to educate young generations to respect nature and the prudent use of the resources of the territory, acting as outdoor classrooms, as well as privileged sites to activate scientific research on flora and fauna, thanks to collaboration with Italian and foreign universities. The two areas are accessible thanks to an extensive network of trails (in particular, the path Colle San Biagio, in Montedimezzo, provides accessibility to the disabled), along which periodically we also organize orienteering races, running and mountain biking, picnic areas and camping areas on request. In addition, in Montedimezzo there is the Visitor Centre, with sections dedicated to geology, woods and fauna, a screening room, wildlife enclosures and aviaries that host the wildlife in difficulty recovered on the territory.
