Silver fir forests represent a distinctive element of the landscape of this Central Apennine region, either as dominant species or mixed with other broad-leaved trees. The forest of Collemeluccio and Pescopennataro are silver fir glacial relict populations. These glacial relict populations are sensitive species that may be used to monitor and investigate adaptation to climate change. On calcareous soils sub-mountain beech forest grow on the mountain slopes, mixed with Turkish oak, white hornbeam, ash and maple. These habitats support a varied wildlife from predators such as grey wolves, stone martens, red foxes, weasels, owls and buzzards, to herbivores and forest specialists, such as wild boars, squirrels, hares, dormice, jays and deer. Important patches of riverine forest vegetation dominated by willows and poplars can be found along the main rivers and their tributaries with several endemic amphibians.
Fauna
The images below have been taken in spring 2022 directly from the area in which the field course will take place. Clockwise below, wild boar, Sus scrofa, red kite, Milvus milvus, spectacled salamander, Salamandrinaperspicillata, a poster detailing wildlife at the UNESCO Man and Biosphere reserve of Montedimezzo.