A trip into the past to remember Italy’s oldest parks
On Tuesday, August 23rd, in Campigna (Santa Sofia, FC), the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Gran Paradiso and Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Parks was celebrated. For this event, and as part of a series involving all the National Parks in Italy, the Casentinesi Forests organized a day dedicated to one of the symbolic animals of their territory, the Alpine Longhorn Beetle (Rosalia alpina).
This small insect lives in the deadwood of beech trees, and the UNESCO primeval forests are undoubtedly an ideal environment for this species. Even though it is challenging to spot, it is easily recognizable even by non-experts. Its role in forest environments is fundamental, which is why it is considered one of the symbols of conservation and the integration between humans and nature.
The program of the event, organized by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Federparchi, as well as the involved National Parks, focused on a special forest itinerant conference. In this meeting, researchers, interns, photographers, and entomologists discussed many of the park’s activities related to this unique insect.
Following this meeting with the experts, there was an instrumental concert by the ‘Wolfer,’ a musical ensemble playing the viola, violin, cello, and flute. Finally, in the evening, the nature photographer and director of Geo, Emanuele Biggi, gave a presentation. The event concluded with the screening of the film ‘One Hundred Years Together for Nature,’ curated by Italo Cerise, president of the Gran Paradiso National Park.
