The ancient beech forests of the gods national parks of Aspromonte and Pollino have been entered in the list of world heritage of humanity. For Calabria it is a great achievement because it is the first two recognized by the United Nations organization for education, science and culture.
A great success for Italy
The Committee has recognized the peculiar ecological characteristics of other ancient Mediterranean beech forests of our country located in the national parks of Aspromonte, Pollino and Gargano, with the new forest complexes of Pavari-Sfilzi, Pollinello and Valle Infernale. The recognition seals the international initiative followed by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, with the operational coordination of the Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise National Park, in cooperation with other European countries (Bosnia-Herzegovina, France, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Czech Republic , Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland).
The project was based on the extension of the natural transnational site of Ancient beech forests of Europe. The extension allowed the inclusion in the Unesco serial site of Mediterranean forest ecosystems dominated by beech. In particular in the southernmost sectors (Aspromonte), Mediterranean / subalpine gold (Pollino) and more at low altitude (Sfilzi) of the "Old beech forests of Europe".
Italy is among the few countries that have obtained, by the first assessment body and by the Unesco committee, a fully favorable judgment on all proposed extensions, without specific recommendations on their management or conservation status.
The beech forests of Aspromonte and Pollino
The candidacy concerns the "Pollinello" beech forest, extension of that of "Cozzo Ferriero" already part of the site, in the Pollino National Park. With it too the "Infernal Valley" forest in the Aspromonte National Park. Both are found in Calabria.
The Pollinello beech forest has unique characteristics, with the oldest beech trees in Europe, about 650 years old. Specifically, the studies in the Pollino Park led to the identification of two beech trees called Michele and Norman. The first in honor of the famous Neapolitan botanist Michele Tenore who was among the first to study our park. The second in honor of the writer Norman Douglas who visited our park. They are about 650 years old and therefore considered the oldest beech trees in Europe.
The beech woods in the Infernale Valley in the Aspromonte National Park have also become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Partly mixed with silver fir, but also with the presence of maple, it is located in one of the most internal and isolated areas of the Park. It is a rather inaccessible environment which, due to its difficult accessibility, was spared from the actions of harvesting timber.
