Environment protection in Emilia-Romagna is first and foremost ensured by an extensive network of protected areas including 2 national and 13 regional parks, 14 natural reserves. The two national parks, with which large proportions of pre-existing regional parks have been incorporated, stretch along the ridge of the Apennines and down the Tuscan slope, while the regional parks and reserves mainly cover mountains or hills. One meaningful exception is represented by the huge park of the Po delta, which includes other wetlands of international importance distributed both along the coast and inland, and also reserves for the protection of remnant environments in the lowland, where there are also many ecological restoration areas, which ensure the protection and efficient management of small areas of wetlands and of other natural or semi-natural environments not yet swallowed by extensive agriculture and urbanisation. Along with testifying to the natural history of Emilia-Romagna, the parks and reserves safeguard rock exposures, ecosystems, sites, landscapes, species and botanical associations, habitats and staging points for fauna, which are all typical of the regional territory. Recently, however, they have also started playing an active role in scientific research, in environmental education, in the conservation and maintenance of the local ecological balance, in the recovery and valorisation of the historical heritage, in the promotion of environmental values, with a view to tourism. To understand Emilia-Romagna's rich and evocative nature, its atmosphere and lifestyle, means to enjoy an uncommon experience which reveals the true character of this region, thus contributing to shape a future when humans and the environment shall be in greater harmony.

Region of Emilia-Romagna
Parks and Forests Department
Via dei Mille, 21
40121 Bologna BO
tel. 051 6396080
fax 051 6396957
segrprn@regione.emilia-romagna.it