On May 24 in Italy, as in the rest of Europe, at the initiative of the European Federation of Parks – EUROPARC we celebrate an anniversary that is gaining in importance: the European Day of Parks. The date was chosen to commemorate the day on which, in 1909, the first national park in Europe was established in Sweden. In Italy, the first national park was that of Gran Paradiso, established in 1922 on the former royal hunting reserve of the Savoy family, followed immediately by the Abruzzo National Park (officially established in 1923) and later renamed the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park in 2001. Currently in our country, the system of protected natural areas consists of 24 National Parks, 133 Regional Parks, 147 State Nature Reserves, 30 Marine Protected Areas, over three hundred and sixty Regional Reserves, and a vast network of protected sites, most of which fall under the Natura2000 Network which is the main instrument of European Union policy for biodiversity conservation.
In the territories served by the A24 and A25 highways alone, there are as many as 3 National Parks and 3 Regional Parks, as well as numerous Nature Reserves. The biodiversity of these inland areas, between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas, is astonishing and justifies Abruzzo’s reputation as the Green Region of Europe: ranging from the golden eagles of the Monti Lucretili Regional Park to the Marsican bear of the Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National Park, from the more than 2,400 plant species of the Gran Sasso Park to the Apennine wolves that populate the Majella National Park.
Through this initiative, each year we commemorate the richness of Parks and Protected Areas, which constitute a unique and precious heritage to be experienced and protected. For each year, it is customary to dedicate the Day to a specific theme, usually identified the previous year during the International Conference of Europarc (which takes place in the autumn in itinerant form); this year the theme is “Together for Nature“: an invitation to all actors in the field to work and cooperate for the protection of biodiversity, for the fight against climate change that is affecting us and for sustainable development that can thus give life to the choices for the future, so that they become concrete actions.
The celebration in Italy is spread out over several days (in fact, it is also called“Parks Week“), with an increase in protected area initiatives over the two weekends straddling the date, in order to allow for a broader adherence to a rich program of thematic meetings, excursions, exhibitions and environmental activities in Parks and Protected Areas.
In Abruzzo Lazio e Molise National Park, on May 22, a twinning between six schools (from Lazio, Abruzzo and Campania) will be held in Pescasseroli to raise awareness and involve students, while on May 24, 25 and 26, environmental education activities and educational workshops open to all will be held at the Park’s Visitor Centers.
The Sirente-Velino Regional Natural Park until May 24 exploration of the Val D’Arano, in Ovindoli with excursions and workshops, such as the event“the footprint that counts,” a treasure hunt to discover the naturalistic jewels hidden in the valley. Five elementary school classes from the Istituto Comprensivo di Celano will be involved, and the day’s program will end with the discovery of the Land Art work “The Original Secret,” where children will be asked to deposit a positive thought in the wish box.
The Lazio Region, with its System of more than 100 protected natural areas, will celebrate this anniversary with a full calendar of events and activities whose common thread will be the theme “Nature and Sport.” One more opportunity to learn more about the protected areas and fully enjoy the beauty and biodiversity of the Region’s parks, reserves and natural monuments by practicing outdoor activities.
