Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
A large, mountainous area in the central Apennines, including Maiella, Monti Pizzi, Bacino Aventino e medio Sangro, Monti Frentani, Alto Vastese and Lago di Serranella. The main habitats are broadleaved and mixed woodlands (dominated by beech
Fagus and oak
Quercus), very large boulders (especially in Maiella), gorges, scrub, grasslands, and cultivated areas, as well as rivers, streams and a small lake. The main land-uses are cultivation, nature conservation, cattle-rearing and tourism. Part of this area was listed as a separate IBA in the previous pan-European IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989), `Mountains and hills between Capracotta and Rosello' (former site IT081).
The site is important for breeding raptors and some species of mountain or forest.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats are posed by the development of touristic resorts, especially for winter sports in the Maiella area. No major threats are present in the Monti Pizzi e Monti Frentani areas. Some or all of the site is covered by a management plan. Projects of the Maiella National Park include: reintroduction of red deer
Cervus elaphus, chamois
Rupicapra rupicapra and roe deer
Capreolus capreolus; studies on
Alectoris graeca,
Accipiter gentilis,
Bubo bubo and
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax; conservation of wolf
Canis lupus. Lago di Serranella and Abetina di Rosello are WWF reserves.
National Partial
International Low80,708 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Maiella-Morrone, 80,708 ha). 4,202 ha of IBA covered by State Nature Reserve (Fara S. Martino-Palombaro, 4,202 ha). 1,563 ha of IBA covered by State Nature Reserve (Feudo Ugni, 1,563 ha). 1,407 ha of IBA covered by State Nature Reserve (Lama Bianca di S. Eufemia a Maiella, 1,407 ha). 1,452 ha of IBA covered by State Nature Reserve (Monte Rotondo, 1,452 ha). 1,920 ha of IBA covered by State Nature Reserve (Valle dell'Orfento, 1,920 ha). 130 ha of IBA covered by Regional Nature Reserve (Bosco di S. Antonio, 130 ha). 1,680 ha of IBA covered by Regional Nature Reserve (Maiella Orientale, 1,680 ha). 472 ha of IBA covered by Regional Nature Reserve (Valle del Foro, 472 ha). 378 ha of IBA covered by Regional Nature Reserve (Valle dell'Orta, 378 ha). 485 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Quarto S. Chiara, 485 ha). 200 ha of IBA covered by Private Reserve (Abetina di Rosello, 200 ha). 9,973 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Maiella, 9,973 ha). 1,452 ha of IBA covered by Special Protection Area (Monte Rotondo, 1,452 ha [enlargement ongoing]).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Maiella, Pizzi and Frentani mountains (Italy). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/maiella-pizzi-and-frentani-mountains-iba-italy on 22/12/2024.
