The Regional Natural Park of the Ligurian Alps (in ItalianParco Naturale Regionale delle Alpi Liguri) is a natural park in Province of Imperia (Liguria, Italy). It was established in 2007 by the legge regionale nr.34 of 15/11/2007.[1]
Geography
Situated in the inland of Ventimiglia and Sanremo area, the regional park protects some of the most beautiful and important areas of the Ligurian Alps.
The protected territory, over 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi),[2] includes four separate areas, each with its particular features:
Zona di Pian Cavallo: located in the North of the park along the border with Piemonte, it includes the Bosco delle Navette (a well known conifers and beech forest) and some natural caves.
Comprensorio del Monte Gerbonte - M. Toraggio/Pietravecchia: the area hosts the 600 ha Foresta Demaniale of Gerbonte[3] and, on the mountains of the French-Italian border, a wide variety of microclimates.
Foresta Demaniale di Testa d'Alpe: is the southernmost part of the park, just some 15 km from the Ligurian Sea; the Barbaira digs a narrow valley across dolomitic cliffs.
Some territories connecting these areas are under a lesser form of environmental protection named paesaggio protetto (protected landscape).[2]
Among birds can be noticed the presence of the black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) and Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), the biggest European bird of prey. In the woods neststhe black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), and the eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), although close to the limit of its geographic range, lives on the park's cliffs.