Are you looking for unspoilt nature? Many people think that today it can only be found in the United States or Africa. However in Europe there are still many large tracts of virgin forest and rugged mountain ranges. An example is the nature reserve in the Abruzzo region in Italy. How many people can resist taking an exciting hike in the mountains and meeting a bear face to face?
The rugged Abruzzi National Park is located in the central Appenines, around 130 miles from the Italian capital of Rome. On both sides of the entrance to Italy´s second oldest national park is a stone tower adorned with a drawing of a seated bear, the Park's mascot. A sign reads: 'Welcome to the Abruzzi National Park. Here nature is protected.'
The Park, which covers an area of 44,000 hectares, is noted for its rugged and inhospitable scenery. There are vast, dark forests and steep mountain slopes where wolves, brown bears and chamois roam. The winter here is harsh and comes unexpectedly. Wooden stakes mark the narrow mountain paths, which are just wide enough for a snow plough. In the winter these paths are hidden by snow and can only be travelled by following the wooden stakes.
Harmonious
On this nature reserve man and animal live side by side in harmony. The mountain slopes are host to all kinds of wild animals, while people live in the valleys. The Abruzzi National Park is divided into four sectors. Some are entirely off-limits to people, whereas in others one can even build a
Diabolical animals
Biologist Roberta Latini has worked in the Park for seven years. During this period she has attempted to teach the locals to respect nature, as well as wild animals. She says the years of effort have borne fruit. Not only did the villagers have to learn the need for protecting nature, but centuries-old prejudices had to be dealt with. Ms Latini says it cost a lot of effort to protect the wolf. Wolves have a poor image because they eat the shepherds' sheep, but they were also feared because of the traditional Catholic belief that they are the reincarnation of the devil.
However, what finally convinced the villagers to change their opinions was their wallets. Just beyond the village of Civitella is a fenced-off area with wolves. Local children began to imitate their howls and, much to their surprise, the wolves responded. This spectacle attracted numerous tourists, and the 300 residents of Civitella saw their incomes skyrocket. Recent figures show that tourism has given the village the highest per capita income in Italy. And this was previously a region where people lived in extreme poverty. There was hardly any work, and anyone who had the chance, left.
Two bears
Roberta Latini admits that sometimes the love of animals can go too far. She laughs as she tells about two female bears who got to feel at home in one of the mountain villages. There was an abundance of food and the villagers, who came to see them as pets, did not chase them away. The bears finally lost their natural fear of people. Which, Ms Latini says, shouldn't happen. They are still predators.
Prosperity
The development of eco-tourism has been a boon to the towns in Abruzzo. In the past the local authorities didn't want to have anything to do with environmentalists. They were afraid of too may regulations and restrictions. Now they realise that people are willing to pay to enjoy the pleasures of an unspoilt environment. They spend money in the small hotels and restaurants in the area. Or they hire guides for long hikes in the mountains. They have brought in so much money that other towns near the National Park are lobbying for its expansion, so that they can profit as well.
The Abruzzi National Park offers proof that nature conservation and tourism can go hand in hand.
Continue reading:Bialowieza: Europe´s Last Primeval Forest? (29-09-00)
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Tags: Abruzzo, brown beer, gems, Italy, national park, wolf