NATURALISTIC TRACK “CHIUSI FOREST AND PADULETTA DI RAMONE”

 

Stretching for about 320 ha, the Chiusi Forest represents the last remarkable testimony to the plain forest that in the past probably stretched over most of the Lower Valdinievole.

Rich in century-old oak-trees, it presents the typical vegetational associations of the mesohygrophilous forest, which is highly stratified and very rich in floristic species.

Some low-lying lands subject to frequent flooding are to be found inside the forest and along its edges. The most important of them is the Paduletta di Ramone, a lateral branch of the Fucecchio Marsh, which in some spots has the characteristics of a peat-bog and preserves floristic and vegetational elements of great naturalistic interest.

The Chiusi Forest and the Paduletta di Ramone are ranked among the Nature 2000 areas, in compliance with the European Directives 92/43 and 79/409, concerning the conservation of habitats and wild species.

 

The environmental restoration works and the naturalistic track

Regional funds for protected areas along with an agreement between the Province of Pistoia and the owners made it possible to carry out a series of complex interventions of environmental restoration mostly in the  invaluable wetland areas (the Paduletta, the Pratone and a few small ponds). On the whole the restoration works, partially co-financed by the Consorzio di Bonifica del Padule di Fucecchio,  have allowed to maintain/increase the level of diversification and the complexity of the natural environments involved, especially favouring the species of highest conservational interest.

The naturalistic track includes all the different natural environments of the area, the stable meadow  the peat-bog and the broad-leaved forest, so that one can easily observe the most important botanical species, which are signalled by didactical boards.

There are a few  observatories overlooking  small ponds  for the observation of water birds.

The works have been carried out by the Azienda Agricola Castelmartini, owners of the area.

 

The area can only be visited on guided tours, in spring and summer. Information and booking at Centro di Ricerca Documentazione e Promozione del Padule di Fucecchio, Via di Castelmartini 125/A - Larciano (PT); phone  0573/84540; email fucecchio@zoneumidetoscane.it

 

 

\__ OTHER ITINERARIES

 

"LE MORETTE" NATURE ITINERARY (walk)

 

HISTORICAL-ENVIRONMENTAL ITINERARY (by car or mountain bike)

 

LENSI'S ORNITHOLOGICAL COLLECTION - COMMUNE OF FUCECCHIO

 

LE MORETTE OLD PORT

 

"VINCIO VECCHIO" (STABBIA) REST AREA