Parco naturale Paneveggio - Pale di San Martino

About

The Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Natural Park (Italian: Parco naturale Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino) is a nature reserve in Trentino, Italy. Established in 1967, it stretches over nearly 20,000 ha (49,000 acres) in the Dolomites (in the territory of seven municipalities, all in the Province of Trento), encompassing the Pale di San Martino massif, the Paneveggio forest, and the easternmost part of the Lagorai range, between the valleys of Fiemme, Fassa, Primiero, and Vanoi. When originally established, the park had an area of 15,700 ha (39,000 acres), which was increased by another 4,000 ha (9,900 acres) in 1987.

The lowest point is about 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above sea level, whereas the highest point is the Vezzana, the highest peak of the Pala group, 3,192 m (10,472 ft) above sea level. Its territory is divided into three categories with different levels of protection: "integral reserve" (39.82 % of the park's territory), where no human activity outside of research and hiking is allowed; "guided reserve" (49.75 %), where agricultural activity is allowed; "controlled reserve" (10.43 %), where more protection is lower and human activity is subjected to fewer restrictions. Five special...