Faggete Vetuste del Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise

Five old-growth beech forest areas in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park form part of the UNESCO-listed Primeval Beech Forests of Europe. Valle Cervara, Moricento, Coppo del Principe, Coppo del Morto and Cacciagrande together preserve 937 hectares of ancient woodland.

Why it matters

The forests document the natural development of European beech woodland over centuries. Their inclusion in the transnational UNESCO serial property in 2017 recognised their ecological value and their place in a network of old-growth forests across Europe.

What to notice

Old-growth woodland contains trees of different ages and stages of decay. Mature beeches stand alongside young growth, while fallen trunks and dead wood provide habitat for fungi, insects, birds and other animals. Yew and holly also grow within the shaded forest understory.

Context and history

The five forest nuclei lie within integral reserves of the national park, where strict protection predates the UNESCO designation. Some beech trees are estimated to be as much as 560 years old. Their preservation reflects the park's long-term protection of the central Apennine forests and contributes to the wider European World Heritage listing.