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This reserve stretches on some 52 acres set at different altitudes between 2.200 ft and 3.150 ft.
It was established in the municipality of Malborghetto-Valbruna (UD), near the Austrian border and the very bottom of the valley. Modest slopes facing South feature some rocky outcrops and minor landslides, in a relatively undisturbed environment. Due to their steepness, slopes mostly unstable.

The reserve can be visited only for scientific or instructional purposes – it has often hosted specific research on its fauna, flora, soil and the whole Tarvisio Forest. The reserve can be reached from the village of Malborghetto (UD).

Flora
There’s a thick wood of Pinus Nigra specimens of Illyrian origin (the western part of the Balkan Peninsula), some 120 years-old and extremely pure – a most interesting and unique collection.
In the shrubs there are Amelanchier ovalis, Fraxinus ornus, Berberis vulgaris, and Genista radiata species.

Grass is made of Erica carnea, Chamaecytisus purpureus, Calamagrostis varia, Sesleria varia, Daphne cneorum, Brachypodium pinnatum, Helleborus niger, and many other species.

Endemic plants include Euphorbia triflora, Bupleurum canalese, Daphne alpina, Viola rupestris, Viola palustris, Saxifraga burserana, and Spiraea decumbens.

Bushes are mostly made of Amelanchier ovalis, and Fraxinus ornus.

Fauna
Despite the limited size of this reserve, animal species are abundant – they include Cervus elaphus, Rupicapra rupicapra, Capreolus capreolus, several Ursus arctos, and Lynx lynx.

There are also other species like Vulpes vulpes, Martes martes, Meles meles, Mustela nivalis, and many birds like Tetrao urogallus, Picoides trydactylus, Glaucidium passerinum, Aquila chrysaëtos, Bubo bubo, Drycopus martius, Aegolius funereus, Athene noctua, Parus ater, P. montanus, Sitta europea, Tichodroma muraria, Loxia curvirostra, and Pyrrhula pyrrhula.

Amphibian and reptile species include Salamandra atra, Lacerta horvathi, Vipera berus, Salamandra salamandra, and Rana temporaria.

In the reserve, there are two typical species of mountain streams fish: Salmo trutta, and Cottus gobio.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)