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This Reserve is part of a restoration project to safeguard biodiversity threatened by extinction.

The mouth of the Isonzo is born on the Julian Alps and includes an area of about 5900 acres, along the last 15 km of the river course, including the Caneo area and Cona island.

Over 640 wild species can be found in this reserve. In the northern part, strips of thin lawn are full of Chrysopogon gryllus and several species of wild orchids (Ophrys holoserica, Anteriorchis coriophora, Orchis militaris, Anacamptys pyramidalis). There are also other rare plants such as Astragalus onobrychis, Gypsophyla repens, willows (Salix elaeagnos and Salix purpurea), and black poplars (Populus nigra).

In the Cona area, the salt and fresh waters alternate quite abruptly, therefore reeds of Phragmites australis and Typha angustifolia can be found, along with pools of algae and Ranunculus circinatus, semi-flooded grasslands of Bolboschoenus maritimus and Eleocharis palustris, meadows of Scirpoides holoschoenus and Carex elata, shrubs of Prunus spinosa and groves of Fraxinus angustifolia. There are also large prairies of Juncus maritimus with Limonium vulgare, Puccinellia festuciformis, and Spartaculidae sp.

The Caneo area, on the other hand, features a greater extension of reeds.
Finally, the area formed by low submerged seabeds, hosts marine herbs (Zostera noltii in shallow salty waters, Zostera marina in deeper but less salty waters), and Cymodocea nodosa in deeper salty waters).

The Reserve is also an ideal place for birdwatching: a very high number of wetland species can be seen throughout the year. It is also possible to make excursions, even with Camargue breed horses.

The Reserve is home to equine and bovine breeds that graze in a semi-wild state, which have become an important tool for managing and controlling the vegetation while preserving different flora and fauna habitats. The horses in this reserve belong to three herds used for training and work, stallions and the best foals, as well as females not used for reproduction. It is also possible to spend the night inside the typical “casoni” used for accommodating visitors.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)