News Archive

The January events of the series Chantar l'Uvèrn: from Epiphany to Easter, fragments of Occitan, Franco-Provençal, and French language and culture

On the Piemonte Region website, the Fact sheets on poisonous plant species created as part of the project "Accidental poisonings from toxic plants in domestic animals"

Among the protected species within protected areas, one must not forget homo sapiens. This column, which usually discusses the limitations imposed on human activities to preserve the environment, takes a diversion dedicated to an obligation introduced for safety reasons in avalanche danger situations: that of carrying an Artva, shovel, and probe on snowy terrain throughout the Italian mountainous territory, not just in the parks.

On Saturday, December 3, 2024, an interesting report was broadcasted on Geo about the Orsiera Rocciavré Natural Park. The popular RAI program dedicated to the environment and its wonders narrated the story of a herb - thyme - and its multiple culinary and medicinal properties with its usual expertise, spiced up with spectacular shots inside the Protected Areas of the Cozie Alps. A real source of pride for a Park Authority that is responsible for safeguarding and enhancing the natural heritage of its territories.

Winter is the most challenging season for many species living in the mountains. Winter hiking and ski mountaineering activities can disrupt - sometimes threaten - the delicate ecological balance of an environment already strained by natural elements.

Located in western Piedmont on the border with France, the Chisone, Germanasca, and Pellice valleys are studied in this volume from the perspective of communication routes and the mobility of people, goods, and ideas.

They do not hunt in the parks.

In Piedmont, Regional Law no. 19/2009, article 8 states that "In protected areas established and classified as a natural park and nature reserve, the following prohibitions apply: a) hunting activities; b) introduction and use of weapons, explosives, and any destructive or capture means by individuals, unless nominatively authorized."

The best weapon against livestock poisonings comes from the precise knowledge of plants and early detection. A project involving ASL TO3, Ipla, the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Piedmont, Liguria, and Valle d'Aosta, and the Parco Alpi Cozie with the aim of developing a new diagnostic test methodology to identify toxic plants.

Reasons for a prohibition

In Piedmont, mushroom picking is regulated by Regional Law no. 24/2007, which, in summary, allows harvesting from dawn to dusk of a daily individual quantity not exceeding 3 kg for all those who are equipped with the appropriate permit. Geographical limitations apply within protected areas established in accordance with the current regional regulations and sites that are part of the Natura 2000 network identified by the respective managing bodies.

In the Protected Areas of the Cozie Alps, as in the entire Piedmont region, circulation with motor vehicles on off-road routes is forbidden according to Regional Law No. 32/1982. The ban, as stated, "also applies to mountain paths and mule tracks, as well as forest tracks and roads." This is Article 11 inserted, not by chance, in the text entitled "Rules for the conservation of the natural heritage and environmental structure" because undoubtedly vehicular traffic has an impact on ecological balances. But what is meant by "off-road routes"? Essentially, everything that is not part of the state, regional, provincial, or municipal road network.