A rich and varied beauty that stretches for 3300 hectares of coastal forest. Declared a 'biosphere reserve' in 1977, what is now known to all as 'Selva di Circe' is one of the rare examples of lowland forest in Italy. In recent days, the alarm has been raised about the danger of biodiversity and the number one risk represented by fallow deer, which attack the natural heritage and its beauty. Circeo National Park, compared to the results of some recent monitoring.
The first risk for the State Forest is in fact represented by the impact of the fallow deer population (1767 with an increase of 39%, as per the note of the Park), introduced at the beginning of the 50s, which reached a high density with the consequent "damage to the woodlands and forest renewal" as reported by the study carried out on the field of the National Park. In this aggression plant species fall victim and some are impoverished biological communities. The whole waterfall ecosystem suffers from imbalance: at risk are native species such as the common tortoise, porcupine, dormouse and Italian hare, the latter in sharp decline.
The Park Authority therefore launches its own SOS pointing the light on the conservation of biodiversity and asking to implement in this direction the interventions related to Fallow deer control management plan in the State Forest. Like? “Non-bloody solutions, such as the translocation of sterilized garments in fences for ornamental purposes or the translocation of garments inside fences in agri-tourist-hunting companies” writes the National Park in black and white. Everyone hopes that this is sufficient and that it is not necessary implement more drastic solutions, as has already happened in other Protected Areas for the management of imbalances caused by high densities of some species.
We will find out from the announcements that will be published on the various activities adopted. La Selva di Circe, with its itineraries for nature lovers, on foot or by bike, almost 15 km of magic, evokes ancient beauties, of Homeric memory. “On a rocky peak I climbed to explore: and smoke appeared in Circe's house, among the thick oak trees and the scrub”, Ulysses said in the Odyssey. There geography since then it joins the myth and is solidified in a sacredness to be defended (Paeseitaliapress.it).