The Natural Reserve of Capo Rama, in Terrasini, covers 57 hectares and is full part of the“CalaRossa e Capo Rama” Site of Community Importance.
Managed by WWF Italia, the reserve is included in the list of Italian Sites of Special Scientific Interest(SSSI): Capo Rama for its important geographical zone (Triassic succession) is very useful for the geological reconstruction of Sicily; Cala Rossa for its coloured marl which make it one of the most impressive areas in the western Sicily.
The reserve is characterized by the maquis of dwarf palms. The coast is high, indented and rich in coves and has a number of caves shaped by waves. The rocky seabed is swarming of sea life. The fauna has all the characteristics of the maquis and rocky coast, rich in residential and migratory birds, as the peregrin falcon. On the promontory an ancient tower, symbol of the Reserve, rises.
In the territory of Alcamo, in the Site of Community Importance “Monte Bonifato” (315 hectares) there is the Natural Reserve “Bosco d’Alcamo”(Alcamo wood). The managing body of the Reserve is the Province of Trapani. In the past this area was characterized by the Mediterranean maquis and the slopes of the mountain were covered by oak and holm oak forests, which disappeared afterwards because of deforestation and fires. Thanks to many reforestation projects nowadays the forest is rich in conifers and broadleaves.
The Site of Community Importance called Foce del Torrente Calatubo e Dune (Catalubo CreekMouth and dunes) covers 86 hectars of the territory of Alcamo and Balestrate. This area, also called Macchie di Malestrate (Malestrate spot), includes state-owned territories close to the sea. In recent past these territories experienced artificial canalization works on the dunes and a reforestation process with exotic plants, such as acacia and eucalyptus. Although these works are questionable, they ensured to preserve precious kilometers of sandy coastline from urbanization.
The other Sites of Community Importance of the area belong to Monti di Palermo (Mountains of Palermo): they cover not only part of the territories of Municipalities that are partners of LAG, but also bordering municipalities.
The sites are the following: Montagna Longa andPizzoMontanello (4.770hectars) belonging of Cinisi andTerrasini; Monte Pecoraro and P. Cirina (8.632 hectars) belonging of Cinisi and Terrasini; Monte Matassaro, Monte Gradara and Monte Signora (3.151 hectars) in the territory of Borgetto.
Lastly, it is to be mentioned the marine Reserve of Capo Gallo and the natural Reserve of Zingaro, both adjacent to our territory. Indeed, jointly to Reserve of Capo Rama, those reserves are essential for the ecological system of the north-eastern coast of Sicily and a datum point for environmental and ecological tourism.
PROTECTED AREASTTE
THE LAND OF LAG
The LAG“Golfo di Castellammare” is located between the Southern and the Western coast of Golfo di Castellammare, in the most agricoltural and less mountainous area. It includes the municipalities of Balestrate, Borgetto, Cinisi, Partinico, Terrasini e Trappeto, which are part of Palermo Province and Alcamo, which is part of Trapani Province.
From a geographical point of view, this area is characterized by three different zones. Partinico and Borgetto are in the Western side of Palermo Mountains, with their steep and barren hills, valleys, pastures and forestation areas. The agriculture is based on sheepfarming and some olive groves and some locations are Sites of Community Importance.
In the flat terrain of the coast-side of Balestrate, Cinisi, Terrasini and Trappeto, the agricolture is rich in citrus groves, orchards and olive grove. The rural landscape is still one of most evocative ones in the Sicilian coast.
The inner hillside includes Partinico and Alcamo. Citrus groves and orchards leave place for wineyards, which become more and more in the hinterland and are the peculiar features of this landscape, rich in manor houses with palms and mulberry trees at the entrance, as it was in the nineteenth century.
Music, Taste and Territory in the Gulf of Castellammare
