• Piedmont

• Regional Parks

• Po River Basin - Rivers and Lakes

Ghiaia Grande

(Special Nature Reserve)
The area preserves a very rich environment, without a doubt unique in its genre. In the hilly area of the Reserve, the woodland overhanging the river houses the heronry of Gray Herons and a nesting site of Black Kites and Common Buzzards. Moreover, the area is characterized by the presence of the European Pond Turtle.

Confluenza del Sesia e del Grana

(Nature Special Reserves)
It is without doubt the "natural heart" of the whole area, where the river Po takes on an imposing character with large gravelly shores, secondary river branches, and huge willow groves, which are submerged during the floods. The migratory route gives the possibility to observe a great quantity of birds: little stilts, Ospreys, Peregrines, Cormorants, and Kingfishers.

Garzaia di Valenza

(Strict Nature Reserve)
It has been created to protect the only Purple Heron colony existing in Piedmont. It also houses specimens of Black-crowned Night Herons, Squacco Herons, Little Egrets and is often visited by the Marsh Harrier.

Il Boscone

(Special Nature Reserve)
The peculiarity of this Reserve is represented by the presence of a large stretch of pluvial forest which in the past covered most of the territory. The area has been shaped by the river flow controls carried out in the 1970s, which transformed the course of the river. Along its banks there are nests dug by the Bee-eaters, while on the trees there are Hobbies' nests.

Confluenza del Tanaro

(Special Nature Reserve)
It is the natural continuation of Boscone Reserve and includes an other important confluence: the Tanaro confluence. Along this stretch of the river it is possible to observe the passage of several migratory birds, in particular Herons and Cormorants, while on the gravel islands you can find Terns, Little Terns, and many Herring Gulls.

Sponde fluviali di Casale Monferrato

(Recreational Area)
It was created to be an important green area for the town of Casale. The Reserve covers a surface area of 119 hectares, and aims at recovering the link between city and river, which was very important in the past, but deteriorated in the years of the "economic boom".

Safeguard Area

The remaining territory links the natural reserves to the equipped area and it is regulated by less strict rules: for instance, hunting is admitted. It features uncontaminated natural environments like the large woods covering the hills rich in vegetation and fauna.

Torrente Orba Special Nature Reserve

The Reserve involves two river stretches: the first stretch is situated upstream Predosa and the second stretch lies between Retorto and Casalcermelli.
Willows and poplars cover the areas surrounding the riverbed and the degrading banks of the stream. Some uncontaminated sections of riparian woodlands house foxes, badgers, beech martens, weasels, hares, roe deer, and Apennine wild boars. Besides the nesting Night Herons and Little Egrets, also Gray Herons, Moorhens, Terns, and Little-ringed Plovers live here. In the riverbed it is still possible to find some golden specks and, sometimes, the gold diggers.