The Reserve is situated in the Municipality of Grado (loc. Fossalon), in the easternmost part of the "Laguna di Grado", and it was in the past a fishing valley. The presence of several environments between the sea and the mainland (lagoon, beach, wood, meadow, fishing valley, pond) makes it an ideal place for the stop and the nesting of several species of birds, while others simply spend the winter here: on the whole 260 bird species have been identified. Valle Cavanata Reserve has been declared a wetland of international value by the Ramsar Convention and it is part of the net Natura 2000, since it is a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and a Special Protection Area (SPA).