Management Body of the Protected Areas of Ticino and Lake Maggiore

The Management Body of the Protected Areas of Ticino and Lake Maggiore manages more than 20 protected areas in the north-eastern quadrant of Piedmont, located on the territory of 60 municipalities in the provinces of Biella, Novara, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Vercelli.

Green islands within an area strongly affected by the presence of man, areas with different characteristics characterized by a rich biodiversity. Sites that require constant commitment to the protection of environmental, historical, cultural, architectural and archaeological heritage. The sites are ideal places, to be enjoyed in a respectful and conscious way, for moments of leisure in nature.
In many places are available equipped areas and parking for motor vehicles, from which you can start hiking or biking thanks to the dense network of trails and bike paths, to visitor centers, equipped areas, points of interest or birdwatching sites such as the reserve Palude di Casalbeltrame, voted best wildlife sanctuary in 2009 by birdwatchers.

Easily accessible from Malpensa airport is the protected area of the Parco del Ticino, which together with the Lombardy Park is the largest protected river area in Europe and with the Val Grande National Park and the Campo dei Fiori Regional Park are part of the UNESCO MAB World Heritage circuit.

The protected areas of Lake Maggiore are of high landscape, naturalistic and historical value, with environments of great value thanks to wetlands, peat bogs and reeds, and Lake Orta, with wooded landscapes and the reserve of Mount Mesma or Colle Buccione, with a fortified tower of 1200.

There are numerous sites belonging to the Natura 2000 network.

Worth visiting are the protected areas of the Baragge, the last strips of moorland that are striking for the simplicity and uniqueness of its landscapes and the protected areas of Biella such as the Bessa Reserve, the most important Roman gold mine of the Republican age.

Promoting biodiversity, environmental awareness, sustainable development and environmental education, reducing pollution in managed areas are the objectives of this organization, with particular attention to the involvement of young people (also through the Universal Civil Service).

Strengths

• Promote biodiversity, environmental awareness, sustainable development and environmental education.
• Reducing pollution in managed areas and not only, raising awareness of its reduction all over the world involving young people (for example through the Universal Civil Service).
• Partner and leader of several projects belonging to Life and Interreg.
• Presence of bicycle and pedestrian paths, park centers, equipped areas, birdwatching sites.