Salina Island (Monte Fossa delle Felci e dei Porri) (ITA030028)
Site type: SAC Special Conservation Area
Code: ITA030028- Hectares: 665
Other site features: The island of Salina is characterized by two large volcanic buildings (Fossa delle Felci and Monte dei Porri), which respectively reach 962 m and 860 m. The western coast as well as the southern one is very inaccessible and steep with cliffs and gullies, while the northern and east is slightly inclined. The two volcanic cones are separated by a narrow valley running from north to south. The bioclimate of the island is part of the thermo-Mediterranean sub-humid with average annual temperatures of just over 18 ° C and average annual rainfall of 660 mm. The slopes of the volcanic cones are covered with a dense and often intricate shrub vegetation of secondary origin dominated by Erica arborea and Arbutus unedo, while in the more rocky sections Genista tyrrhena prevails. There are also limited strips of woods with Quercus virgiliana currently relegated to some gullies and cooler slopes. In some stretches, with strongly inclined rocky walls, examples of chasmophilous vegetation can be observed in which most of the endemisms are located. On the sea cliffs there are halophilic and subalophilous formations in Limonium minutiflorum and Helichrysum litoreum. The most exposed and sunniest rocky surfaces are often colonized by Hyparrhenia hirta meadows.
Although the island is quite urbanized, it is currently covered by dense and extensive shrubs mixed with strips of woods. This gives the island a certain naturalistic and landscape value. The aspects are also well represented linked to widespread rocky environments both on the coast and inland. Like the other islands of the archipelago, it hosts numerous endemics, many of which are quite enough In the territory there are also various entities which in the regional area are rare or considered of significant phytogeographic interest, to them mentioned in the list in section 3.3 (D). The island is on an important migratory route for birds of prey and storks which affects the same flow migration of the Strait of Messina. The passage of passerines is also significant, especially in autumn; abundant are Turdids and Silvids. Between the most important breeding presences are represented by the colonies of Queen's Falcon, located on the rocky cliffs. Among the passerines, the presence is noteworthy of the Magnanina. The conservation status of the habitats can be considered good and in some cases excellent, allowing the survival of a fauna relatively rich with some endemic species, sometimes only of the Aeolian archipelago, or only of the island of Salina, such as the lizard Podarcis raffonei alvearioi (Mertens, 1955), exclusive to the Scoglio Faraglione, currently excluded from the SIC perimeter for which inclusion in the SIC perimeter is proposed, and the Springtail Pseudosinella aeolica Dallai, 1973.
Source: Ministry of the Environment Natura 2000 form
Ministerial data: Natura 2000 form
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Region of Sicily
