Mount Griffon (ITA020044)
Site type: SAC - Special Conservation Area
Code: (ITA020044 - Hectares: 1705
Description:
carbonate ridge that characterizes the internal part of the so-called "Palermo Mountains", located in the eastern part of the Piana di Palermo, close to the
Conca d'Oro. The same ridge culminates in the peaks of M. Grifone (m 882), the Serro di Chiarandà (m 704), the Balzo Rosso (m 732) and the Balzo di Vaddi del Fico (m
785); towards the east it goes as far as Gibilrossa. From the geolithological point of view these are predominantly carbonatic substrates which fall within the so-called
paleobacino "Imerese". From the bioclimatic point of view, the territory lies between the thermo and mesomediterranean belts (average temperature: 16-13 ° C), with
sub-humid ombrotype (average rainfall of 650-850 mm). The plant landscape is greatly affected by the intense uses of the past and frequent
fires. Aspects of prairie in Ampelodesma and other aspects of secondary vegetation dominate, in the context of which artificial forest plantings have been carried out,
through the use of conifers foreign to the territory (genera Pinus, Cupressus, etc.), which are also somewhat affected by the action of fire. The
natural forest aspects; in particular, these are olive groves on rocky ledges, or strips of holm oaks located along the edges of detrital areas or clinging to
subrupestrian areas less affected by fire.The vegetation of the territory is mainly to refer to the Olivastro series (Oleo-Euphorbio dendroidis
sigmetum) or Holm oak (Rhamno-Querco ilicis sigmetum pistacietoso terebinti and Aceri campestris-Querco ilicis sigmetum), which play a pioneering role on
limestone rocky substrates. On the deeper soils there are serial areas of the Virgilian oak (Oleo-Querco virgilianae sigmetum) or the pedicellated willow (Ulmo
canescentis-Salico pedicellatae sigmetum), the latter linked to the rivers. Various other micro geoseries must also be added to the aforementioned sigmetes
linked to particular edaphic conditions, such as in the case of rock walls, detrital areas, humid environments, etc.
4.2Quality and importance
It is an area of considerable floristic-phytocenotic and faunal interest, with partly peculiar aspects of vegetation, as in the case of the rupicolous communities, in the
which is represented by a large number of endemic plant species and / or of significant phytogeographic interest. The species listed in section 3.3 ed
indicated with the letter D refer to other entities that are quite rare in Sicily, whose presence in the territory in question is in any case considered to be
significant phytogeographic interest. The present zoocoenosis includes wild vertebrates belonging to rare or threatened species.
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
