Monte Triona and Monte Colomba (ITA020036)
Site type : SCI Special Area of Conservation
Code : ITA020036 – Hectares : 3313
Description:
The SCI area is located in the Sicani Mountains orographic complex, where it extends over a total surface area of approximately 3313 hectares, encompassing the municipalities of Bisacquino, Campofiorito, Corleone, Chiusa Sclafani, Palazzo Adriano, and Prizzi (province of Palermo). It includes the ridge that runs east-west from the towns of Campofiorito and Bisacquino to Lake Prizzi; the main peaks include Mount Triona (1215 m) and Mount Colomba (1197 m). From a geological point of view, it consists primarily of glauconitic calcarenites (Tortonian-Lower Miocene) and carbonate and silico- carbonate formations of the Sicani Units. From a bioclimatic perspective, the territory lies between the mesomediterranean (average annual temperature of 16-13°C) and the supramediterranean (average annual temperature below 13°C) zones, with an ombrotype varying between lower and upper subhumid (average annual rainfall of 600-1000 mm). The plant landscape is characterized by woodlands, shrublands, grasslands, and rocky formations typical of the Sicani territory; several artificial forest plantations have been carried out in the area, with a predominance of species foreign to the native flora, partially altering the typical features of the landscape. The main vegetation series include the Holm Oak (particularly the Campestris Maple-Querco ilicis sigmetum) on calcareous rocky substrates, and other species of the Chestnut Oak (the Olive-Querco virgilianae sigmetum and the Sorbo torminalis-Querco virgilianae sigmetum), the latter on brown, calcareous soils, at varying altitudes, respectively. Other riparian features are present along watercourses, some of which are ascribed to the Willow-Salico pedicellatae sigmetum series. Microgeoseries related to specific soil conditions, such as rock faces, detrital areas, etc., should also be added to the aforementioned series.
This is a relatively little-known area from a geobotanical perspective, but nonetheless of considerable naturalistic, environmental, and landscape value. The wooded area of Monte Colomba is particularly interesting—although partially devastated by recent fires—where the Carpinus orientalis has been reported, the only Sicilian site for this species. Section 3.3, designated by the letter D, lists several plant species whose presence in the area is considered of significant phytogeographical interest. The site hosts rare and/or endangered species of diurnal raptors.
Source: Ministry of the Environment Natura 2000 form
Ministerial data: Natura 2000 Form
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Informational contributions : Ignazio Caloggero, Sicily Region