Rocca Busambra and Rocche di Rao
Site type: SAC - Special Conservation Area
Code: ITA020008 - Hectares: 6243
Description:
The area of the SIC covers a total area of approximately 6236 hectares, involving the territories of the municipalities of Prizzi, Corleone, Godrano and Monreale. It is a particularly important biotope, included within the Bosco di Ficuzza nature reserve, Rocca Busambra Bosco del Cappelliere and Gorgo del Drago; it includes a large area culminating in the peak of Rocca Busambra (1613 m). From a geological point of view, this last relief constitutes a mighty limestone-dolomitic massif whose ridge emerges from a vast clayey-arenaceous blanket, extending for about 15 km from the west (Pizzo Nicolosi) to the east (Pizzo di Casa). From the bioclimatic point of view, the territory is divided into the lower subhumid, mesomediterranean (with umbrotype varying from lower subhumid to upper subhumid) and supramediterranean (with subhumid and upper humid shadows) levels. The high environmental heterogeneity diversifies a very articulated and varied vegetal landscape, to be referred to the following sigmetes (GIANGUZZI & LA MANTIA, 2004): - Tyrrhenian coastal-hilly, basifile, limestone, dry-subhumid thermo-Mediterranean series of Olivastro (Rhamno alaterni -Euphorbio dendroidis sigmetum); - Tyrrhenian coastal-hilly, mesophytic and neutral-basifilous series, on brown calcic, thermo-mesomediterranean subhumid soils of Chestnut oak (Oleo-Querco virgilianae sigmetum); - Sicilian coastal-submontane, edapho-hygrophilous, thermo-mesomediterranean subhumid series pedicellato (Ulmo-Salico pedicellatae sigmetum); - Sicilian hilly-montana series, basifile, on limestone, meso-supramediterranea subhumid-humid of Holm oak (Maples campestris-Querco ilicis sigmetum); - Sicilian hilly-submontane mesophytic and acidophilic series, on clays flyschoids, subhumid-humid meso-supramediterranea of the leptobalana oak (Querco leptobalani sigmetum); - submontane and montana sicula series, basifilous and aerohygrophilous, on calcareous-dolomitic debris, subhumid-humid supramediterranea of the mountain maple (Pruno cupanmetiani) To the aforementioned series we must also add the micro geoseries linked to particular edaphic conditions, as in the case of rock walls, areasdebris, badlands, puddles, etc.
It is one of the areas of greatest naturalistic-environmental value in the Palermo area, in which various aspects of peculiar vegetation are preserved, as well as a high number of endemic (some of which exclusive) or rare plant entities. In section 3.3, indicated with the letter D, some species are listed whose presence in the territory is considered to be of significant phytogeographic interest. Until a few decades ago, the Sicani area was considered the Italian territory with the highest density of species of birds of prey. Today, some species having disappeared, it is to be verified whether it still maintains the primacy while still hosting a good Back to top number. Also rich in species are the mammalofauna and the herpetofauna. Numerous species of endemic insects are present which considerably raise the value of entomological biodiversity if we also consider the numerous rare and threatened species present.
Source: Ministry of the Environment Natura 2000 form
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Region of Sicily
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