Description
This is a very interesting area from a naturalistic point of view, as the degradation phenomena resulting from the exaggerated exploitation of the land in the past have been recomposed through decades of shrewd sylvo-pastoral management.
The flora is particularly rich, including rare species; the fauna is varied, with expanding populations. The Malga Campobrun, in the mid-upper part of the Reserve, is regularly grazed.
It is managed by the Provincial Agency of State Forests, which takes care of the planning, programming and execution of interventions.
The environment is characterised by steep valleys interrupted by jagged crags and limestone ledges that give way to vast expanses of grazing meadows at the top. The presence of numerous mountain huts supports walking on all slopes and access to the main peaks.
The forest has colonised the lower altitudes with beech, silver fir, spruce and larch, stopping at around 1600 metres.
Pastures, high meadows and mugo thickets make up about two thirds of the protected territory and are home to a number of artefacts, including the Malga Campobrun, which is still mounted.
The vegetation consists of large expanses of mugo thickets, juniper and rhododendrons, ideal terrain for the reproduction and growth of tetraonidae and passage birds.
The flora, typically alpine, with the presence of particularly interesting floristic associations such as the Mountain Raponzolo and the Pianella della Madonna, offers rich and particular fodder to grazing animals during the summer, resulting in excellent quality dairy products.
The fauna is particularly numerous both in terms of number of species and presence: in fact, hunting in the Reserve has been strictly closed for decades, and this has favoured the presence of resident noble fauna including chamois, black grouse and rock partridge. Along the paths that cross the meadows, one can admire dozens of marmots and their burrows as far as the Malga Campobrun.
History
The name appears for the first time in 1203 transcribed as Campo Pruno, then in 1525 as Campo Bruno identifying colour. Other sources refer to the German name Brunnen, spring, fountain, thus a place characterised by the presence of water, which today is very rare and seasonal.
Established in 1971 as a Guided Nature Reserve, it is the result of long and careful forest restoration work that began after the historic flood of 1882. Precisely in order to prevent any further damage to the pre-Alpine valleys and the city of Verona in particular, between 1894 and 1897 the Forestry Committee of the Province of Verona purchased large areas to be subjected to incisive and reasoned reforestation work. Weirs and embankments were built to regulate the waters, and in 1901 the 'Turcato' nursery was set up, which supplied all the seedlings necessary for the large-scale reforestation of the Revolto valley for over 50 years. The road network was then taken care of through the creation of paths, mule tracks and later, during the war, the construction of the road that still connects the village of Giazza to the Scalorbi Refuge, in the heart of the Reserve.
Part of the Giazza Forest (429 hectares), although owned by the Italian State, remained under Austrian sovereignty, being included in the Municipality of Ala, which sold it to the Verona Forestry Committee in 1897. Settlement work continued throughout the territory until the outbreak of the Second World War.
Later, in 1951, the year of the creation of the Trentino Alto Adige Special Statute Region, the State Forests and therefore also the 429-hectare portion of the forest in the Municipality of Ala, were transferred from the State Forestry State Property to the Regional State Property and from there to the Provincial Property of Trento, which has since then been in charge of the area, which became the Campobrun Guided Nature Reserve in 1971 and, following Law no. 11 of May 2007, the Provincial Nature Reserve.
