PROJECTS

ECOTOURISM

with the cooperation of :

Mountain Community Mount Subasio, Valtopina
Prof. Roberto Venanzoni
University of Perugia Facolty of Science MM.FF.NN, Depart. Biology and Biotechnology
Prof. Mario Principato
University of Perugia, Depart. Zoology , Project Butterflies URANI
Nicholas Pearson architect
NPAConsult, Bath ( Inghilterra)

presents a

BUTTERFLY HILL ( LA COLLINA DELLE FARFALLE)

A Biodiversity Project for a Butterfly habitat creation/preservation on Mount Subasio Park, Assisi.

Ecotourism is high on the Sustainable Development agenda. The Convention on Biological Diversity is embarking on tourism programmes.
The Assisi Nature Council in cooperation with the Biology Department of Perugia University and the Mountain Community Mount Subasio, has created a project which enables to link tourism and biodiversity protection, creating a special Reserve to encourage and protect a favourable Butterfly habitat on Mount Subasio.

Chosen Location

The area is in locality Cerqua Grossa (” Big Oak”), in the Comune of Assisi, leased from the local authority, the Mountain Community of Mount Subasio Park as an area of land most attractive for butterflies. The area was originally devoted to grazing, surrounded by woods (Quercus cerris and Quercus pubescens) .
There have been identificated 157 plant species, which are potentially favourable to a variety of Lepidoptera.

OBJECTIVES

Increase and improve the local Biodiversity, by creating a variety of experimental habitats to attract a wide range of butterfly species, native of the area;

Networking with other European Butterflies conservation sites and projects;

Promote public awareness of threat to butterflies in an area of great cultural importance for conservation, as Mount Subasio, the Mountain sacred to St. Francis of Assisi;

Help focus conservation and management measures in the area, especially among farmer communities, offering information resources to encourage more wildlife-friendly farming (e.g. Nature farming);

Encourage specialised outlets to commercialise autochthon species which at the moment are almost impossible to find;

Strengthen and develop sustainable tourism with didactic/scientific emphasis which respects nature and supports economically that part of the territory which offers a less contaminated landscape as its best attraction;

Create a proper educational environment for school and college groups, Boys Scouts guides etc and adults (ranked as ecoturists), interested individuals, amateur biologists, etc.

SOME BUTTERFLIES THAT CAN BE FOUND ON MOUNT SUBASIO

Poligonia C-Album (Comma)
Image left
FLIGHT TIME: SPRING, SUMMER.
HABITAT: WOODLAND CLEARING, FOODPLANTS: URTICA DIOICA, ROTTEN FRUIT.

Inachis Io (Peacock)
image right
FLIGHT TIME: JULY AND THEN SPRING AFTER HIBERNATION.
HABITAT: FLOWERY MEADOWS. FOODPLANTS: URTICA DIOICA , ALSO DANDELIONS AND CLOVER AND ROT, ROTTEN FRUIT.




Vanessa Atalanta (Red almiral)
Image left
LAST BUTTERFLY TO BE SEEN BEFORE WINTER.
FLIGHT TIME:FROM MAY TO OCTOBER.
HABITAT: FLOWERY GARDENS.
FOODPLANTS: FERMENTING FRUITS, BIRD DROPPINGS, ALFAALFA, URTICA DIOICA, RED CLOVER.

Aglais Urticae (small tortoishell)
image right
FLIGHT TIME: MAY TO JULY.
HABITAT: FROM GARDENS TO UPLANDS.
FOODPLANTS: URTICA DIOICA, RUBUS FRUCTICOSUS, SALIX CAPREA.




Vanessa Cardui (Painted lady)
Image left
IT IS THE MOST WIDELY DISTRIBUTED BUTTERFLY IN THE WORLD.
FLIGHT PERIOD: APRIL TO SEPTEMBER.
HABITAT: MOUNTAIN PRAIRIE, AND MEADOWS, THORN SCRUBS.
FOODPLANTS: A VARIETY OF PLANTS, THISTLES,MALVA SILVESTRI, URTICA DIOICA.

Iphiclides Podalirius (Scarce Swallowtail)
Image right
IT IS PROTECTED IN SOME AREAS,AS BLACKTHORN BUSHES ARE CLEARED.
FLIGHT PERIOD: MAY/JUNE AND AUGUST/SEPTEMBER.
HABITAT: LOW MUNTAIN, RIVER VALLEYS, BUSHES, GORGES AND RAVINES.
FOODPLANTS: PRUNUS SPINOSA, SORBUS, ROSACEAE FAMILY.




Papilio Machaon (Swallowtail)
Image left &right
FLIGHT PERIOD: APRIL/MAY, JULY/AUGUST.
HABITAT: OPEN FENS, GRASSLAND., ALSO MARSHES AND LAKES.
FOODPLANTS: MILK PARSLEY, FENNEL, DAUCUS CAROTA.




Polyommatus Icarus (common blue)
Image left
FLIGHT PERIODS: FROM APRIL.
HABITAT: MEADOWS AND OPEN SPACES, MAN-MADE HABITATS.
FOOD PLANTS: MEDICAGO SATIVA, TRIFOLIUM REPENS.

Apatura Iris ( Male Blue emperor)
Image right
FLIGHT PERIODS: JUNE TO AUGUST. DIFFICULT TO SPOT.
HABITAT: OVER TREE TOPS, OR MUD, FAECES AND DEAD ANIMALS.
FOODPLANTS: SALIX CAPREA, SALIX ALBA, DECLINIG SPECIE.