“Daughter of the river, mother of the wood”
On the banks of the Po, behind the village of Carbonara, Isola Boscone contains the second largest spontaneous woodland area in the Province of Mantua, a particularly relevant element in a region such as Lombardy where just 3.5% of the plain area is wooded.
Founded in 1984, the nature reserve covers an area of 130 hectares, is part of the Natura 2000 European ecological network and is one of the 51 Wetlands of International Importance in Italy. The love of the residents of Carbonara for their wood can be seen from the work that has taken place over the last decade leading to the replacement of large portions of primigenial willow groves – which were heading towards dreadful ecological conditions – with bay oak, elm and poplar. Hence the typical vegetational succession of the forests of the lower course of the Po has been arranged which, due to the widespread anthropisation of the flood plain environments and the trivialisation of the surrounding countryside, has become increasingly rare, to the extent that the survival of much of the riparian woodland has been threatened.
Alongside the forest environments, Isola Boscone hosts all the typical environments of the Great Po River: oxbow lakes and forming oxbow lakes; sandy banks, ideal nesting sites for bee-eaters and sand martins; the short-lived sandy areas, which are home to important bird species such as the little tern and the little ringed plover. Apart from the birds already mentioned, the black kites, the hobby, the osprey, the red and green woodpecker and various species of heron are worth noting.
Joined to land for many years now, Isola Boscone is easily reached from the village of Carbonara di Po. A convenient turf track runs through it, leading visitors on a half hour walk to discover the most suggestive corners of the nature reserve. It is freely accessible on foot or by bike all year long, the water level of the river permitting.
Isola Boscone is connected to the wilderness areas in the Mantuan Oltrepò Parks System by the Parks Cycle Route. It is also on the EuroVelo 8 (Cadiz – Cyprus), VENTO (Venice-Tourin) and the Oltrepò Mantovano cycling itineraries #1 and #5.
Information
Managing institution: Mincio nature regional park
Established in: 1984
Area: 131 hectares
Protection status: Regional nature reserve, Site of Community Importance, Special Protection Area, Wetland of International Importance
Mincio nature regional park T +39 0376 391550
Web site: www.isolaboscone.it
E-Mail: info@comune.carbonaradipo.mn.it
» Leaflet Isola Boscone
Isola Boscone Nature Reserve
You can enjoy the following surprising experiences on Isola Boscone:
- Discover the secrets of a riverside wood.
- See an oxbow lake.
- Breathe in the nature and fresh air of the Great Po river
