Fanes-Sennes-Prags / Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park

Fanes-Sennes-Prags / Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park

In the animal kingdom

Founded in 1980, the Fanes-Sennes-Prags / Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park consists of an around 25,453 hectare area encompassing the municipalities of Abtei / Badia, Prags / Braies, Toblach / Dobbiaco, Wengen / La Valle, Enneberg / Marebbe and Olang / Valdaora. The mountain slopes that overlook Pustertal / Val Pusteria form the northern boundary of the park; its western boundary comprises the forested slopes overlooking Gadertal / Val Badia valley; in the south, the park extends to the south Tyrol border; and Höhlensteintal / Val di Landro valley marks the park’s eastern boundary towards the Sextner Dolomiten / Dolomiti di Sesto.

The jagged peaks and slopes found here could easily create the impression of a virtually impenetrable mountainous region. But in reality, these rocky peaks and slopes surround and at the same time protect large expanses of Alpine pastures and highlands that exhibit tremendous morphological and landscape diversity and whose core elements are Fanesalm / Malga Fanes and Sennesalm / Malga Senes Alpine pastures and the Plätzwiese / Prato Piazza highlands.

The Fanes-Sennes-Prags / Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park exhibits a characteristic Dolomite landscape. Large portions of the park are of considerable scientific interest owing to their complex geomorphology. The Fanes and Sennes highlands are characterized by karstification in every imaginable form, namely solution grooves, crevices, shafts, dolines and hollows. The protected park area also contains a number of lakes, including Pragser Wildsee / Lago di Braies lake, whose surface reflects the massive slopes of Seekofel / Croda del Beco mountain, and Toblach / Dobbiaco lake, whose marshes on the lake’s southern bank provide an important habitat for many water bird species. These waterbodies are among the best known natural lakes in South Tyrol.

The park is part of the European-wide Natura 2000 sites, which aim to promote habitat, flora and fauna conservation and were established under the EU’s FFH Directive (92/43/EC) and Bird’s Directive (2009/147/EC). Article 6(1) of the FFH Directive requires EU member states to elaborate conservation measures for Natura 2000 sites, to which end the province of South Tyrol commissioned so called management plans.

Each park has an executive board whose members are representatives of the relevant municipalities, an expert in natural sciences, representatives of nature conservation associations, farmers' representatives and representatives of the relevant provincial agencies.

Nature park facts

Area25.485 hectares
Height difference1,929 m
Communities
  • Toblach / Dobbiaco: (external link) pop. 3,319; surface area: 12,633 hectares; nature park area: 2,816 hectares
  • Prags / Braies: (external link) pop. 669; surface area: 8,926 hectares; nature park area: 6,916 hectares
  • Olang / Valdaora: (external link) pop. 3,114; surface area: 4,895 hectares; nature park area: 1,593 hectares
  • Abtei / Badia: (external link) pop. 3,388; surface area: 8,294 hectares; nature park area: 1,924 hectares
  • Enneberg / Marebbe / Mareo: (external link) pop. 2,945; surface area: 16,134 hectares; nature park area: 10,861 hectares
  • Wengen / La Valle / La Val: (external link) pop. 1,300; surface area: 3,903 hectares; nature park area: 1,343 hectares
Established1980

Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site

In summer 2009, due to their scenic beauty and their geomorphological and geological significance, the Dolomites were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This carefully chosen list of sites includes the most outstanding and unique natural or cultural assets, whose protection is particularly important for the international community. The Dolomites and with them also the Fanes-Sennes-Prags / Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park have thus been awarded the greatest recognition a natural asset may receive. Such recognition, however, also confers certain duties and responsibilities relating to the conservation and sustainable development of this extraordinary mountain region.

Map of the Fanes-Sennes-Prags / Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park

Nature Park Visitor Center

Fanes-Sennes-Prags / Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park Visitor Center
Katharina Lanz Str. / Via Katharina Lanz 96
39030 St. Vigil in Enneberg / S. Vigilio di Marebbe
Tel.: +39 0474 506120
Email: info.fsp@provinz.bz.it

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