The Center and the Territory – CSALP

The Tesino Arboretum has been realized thanks to the collaboration between the Environmental Rehabilitation and Valorization Service – Department of the Environment of the Autonomous Province of Trento, the University of Tuscia and the municipalities of Pieve Tesino and Cinte Tesino; it has been open to visitors since 2002.

The Arboretum is located in Campagnola area in the valley of the Rio Solcena, on the north-eastern slopes of Colle Danè, in the territory of the municipalities of Pieve Tesino and Cinte Tesino.

It is located at an altitude of  800 – 845 m asl. and consists of a large grassland area with groups of scattered trees, strips of woodland, a marshy area, which is surveyed as a biotype district (No. 12 Pieve Tesino – Campagna) and a pond, all delimited by a country hedge.

In particular, within the area the following sections can be recognized: mixed wood of conifers and broad-leaved trees, wood of alders, swamp and adjoining the islet, Rio Solcena and adjoining grove, pond and adjoining stream, European species sector, Asian species sector, American species sector, country hedge, orchard.

In August 2011, the arboretum was used to inaugurate the Garden of Europe dedicated to Alcide De Gasperi, a distinguished Italian statesman, born in Pieve Tesino, considered one of the founding fathers of the European Union. The garden was designed by the Centre for the Botanical Garden of the University of Tuscia by Prof. Anna Scoppola and architect Sofia Varoli Piazza.

In the summers of 2011 and 2012 the arboretum was the venue for two outdoor concerts organized as part of the “Sounds of the Dolomites” event.

Students of the University of Tuscia, can carry out their practical-applicative internship at the arboretum, with the support of the resources available at the Study Center and the supervision of a tutor. The activities include the care and maintenance of the plants, the service at the visitor centre and the organisation of guided tours.

For further information please contact Prof. Riccardo Massantini.

THE TERRITORY

The natural environment

The Tesino territory extends for more than 200 km² between the Lagorai chain and Valsugana. The peaks of the Lagorai close it to the north, separating it from the Val di Fiemme, while the Vanoi Valley divides it eastwards from the group of the Pale di S. Martino and the Primiero. Also to the east, the narrow hydrographic incisions of the Senaiga stream and the Val Porra mark the boundary with the Feltrino for long stretches. To the west, the physiographic boundary can be found in the Val Campelle and, further south, in the wake of the Chieppena stream.

South of the ridges of the Lagorai, and the Vanoi valley furrow, stands the imposing massif of Cima d’Asta, which at 2,850 m represents the highest point of the Tesino. From its southern buttresses comes the Grigno stream, which crosses a large part of the territory from north to south.

The Tesino is situated in an intermediate position between the Asiago plateau and the Venetian Pre-Alps, and the internal Alps. Along the valleys created by the tributary watercourses of the Brenta, with a prevalent north-south orientation, the currents of humid air coming from the Adriatic can still go up and guarantee abundant rainfall all year round, as well as a certain mitigation of the thermal extremes. From a phytoclimatic point of view, therefore, the Tesino is largely part of the so-called mesalpic forest region.

The variation in altitude, exposure and slope of peaks, slopes and valley floors creates a marked diversification of microclimatic conditions that is reflected in the local characteristics of forest vegetation. Soils are also part of the mosaic of environmental conditions. On the whole, they have a good fertility, able to guarantee the development of evolved forest cenosis.

Woods and pastures are the dominant element of the Tesino landscape. The forest area is 13,759 hectares and represents more than 50% of the territorial area. The majority (6,999 ha) falls within the municipality of Castello, followed by those of Pieve (3,893 ha), Cinte (2,265 ha) and Bieno (602 ha). It is important to point out that it is directly the municipalities that manage, as the owners, most of this natural heritage which, together with the mountain pastures, has represented in past centuries the greatest guarantee of survival for the local populations.

The forests of Tesino are mainly composed of three typical alpine conifers: spruce (Picea abies), fir (Abies alba) and larch (Larix decidua). In the coniferous forests there is also a court of other broad-leaved trees such as the maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), the maple (Acer platanoides), the sorb of the birds (Sorbus aucuparia), the salicone (Salix caprea), the birch (Betula pendula) and the green alder. The practice of civic use of wood has very limited the spread and size of these species. In Tesino there are also areas covered with deciduous woods that dominate the territory below 1100 meters. They are still mainly coppiced, but the area of the stands that are being converted to high forests is constantly increasing. The most common species at higher altitudes and on the best soils is beech, which in the past was an imposing stand of tall trees, the reconstitution of which is one of the objectives of forest management. Beech is associated with species with a more thermophilic temperament such as hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia), poplar tremolo (Populus tremula), ash (Fraxinus ornus), downy oak (Quercus pubescens), hazel (Corylus avellana) and others.

More details on the characteristics of the territory and the mouths of the Tesino can be found in the book “I boschi del Tesino: cultura della natura”.

Depliant Arboreto

Regulation of contribution towards the costs using the facilities