Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park
# Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park

The Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park (in Italian: Parco nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi) is a national park in the province of Belluno, Veneto, in the northern Italy.

Established in 1988, the national park is included in the section "Pale di San Martino - San Lucano - Dolomiti Bellunesi - Vette Feltrine" of the Dolomites declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2009.

## History

In 1988 it was planned to create the Dolomiti Bellunesi national park, that was officially established in 1990 by the Ministry of the Environment, which identified the aims of the national park:

* to protect the natural, historical, landscape and environmental values, preserving bio-genetic values of the flora, fauna and geomorphology;
* to improve the life conditions of the population;
* to promote scientific research and environmental education through the naturalistic culture;
* to safeguard agricultural, forest, and breeding activities.

## Territory

Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park has an area of 32 square kilometres (12 sq mi), entirely included in the province of Belluno, between the Cismon river and the Piave river, the Maè valley and the Agordo valley.

### Mountain ranges

The national park includes mountain ranges of Alpi Feltrine (Vette di Feltre, Cimonega, Pizzocco, Brendol, Agnelezze), Monti del Sole, Schiara, Talvena, Prampèr, and Spiz di Mezzodì. There are high-altitude areas, karst rocks, and debris slopes, ideal habitat for high-mountain species.

### Rivers and streams

The territory of the national park, except for some high-altitude karst areas, is extremely rich in water resources, like springs, swamps and streams including: Cordevole, Mis, Caorame, Stien (Caorame tributary), Falcina (Mis tributary), Ardo, Vescovà , Prampera (Maè tributary), that improve the biological richness of the Park. Some of these streams flow into deep canyons, and all are subject to variation.

### Municipalities

The national park includes 15 municipalities: Belluno, Cesiomaggiore, Feltre, Gosaldo, La Valle Agordina, Longarone, Pedavena, Ponte nelle Alpi, Rivamonte, San Gregorio nelle Alpi, Santa Giustina (Italia), Sedico, Sospirolo, Sovramonte, and Val di Zoldo.

## Flora

The flora of Bellunesi Dolomites is composed by rhododendron, Carduus, edelweiss, and other alpine plants. There are broad-leaved tree and pine forests, pastures and alpine meadows.

## Fauna

The national park hosts a big alpine biodiversity. Among the most important species are:

* Mammals (Marmot, Stoat, Marten, Roe deer, Chamois, Red deer, Mouflon).
* Bats (Greater mouse-eared bat, Common pipistrelle, Grey long-eared bat, Brown long-eared bat, Daubenton's bat)
* Birds (Black woodpecker, Wallcreeper, Northern goshawk, Kestrel, Golden eagle, Eurasian pygmy owl, Boreal owl, Tawny owl, Eurasian eagle-owl, Hazel grouse, Western capercaillie, Black grouse, Rock ptarmigan, Rock partridge, Hoopoe, Corvidae, Tit, Corn crake, Black redstart, White-winged snowfinch, Northern wheatear).
* Reptiles and amphibians: Alpine newt, Italian crested newt, Fire salamander, Alpine salamander, Yellow-bellied toad, Common toad, Mountain frog, European green toad, Vipera ammodytes.
