Sites of Community Importance (SIC) means areas which contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration of natural habitat types or of wild flora and fauna species at a favourable conservation status. The SIC named “Magredi del Cellina” extends over an area of 4,372 ha. and involves the communes of Cordenons, S. Quirino, S. Giorgio della Richinvelda, Montereale Valcellina, Vivaro, Maniago and Zoppola. This area has been designated as SIC, because it deserves to be preserved due to the presence of natural environments which are similar to those of the Pannonian Steppe. In order to preserve and protect the SIC named “Magredi del Cellina”, protection rules have been enacted (Art. 22 of the Regional Law No. 17/2006) with the following prohibitions:

• No motor vehicle is allowed to transit on routes which differ from state, provincial and communal roads; derogations to such prohibition are set out (so far) in Art. 3 of the R.L. No. 15/1991 as subsequently modified. In particular, those motor vehicles are excluded from such prohibition which are used for public purposes or services, which belong to their owners, drivers or other entitled people and are needed to reach their real estates, those motor vehicles which are used for the management of the agropastoral and wood heritage and for the maintenance of accommodation facilities as well as those motor vehicles which are used to access public business and other commercial activities, and which are used by disabled people.

• Mowing of meadows is not permitted between 15th April and 15th July.

• No grazing is allowed for more than 2 (two) adult cattle heads for each hectare and no grazing is allowed between 1st March and 15th July; a compulsory statement for the transhumant grazing must be submitted for herds with more than 300 animals prior to beginning.

• Tillage and soil alteration of natural and semi-natural meadows is not permitted (Stable Meadows under R.L. No. 9/2005)

• No dogs without leash are permitted nor are allowed to freely wander between 1st March and 15th September.

For further information on the SIC named “Magredi del Cellina”, please visit www.regione.fvg.it.

Laura Missino