Community Interest Site Rocciamelone

The site includes the southeastern slope of Monte Rocciamelone (3,538 m), one of the highest peaks of the Graian Alps, located on the watershed that divides the Susa Valley from the Lanzo Valleys. It covers an area of 1496; to the east, it comes into contact with the xerothermic oasis of the Chianocco and Foresto gorges and, like this, it is managed by the Management Authority of the Protected Areas of the Cottian Alps.
The significant altitudinal range, which goes from an altitude of around 500 m in the valley floor to over 3,500 m at the summit, offers ideal conditions for the presence of all vegetation belts, from sub-Mediterranean broadleaf forests to alpine pioneer vegetation. More than half of the site extends beyond the tree line (1900/2400 m), and is largely occupied by grazed alpine meadows that give way to rocks and screes along the ridge line.
The community interest environments surveyed number 6. Two are priority habitats under the Habitat Directive: at low altitudes on calcareous substrate, xerophilous meadows with Bromus erectus are present, locally hosting a rich variety of orchids, and xerophilous calcareous screes (8160).
Among the floristic emergencies, it is noteworthy the presence, at the highest altitudes on screes and scree slopes, of Saussurrea alpina subsp. depressa, Alyssum alpestre and Veronica allionii, endemic to the western Alps and included in the national Red List. At lower altitudes, an important and vast xerothermic oasis hosts xerophilous and Mediterranean species.

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Bear of Mompantero

Mount Rocciamelone

Municipality of Mompantero