Oasi LIPU Casacalenda

The first protected area of Molise, in chronological order, extends to the slopes of the Monti Frentani, between the Matese massif and the Adriatic coast, entirely in the municipal territory of Casacalenda.
The Lipu Oasis of Casacalenda occupies two thirds of the Casale Woods, a hilly oak wood that in ancient times hosted Hannibal's camp in the nearby Gerione.
Established by the Region in 1993 as an Oasis, in 2019 it is entrusted in management to Lipu, through a special agreement with the Municipality of Casacalenda.
Inserted in 1995 by the Ministry of the Environment in the National List of Protected Natural Areas, it has recently been recognized as a Zsc (Special Area of Conservation) for the European network Natura 2000.
The Reserve is formed by a deciduous wood of 146 hectares, situated at about 800 m.s.l., in an area with a strong agricultural and silvicultural vocation.
From the beginning of spring the Reserve looks like a vast carpet of flowers: from the common Primroses to the Anemone of the Apennines, from the Narcissus of the poets to the Orchids. The late spring is the best time to observe the butterflies that populate the paths and the glades with their brilliant colors. There are about sixty diurnal species observed.
The mammals enumerate very interesting species such as the wild cat and the Italian grey wolf. The most interesting birds of prey are the Honey Buzzard, the Lodolaio, the Royal Kite and the Goshawk.
Among the amphibians, the Salamandrina of Savi, which occupies its extreme eastern range, the Italian Newt, the Agile Frog and the Apennine Ululone.