Riserva naturale Orientata Statale di Pesche

Instituted with a Ministerial Decree in 1982, it is one of the rare cases in the national panorama, in that it includes municipal state land (about 268 hectares), the property of ecclesiastical institutions (about 11) and private citizens (about 273 hectares).
The Reserve is developed in altitude, it extends from an altitude of 640 m up to 1130 m.s.l.m.. This aspect, according to some scholars, represents a link between the Mediterranean bioclimatic region and the temperate one and therefore it has favoured the development of a considerable variety of species of flowers typical of the Mediterranean scrub. In the Reserve there are various deciduous trees (Holm-oak, Turkey oak, Downy oak, hornbeam, ash, maple, beech, etc.), the black pine and the stone pine, a species that occupies about 70 hectares of the western sector of the protected area.
Among the bushy species, the dog rose, the common juniper, the common broom predominate.
The fauna is variously represented by: birds (Thrush, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Partridge, Crow, Quail. Birds of prey such as buzzards, hawks, owls, barn owls, owls, etc.); mammals (hare, fox, wild boar, squirrel, weasel, badger, hedgehog, wolf, etc.); reptiles (grass snake, viper, newt). The position of the reserve allows to have a wide view on the city of Isernia, the Volturno river valley, the Matese mountains, the Mainarde and the mountains that overhang the ski resort of Roccaraso. Lately, some ancient mule tracks at high altitude are being restored, in order to allow access to the reserve also to hikers and visitors on mountain bikes, as well as to improve the surveillance and administrative activities in general.