Botanical Garden of the Cavuto Springs

In 1996, within the Reserve, the Gole del Sagittario Botanical Garden was established, recognized in 1998 as of regional interest pursuant to L.R. 35/97. The garden currently hosts 380 plant species, 45 of which are of conservation interest, in accordance with the Habitat Directive, the CITES convention, the Regional Red Lists of Italian Plants (Pedrotti et Al., 1997), and L.R. 45/79. The cultivation of these species is part of an ex-situ conservation strategy aimed at protecting rare plants from extinction through their cultivation in botanical gardens, which also allow for the exchange of seeds and plants. In case of extinction of a species in the wild, botanical gardens can restore it starting from the cultivated specimens. The garden is equipped with a nursery for plant propagation, a seed bank for seed conservation, and a herbarium for the taxonomic study of species. The visit to the garden is organized into thematic environments, such as the “Inhabited Garden,” which gathers species in symbiosis with insects, the “Arid Environments,” the riparian plants along the “Pond” and springs, and the section dedicated to “Ferns, liverworts, and mosses.” Educational events are held throughout the year to deepen the knowledge of the plant world. Although the garden is open all year round, visiting is recommended in spring and summer when most plants are in bloom.