Riserva naturale orientata Parma Morta

	Riserva naturale orientata Parma Morta ; Riserva regional Parma Morta IUCN Category IV - Habitat / Species Management Area
	View of the Parma Morta
location	Mezzani , Parma Province , Emilia-Romagna , Italy
surface	64.51 ha
WDPA ID	162012
Geographical location	44 ° 56 ' N , 10 ° 27' E Coordinates: 44 ° 55 '31 " N , 10 ° 27' 10" E
Setup date	1990
administration	Parchi del Ducato

The Riserva naturale orientata Parma Morta is a nature reserve established in 1990 near Mezzani in the Italian province of Parma . It is also known as the Riserva regional Parma Morta and has been part of the FFH area Parma Morta since 2006 .

Data

The protected area in Emilia-Romagna is about five kilometers long between the mouths of the Parma and Enza rivers in the Po . It covers an area of 64.51 hectares along a wetland called Parma Morta . This is where the Parma River once flowed. It flowed into the Enza until 1870, when its course was diverted to flow directly into the Po River.

The standing water of the inactive former arm of the river is connected to the Enza.

In order to ensure a constant water level through which the ecosystem can be preserved, a system of the necessary water supply was developed from the surrounding canals.

Flora and fauna

Along the old river plants, such as sedges to find and other semi-aquatic plants, including shrubs of black alder , black alder and elm -Haine, field maple and oak trees .

Plants such as the summer knot flower ( Leucojum aestivum ) and the clover fern ( Marsilea quadrifolia ) grow in the protected area . One of the rare ones is the common water hose ( Utricularia vulgaris ), a carnivorous plant that floats rootless in the water and feeds on small insects. In summer it shows beautiful yellow flowers that sprout from the water.

It is also a retreat for many amphibians, reptiles and birds. Some species that are listed in the European Union's Birds Directive breed here .

Birds of the reserve

Red hawk - Falco naumanni
Red-footed falcon - Falco vespertinus
Red- backed shrike - Lanius collurio

Black- fronted Shrike - Lanius minor

Bittern - Botaurus stellaris

Little Bittern - Ixobrychus minutus
Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
Black heron - Ardeola ralloides
Silver row - Casmerodius albus
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta

Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis
Sand martin - Riparia riparia

LIFE + "Pianura Parmense"

The reserve is one of the last remaining wetlands in an otherwise intensely agricultural cultural landscape. It is one of six areas that are part of the LIFE + “Pianura Parmense” ecology project . The project is funded equally by the Province of Parma and the EU.