Ledro Alps and Judicaria Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2015, in Italy. The Ledro Alps and Judicaria biosphere reserve is in the Trentino–Alto Adige region of northern Italy, between the Brenta Dolomites, one of the main constituents of the Dolomites World Heritage Site, and Lake Garda. The site is representative of the southern slopes of the central–eastern Alps. It comprises a variety of habitats, including alpine meadows, forests, grasslands and moorlands that alternate with traditional crops. Its location supports rich and varied biodiversity, creating a continuous north–south corridor between the protected areas of the Po Valley and the northern Alps. The area also includes two pile-dwelling settlements around Lake Ledro and Lake Carera–Fiavè, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The reserve is highly valued as a tourist destination, with tourism the main source of income for permanent residents. Agriculture is a principal economic activity, in particular viticulture, olive, fruit and vegetable growing, and animal husbandry.