Riserva naturale integrale Saline di Trapani e Paceco

The Nature Reserve of Trapani and Paceco (Italian Riserva naturale integral Saline di Trapani e Paceco) is a nature reserve in the province of Trapani, between the towns of Marsala, Trapani and Paceco on the west coast of Sicily. It was founded in 1995 and managed by WWF Italy under the Ramsar Convention. It covers an area of 987 hectares and consists of two zones. In addition to a remarkable Mediterranean flora and fauna here is a Saline Museum in an old salt mill.

Flora and Fauna

This nature reserve is home to many endemic plant species. The adapted to the salt marshes and the high salt concentrations Halophytenflora is represented densiflorum by some of the rarest plants in Sicily, such as the sea beach Marigold (Calendula maritima ), shrub beach Lilac ( Limoniastrum monopetalum ), Maltese sponge ( cynomorium coccineum ) and Limonium.

On rare animal species can be found osprey, peregrine falcon, Painted Disc- ( Discoglossus pictus ) and the Insektentaxa Bucherillo littoralis, Stenoniscus carinatus, Pterolepis elymica, Cicindela circumdata imperialis, Cicindela littorea goudati, Teia dubia and Aphanius fasciatus.

The salt flats are the final resting place for many European migratory birds before they begin their flight to Africa across the Strait of Sicily. Overall, it has counted 170 species of birds here.

Endangering

The salt pans of Trapani and Paceco are a cultural landscape that is characterized by large saline fields and salt marshes. Already in the 1950s, the sea salt production was stopped and the salt marshes degenerated in many places to dump. Another threat are the expansion of cities and the expansion of the port of Marsala.