The natural protected areas: a way to promote a good territories’ economy and their products

The Catania University is the manager of seven regional natural reserves; they are: Complesso Immacolatelle e Micio Conti (S. Gregorio di Catania, Catania), Isola Lachea e Faraglioni dei Ciclopi (Acitrezza, Catania), Grotta Monello (Siracusa), Grotta Palombara (Melilli, Siracusa), Complesso Speleologico Villasmundo S. Alfio (Melilli, Siracusa), Isola Bella (Taormina, Messina) and Vallone Piano della Corte (Agira, Enna). An important focus is the link between the citizens and the natural environments; humans will not dominate nature but will follow the rhythm of the seasons. Then, the protected natural areas work in this direction, helping local agricultural farms.

The events, involving the seven natural reserves, are addressed to schoolchildren and civil society. They consist of walking tours in the natural reserves managed by the Catania University; meeting day between visitors and local farmers at the nature reserve Complesso Speleologico Villasmundo S. Alfio (Melilli, Siracusa); awareness day entitled 'Nature generates resources' and sightseeing to the Museum “dei Saperi e delle Mirabilie Siciliane”, located in Piazza Università 2, Catania (University museum system).