GRAN PARADISO NATIONAL PARK ITIS PININFARINA “APE”

Gran Paradiso National Park is Italy's oldest and best known national park. It is located in the Graian Alps in the regions of Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta in north-west Italy. It includes 703 square kilometres of alpine terrain. The park is named after Gran Paradiso mountain, which is located in the park. Gran Paradiso Piemonte

History The history of Gran Paradiso National Park is linked to the protection of the ibex. In 1856 King Vittorio Emanuele II declared these mountains a royal hunting reserve, thus saving the ibex from extinction. Its population in those years had been reduced to an alarmingly low level. The king set up a corps of specialized guards and ordered the laying down of paths and mule-tracks which are still today the best network path system for the protection of the fauna by the modern rangers and form the nucleus of the nature trails for tourist excursions. In 1919, King Vittorio Emanuele III declared his intention to donate the 2100 hectares of the hunting reserve to the Italian State, for the creation of a national park. On 3 December 1922 the Gran Paradiso National Park was established, Italy's first national park. Recently, people have begun to realize that the park can provide an opportunity for development and can boost the economy of the valleys and, today, local authorities work closely with the park on several projects. In the meantime, Gran Paradiso has set up a close and profitable collaboration with the nearby French park, Vanoise, in an attempt to establish a large European protected area.

The park has been the object, since the post-war years, of particular attention for scientific research. In fact, the first studies published in the scientific journal of the park began to appear in the 1950's. These studies were carried out by researchers of the University of Turin. They consist of research on the fauna, the physiology of the hibernation of the marmot, the geological history of the ibex, the feeding habits of the fox and on the flora present in the protected area.

Gran Paradiso National Park has had, since 1947, its own guard corps that watches over and patrols the territory of the protected area. This is different from more recent national parks, in which the State Forest Corps are entrusted with the surveillance. Gran Paradiso maintains its own historical body of guards, continuing a time-proven tradition and experience.

Wildlife research The Scientific Research and Healthcare Service is working at numerous research projects, aimed at increasing knowledge on biodiversity and eco-ethology of protected species in the Park. Below are the main research activities currently carried out in the Gran Paradiso National Park: - Monitoring biodiversity - Population dynamics, life history and ethology of the Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex) - Eco-ethology of the Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota) - Impact of brook trout (Salvellinus fontinalis) on high level lake ecosystems - Reproductive ecology and habitat selection of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

Nature Trails and Summer Camps There are a lot of possibilities of excursions and tracks that vary in length and difficulty and are characterized by stopping stations with information boards by numbered signposts with references to specific brochures that can be obtained from the visitors centres. For a few years now, the Gran Paradiso National Park has started the “Experience Camps” project, an occasion for youngsters and adults to collaborate with the Park by means of a group life training activity. The project takes place in summer and gives the opportunity to actively participate in the Park initiatives.

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