The ‘Po Grande’ Biosphere Reserve was created on 19 June 2019, when it became part of the UNESCO ‘Man and the Biosphere’ programme with the aim of promoting scientific cooperation, environmental sustainability and the balance between human activity and nature. The Reserve is located in the central stretch of the Po River and covers 286,600 hectares, crossing the regions of Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto, involving 85 municipalities located in the provinces of Pavia, Lodi, Piacenza, Cremona, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Mantua and Rovigo. Its ecosystem, rich in biodiversity, consists of woods, clearings, streams, ponds and wetlands, as well as 25 Natura 2000 Network sites and 13 Habitats of Community Interest. To ensure the best preservation of natural spaces and harmony with human activities, the Reserve is divided into three zones: core area, where the ecosystem is strictly protected; buffer zone, where activities compatible with ecological practices are carried out; and transition area, where sustainable human and economic development is encouraged.

Photo by Davide Bertuccio, taken for the Po River District Basin Authority within the framework of the TRASPONDE project.