Oasi della Bora

Just outside the village of Povegliano Veronese lies the Oasi della Bora, comprising a small strip of alluvial land that had been cultivated with cereals until 1991, and therefore was devoid of any type of spontaneous vegetation, as were the banks of the ditches that surround it, where trees and shrubs were regularly uprooted.

In these years of management by WWF, efforts have been made to reform a vegetation association of native species for both conservation and educational purposes. The Oasi is home to some of the tree and shrub species that populated the ancient forest of the Veronese plain, and in recent years, efforts have been made to reintroduce undergrowth flowers like periwinkles and anemones.

One can observe alder, elm, hornbeam, maple, ash, and black poplar, as well as some species like the ciavardello, wild lime, or the ball of May which have now become rarities for the Veronese plain.
Among the groups of trees and bushes, clearings have been left, colonized by grasses and wildflowers, which provide nourishment and life to butterflies, bees, and other insects. Within the Oasi, numerous wild animals find refuge, including the kingfisher and the golden oriole and some species of nocturnal and diurnal birds of prey. Several species of amphibians and reptiles are present, as well as micro-mammals such as: shrews, moles, and voles.

The springs are inhabited by chub, small pikes, bitterlings, and the padano goby, locally called “magnaron.”

(Source: WWF Italy)