Virgin Forest in Sardinia? Montarbu. About 2800 hectares of state forest between the
reliefs of "Monte Arbu" and "Tonneri". To the north, the
river "Flumendosa" separates the forest from the opposite Monte
Gennargentu. In the centre stands a plateau, about a thousand meters high, with
vertical walls at its border. It takes a few steps to climb it. Inside it we
find "taxus bacata" and "ilex aquifolium", which have grown
undisturbed for hundreds of years. As well as millenary Ilex Quercus, "s'Ilixi'
and Canali" (6m of circumference), and still maples, carpini, ash, alder,
poplars, willows, walnuts, beech, strawberry, heather, juniper and lentisk.
These trees and shrubs are distributed by climatic bands, It was left in its
place, because here the forest was Reggia Riserva di Caccia, when everywhere
the forests were cultivated with a ceduo, that is to say, by selecting the
species present. Here the Karst streams, through the flow of water, build
travertine monuments, as in the case of the spectacular "Rio
Ermolinus". Its peak is "Punta Margiani Pubusa", which reaches
the height of 1300 m above sea level. This is located in the area called
"S'arcu e Pirastu Trottu" (Crooked Pear Arch) and connects it
directly to the summit of "Perda Liana". Around the paths there are
mouflons, wild boars, weasels, marten, squirrels and foxes. The forest has also
been repopulated with deer and recently, with deer. The golden eagle, the hawk,
sometimes the vulture monk and the vulture, the peregrine falcon, the kite, the
buzzard and the sparrow are all present. A unique place, with equipped areas
and the constant presence of the Forestas Agency staff.
