Texelgruppe / Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park

The Texelgruppe / Gruppo di Tessa Nature Park, which was established in 1976 and extends over an area of around 31,391 ha, encompasses the villages of Schnals / Senales, Naturns / Naturno, Partschins / Parcines, Algund / Lagundo, Tyrol / Tirolo, Riffian / Rifiano, St. Martin / S. Martino and Moos / Moso in Passeier /Passiria valley. The park is situated between Etschtal / Adige valley in the south, Schnals / Senales valley in the west, Passeier / Passiria valley in the east, and main Alpine crest in the north. The park encompasses the entire Texelgruppe / Gruppo di Tessa mountain range, the Ötztal Alps to the north of it including Schnalser Kamm / Cresta di Senales and Gurgler Kamm mountains, as well as a small part of the Stubai Alps between Timmelsjoch / Giogo del Rombo and Timmelsjochberg / Monte Rombo.

The park is part of the European-wide Natura 2000 sites, which aim to promote habitat, flora and fauna conservation and were established under the EU’s FFH Directive (92/43/EC) and Bird’s Directive (2009/147/EC). Article 6(1) of the FFH Directive requires EU member states to elaborate conservation measures for Natura 2000 sites, to which end the province of South Tyrol commissioned so called management plans.

Each park has an executive board whose members are representatives of the relevant municipalities, an expert in natural sciences, representatives of nature conservation associations, farmers' representatives and representatives of the relevant provincial agencies.