Mont Avic Natural Park, the first natural park of Aosta Valley, was set up in October 1989, with the idea of preserving the natural resources of the upper-central Valley of the Chalamy torrent (commune of Champdepraz).
The landscape of the protected area is characterized by some extremely interesting aspects. Furthermore, the environment has only partly been affected by human activities. The rough orographic characteristics have, in fact, always been a hindrance to the traditional agricultural and stock-raising activities and, more recently, they have avoided the development of mass tourism, both in the summer and in the winter.
In the Chalamy Valley, there are more than 30 lakes and various peat bogs, characterised by an uncommonly interesting relict flora.
Over a third of the protected area is covered in forests of mountain pines, scotch pines, larches and beeches. The forests and woods of the Park, heavily depleted in the past to meet the needs of the mining activity, have partly recovered their original features and are exceptionally beautiful.
The protected area is also marked by other interesting natural aspects, such as the Alpine floristic endemism and the plant communities linked to the substratum of green rocks. No other area in Aosta Valley has such a large number of lakes, marshes and peat bogs. The fauna includes all the most typical Alpine animals living in the region.

The flora of the Park is deeply affected by the presence of a large number of wetlands and ophiolite outcrops, i.e. rocks that make the soil poor and shallow.

The protected area is characterized by unusual plants, at least a regional level. Among them, there is the largest mountain pine forest of Aosta Valley. This conifer, not very widespread on the Italian Alps, grows well in soils impoverished by the serpentinite and can also survive near peat bogs.
Another interesting element is represented by the geographical position of the Chalamy Valley, located close to the substantially dry area of the Central Aosta Valley and partly affected by the more humid climate of the Lower Valley.
This contrast becomes more evident, when you go from the north-facing to the sunny sector, where the beech is gradually replaced by the scotch pine, which best copes with the dry climate.

In May 2003, upon request of the municipality of Champorcher, the Aosta Valley regional authorities approved the inclusion of the upper valley of Dondena in the protected area. As a result, the overall Park area now covers 5747 hectares.

The new borders follow the dividing ridge from Mont Glacier to the Fenêtre de Champorcher col, reach Rosa dei Banchi, along the national boundaries of Gran Paradiso National Park, go through Mont Rascias down to Dondena, follow the national road until Les Corts and finally reach Cima Piana.

The Park information service now includes the Champorcher excursion path network and by the end of 2003, the Park authority will produce material providing information on the upper Valley of Dondena.

To get any further information, please contact us:
Parco Naturale Mont Avic – loc. Fabbrica 164, 11020 Champdepraz
Tel. 0125 960643 Fax 0125 961002
E-mail info@montavic.it
www.montavic.it   
www.parks.it