THE LEGACY OF TRANSHUMANCE IN THE NATIONAL PARK OF ABRUZZO, LAZIO AND MOLISE (ITALY): REDISCOVERY AND EXPLOITATION

Pastoral practice of transhumance, or the seasonal migration of flocks along fixed routes known as "tratturi”, which in Southern Italy has ancient origins, has profoundly
shaped the social landscape and the culture of many southern Italian regions. The territories
of ancient transhumance in Southern Italy are nowadays affected by new economic cultures
and transhumance has been replaced by sedentary forms of sheep-breeding integrated with
agriculture. Nevertheless, the cultural and territorial heritage still exists: this ancient heritage
has left signs in the territorial and cultural spheres of these areas, signs that can be still easily
understood, read, interpreted. In this context, particularly interesting are the initiatives undertaken
by the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise (PNALM), which are conceived to
combine the recovery of this important historical legacy with PNALM institutional policies
of environmental protection and sustainable tourist promotion.