The DRSRT, established with L.R. n. 10 of 04/16/1949, is organized into services which operate at a provincial level. It manages 177,036 hectares of forest and 70,440 hectares of oriented nature reserves. About 53,000 hectares of state property fall into the area of regional parks and about 100,000 belong to special conservation zones.
The Department is engaged in the control of soil erosion and reforestation interventions, the management of public land, fire prevention and phytosanitary protection of wooded areas, management of biodiversity and ecosystems through ecological restoration, the conservation and restoration of habitats and the protection, recovery and reintroduction of species of considerable interest.
The DRSRT has numerous nurseries for the propagation and production of plants, in compliance with current legislation on the certification of forest nursery productions. Thanks to Measure 1.12 POR Sicily 2000-2006, the DRSRT established two regional centres for the conservation of plant germplasm at the R.N.O. “Oasi Faunistica Vendicari” (Marianelli Centre) and the R.N.O. “Bosco di Ficuzza” (Valle Maria Centre), aimed at researching, protecting, harvesting, multiplying and safeguarding the plant biodiversity of Sicily.
In recent years, the DRSRT has participated in European projects, such as MéRITE (enhancement and development of highly rural areas); EViMed (sustainable tourism); “ManagMed” (development and integrated management of NATURA 2000 areas in the Eastern Mediterranean). In addition, it has actively participated in several projects financed by LIFE funds, such as:
The participation of the DRSRT in activities focused on cooperation with national and international research bodies, allows the training and specialization of its staff through the acquisition of important know-how in the field of in vitro propagation of extremely sensitive plant species, including those which are vulnerable (CITES Appendix Europe) and a priority (EC Directive 92/43), such as Ophrys lunulata.
