Hiking as an act of research and environmental responsibility

The Monte Terzo Park is an authentic natural and environmental jewel, nestled in the majestic Carnic Alps, within the Municipality of Paluzza, in the province of Udine, in Friuli Venezia Giulia. This protected area spans a territory ranging from about 1000 meters up to over 2200 meters in altitude, offering an extraordinary variety of ecosystems: from dense beech forests to vast alpine pastures. The Park is of fundamental ecological importance, included in the prestigious European Natura 2000 Network, but it is also a place buzzing with life thanks to the ancient tradition of alpine pasturing (alpeggio).

At 1470 meters, on the northern slopes of the mountain, lies Malga Lavareit, an essential stop and a focal point for local livestock farming. Now a farmhouse stay (agriturismo) with food and accommodation, the malga testifies to the indissoluble bond between humans and the mountain: this is where, during the summer season, livestock graze freely and the delicious fresh cheeses and ricottas—the essence of alpine flavour—are produced.

Wild Routes chose this setting to bring young people together as part of the European project Via Alpina Youth – Visit Utopia. The goal was two-fold: to allow participants to have a direct experience of connection with the alpine environment, which the Via Alpina route crosses, and to actively involve them in Citizen Science practices. Through activities like the deer rut census and camera trapping, the young people learned concrete wildlife monitoring techniques and the importance of active participation in environmental protection, understanding how nature and agro-pastoral activities like alpine pasturing can coexist sustainably. In short, it was an opportunity to transform hiking into an act of research and environmental responsibility, embodying the realizable 'utopia' spirit of a more sustainable relationship between humans and the mountain.

Take a look at all the utopias on the CIPRA map