The Basalghelle forest extends for just under fourteen hectares near the hamlet of the same name in the province of Treviso; however, until the nineteenth century, it was much larger, reaching nearly ninety hectares in area. It is one of the last remnants of the ancient floodplain forests that once covered the Po Valley and, as such, is of particular interest and importance from a naturalistic point of view. In addition to the oaks, the hornbeam, and the ashes, this forest is home to an extremely rare flora in the Po Valley, such as wild garlic, anemone (both white and yellow), fox grape, martagon lily, snowdrop, and bellflower. In terms of fauna, the Basalghelle forest holds enormous importance because here, among other animals, two species which are at risk of extinction find refuge: the stag beetle (a fairly rare beetle classified as near threatened) and the Lataste's frog, already classified as vulnerable and therefore at risk of extinction if we do not take measures to protect its natural habitat as soon as possible.
