Natural Monument of San Francesco

The San Francesco wetland is located south of Lake Garda in the municipality of Desenzano del Garda in the province of Brescia and covers an area of approximately 13 hectares. It was established by the Lombardy Region with Regional Council Resolution 10/1/2008, n.8/8136 with the aim of protecting an area of high naturalistic value and landscape value. The management of the Natural Monument is now entrusted to the Municipality of Desenzano del Garda and pursuant to Regional Law 28 of 2016 it will constitute an expansion of the Mincio Regional Park. The biodiversity present is significant and almost surprising in relation to the limited areal extension of the protected area; it is represented at an ecosystem level due to the simultaneous presence of the reed ecotone, the riparian zone, the undergrowth and the meadow area.
Over 100 species of birds have been recorded inside it, some sedentary, some migratory, others just passing through. Furthermore, there are reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. There are numerous species of insects, both those closely linked to the presence of water, those dependent on dead wood, and those that exploit vegetation. As regards the flora, over 100 species from over 30 different families have been recorded. The oasis boasts almost 3,500 square meters covered by trees of various species and another 3,630 by shrubs. The faunal group of greatest size and importance is certainly that of the avifauna which distinguishes the Oasis both in terms of biodiversity and the presence of rare species; the birds present in the Oasis exploit all the types of habitat present, from the areas of spontaneous meadows, to the arboreal vegetation, to the riparian strip and the reeds. In addition to avifauna, ichthyofauna and herpetofauna are also abundant, in addition to small mammals in smaller numbers.
Thanks to the presence of the Oasis, all these animals are protected and find a safe environment where they can take refuge, feed and reproduce.