| Po Basin mixed forests | |
|---|---|
_2.jpg) Po River at San Benedetto | |
 Location of the Po Basin mixed forests | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | temperate coniferous forests |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 42,149 km2 (16,274 sq mi) |
| Countries | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Critical/endangered |
| Protected | 3,572 km² (8%)[1] |
The Po Basin mixed forests is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forests ecoregion in the basin of the Po River in northern Italy and Switzerland's Ticino canton.
The Po Basin is bounded on the north and west by the Alps, and on the south by the Apennine Mountains. It opens onto the Adriatic Sea on the east.
The Po Basin mixed forests consists of remnants of:
1. Mixed deciduous oak/hornbeam forest -
2. Riparian forest, as well as flood-plain vegetation of the Po Basin -
3. Coastal submediterranean forest -
The freshwater ecosystems (zona umida) have a high level of biodiversity.
Threatened (in Italy) plant species include
Less-disturbed wetlands which are important breeding areas for many bird species are most significant biodiversity of the ecoregion. Examples are grey heron, purple heron, great egret, little egret, squacco heron, cattle egret, great bittern, little bittern, pygmy cormorant and ferruginous duck.
The region is industrialised and has a long history of human pressure (shrinkage of wetlands, invasive species, and unsustainable hunting of waterfowl).
A 2017 assessment found that 3,572 km², or 8%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Only 2% of the unprotected area remains in natural habitat.[1] Protected areas include the Euganean Hills Regional Park, Po Delta Regional Parks, and Valli del Mincio Nature Reserve.