THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

Full of surprise and discovery This Beautiful Country paints an unforgettable picture of Italy heretofore unseen one wilder than you can imagine Italy is renowned for its antiquities classical literature philosophy and modern day culture cuisine and fashion What has gone largely overlooked and undocumented even by its people is its unique biodiversity Italy has the widest variety of wildlife in Europe with over 60 000 different species and around 4 800 of these are found nowhere else on Earth It has more grape varieties than France more wheat that the United States over 300 local tomatoes and dozens of citrus and chestnut varieties Edward Cutler co founder of the Tuscany Environment Foundation began to explore Italy s history on his Tuscan farm Starting with a small salamander endemic to the surrounding Apennine Mountains he opened a trove of discoveries Alongside a dedicated community of Italian biologists and conservation scientists Edward traces a journey of the country s geological past to its present day landscape and beauty architectural heritage and gastronomic wonders This eye opening guide makes a compelling case for prioritising Italian conservation and ecosystem services while highlighting the country s profound ecological imp