This is an area with a rich variety of habitats and ecosystems, from the marine environment (Cuglieri, Tresnuraghes) to the mountains (Santu Lussurgiu, Scano Montiferru etc). A territory rich in landscapes and natural resources, often still untouched: here, traditional methods are still used to breed herds of Sardo-Modican cattle, better known as Red Ox; the area still has woodlands and natural springs that have managed to preserve their original characteristics. In terms of flora, the plant that symbolises this sub-region is the holm oak, while the most emblematic animals are undoubtedly thewild boar and the mouflon, present in very small numbers (mainly due to hunting andforest fires) and reintroduced several decades ago in Pabarile, in the area of Santu Lussurgiu, which is managed by the Forestry Authority of Sardinia. The Montiferru forest complex takesits name from the volcanic massif whose highest peak is Mount Urtigu, in the rural area of Santulussurgiu, which reaches 1050 metres above sea level. On this mountain top, Alberto La Marmora planted a triangulation pillar. From the summit he could see the island of Asinara (110 kilometres away ina straight line), plus the Sella del Diavolo and the Tower of San Pancrazio in Cagliari (120 km away).
