The Monte Alpe Nature Reserve was established in 1985. It covers 328 hectares, including grazing land and meadows and 300 hectares of forests, with broad-leaved and conifer trees, as well as European black pine trees. The altitude of the area covered by the Reserve ranges from 789 to 1254 meters above sea level. Innovative interventions of biological struggle and naturalistic engineering have been implemented in the Reserve which is home of diverse animal species. To facilitate the biological struggle, red ants were introduced in the 1950s,. The Reserve makes part of the Municipality of Menconico and is open throughout the year for guided tours and for organized visits of school children. The paths are well defined, with numerous signs containing explanations.