San Marino covers about 61 square kilometres and has a strongly varied landscape despite its small size. Monte Titano and its rock formations stand alongside semi-natural grassland, scrub, small and medium-sized forests, streams, narrow valleys, small valley systems and badlands. Local habitats form a close mosaic, so a change affecting one wooded, rocky or water-related area can also affect nearby species and landscape functions. The available Protected Planet data records zero protected areas for San Marino. There is no reliable evidence of an established national park, nature reserve or Natura 2000 site, meaning a site in the European Union network of protected areas. New protected areas have been planned or examined, but the current system relies mainly on functional alternatives: environmental law, tree and vegetation protection, public parks and natural spaces, environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments and specialist reviews. Law 126/1995 protects the environment, landscape, vegetation and flora. Decree 44/2012, the Environmental Code, also treats deterioration of wild flora, fauna and habitats as environmental damage. Tree species and individual trees fall into three protection categories. Cutting, pruning, replanting or maintaining a protected tree requires authorization from UGRAA, the public office responsible for agricultural and environmental resources. Forest cutting and work in Camera forests also require authorization. Events or works in public green areas need a separate permit. UGRAA also manages state agricultural and forest assets, fauna and hunting administration, ecological and forestry controls, sanctions, environmental impact and strategic environmental assessment procedures, and environmental mapping. UPAV carries out environmental controls. AASLP has managed public green areas, parks and forests since 2022. The CNS serves as a scientific nature institution for research, monitoring, museum work, education and guided visits. OFS provides fauna and habitat guidance and supports hunting planning. CTS and CRAA provide specialist opinions on nature, forests, environmental assessments, green areas, agriculture and land enclosure. San Marino's flora is still being documented. The official flora database and Flora RSM 2022 record more than 1,100 taxa, including more than 300 recorded only recently; the Sixth National Report under the Convention on Biological Diversity also reports more than 150 newly recorded vascular plants. Studies include the Pennicciola dry grasslands and the Ca' i Gessi aquifer. Monitoring focuses on fish, amphibians, birds, bats and rare small mammals. The Bombina pachypus conservation and restoration project is one example of targeted species work, while the overall biodiversity record remains incomplete and continues to develop. Wild animal species are legally protected. Private capture and trapping are not permitted. Fences and other structures should be designed to reduce wildlife injury. An injured animal can be reported to the CNS or Guardie Ecologiche and may be referred to a veterinary centre or CRAS Rimini. Removing, treating, keeping or releasing a wild animal requires the relevant OFS or UGRAA procedure, a technical explanation and information about the species, number, location and method; the action must not endanger the wild population. Nature use is regulated according to the activity. Hunting areas follow the Piano Faunistico Venatorio and OFS planning, with changes adopted by delegated decree. Hunting licence information is available through the FSdC and UGRAA information desk. Wild mushroom collection requires the UGRAA Mod. Tf.07 application, a passed examination, a course and examination arranged through Associazione Micologica Sammarinese, and a tesserino. Truffle collection requires Mod. Tf.04, an annual UGRAA course or examination and a tesserino. Recognition of a tartufaia passes from UGRAA to the Commissione Tecnica and then to the Segreteria di Stato. The published 2026 fees list mushroom authorization at €30/15 plus €15 annually, truffle authorization at €50/25 plus €30 annually, and tartufaia recognition at €50/25. Tree authorization and Camera forest-cutting authorization are each listed at €30/15. Beekeeping requires authorization; use of Camera land carries no usage fee, while the authorization is listed at €30/15 with a €20/10 annual renewal. Agricultural damage caused by wildlife follows a control and compensation procedure through UGRAA and OFS with no practice fee. Public natural trails include Cammino del Titano, Sentiero della Rupe, Canepa, Gessi di Montegiardino, Ausa-Laiala-Ferrovia, Gorgascura, Castellaccio, Monte Cerreto, Ca' Rigo and Costa dell'Arnella. Hiking and excursions are the main nature-based activities. Sport or commercial events and works in the trail network require authorization; the 2026 practice fee is listed at €30/15. Public green-space events and works use the same listed fee. CNS museum admission is free according to its service card, with published opening hours from 8:00 to 18:00 daily. Nature-related hazards include rockfall, mud and debris flows, soil and rock landslides, surface runoff, flash floods in streams, flooding with gravel deposition and bank erosion. Because San Marino does not yet have a complete Assetto Idrogeologico plan, authorities use rapid assessments and a register of critical landslides and unstable riverbanks. The SPC issues warnings in cooperation with Emilia-Romagna and ARPAE-SIMC. Open burning of vegetation requires authorization, and the SPC or Sezione Antincendio may suspend or prohibit it during adverse weather or climate conditions. Published COI contacts for nature-related hazard information are 0549 888888 and 0549 887777. Nature education is provided through the CNS within the Dipartimento Istruzione, including scientific and landscape education, collections, exhibitions, school support, excursion guides, studies and publications. Parco Montecchio, also known as Parco dei daini, is managed by UGRAA and combines animal welfare with nature, fauna and environmental education; its service information records participation by more than 35 primary-school classes. Associazione Micologica Sammarinese and local naturalists and students also contribute through non-formal education and biodiversity knowledge. Construction and infrastructure can conflict with green areas, agriculture and habitats. CTS, CRAA and UGRAA may review such projects through environmental impact assessment or strategic environmental assessment procedures. The 2026 listed fees are €75/35 for an ordinary assessment, €40/20 for a simplified assessment, €40/20 for CTS or CRAA opinions and €30/15 for a UGRAA procedure. Other recurring conflicts involve tree maintenance and property or safety interests, organized recreation and vegetation or wildlife, hunting and habitat protection, wildlife damage and agriculture, and controlled burning and wildfire risk.
Nature in San Marino
San Marino's nature is a small, varied landscape of Monte Titano and rock formations, semi-natural grassland, scrub, small and medium-sized forests, streams, valleys and badlands. Available Protected Planet data records no formal protected area, and there is no reliable evidence of a national park, nature reserve or Natura 2000 site; protection instead relies on environmental law, tree and vegetation controls, public natural spaces and environmental assessments. Permits and technical checks govern activities such as cutting protected trees, forest work, mushroom and truffle collection, beekeeping, hunting, organized trail events and open vegetation burning. Wildlife protection, biodiversity monitoring, wildfire and hydrogeological risk management, nature education and conflicts between construction, recreation, farming and habitats are all part of nature management in San Marino.
Tip
Treat nature-related work in San Marino as permit-sensitive even where no formal protected area covers the site. First classify the activity as land work, collecting, wildlife handling, beekeeping, hunting, recreation, construction review or burning, because the responsible body and required authorization differ. Do not start work, collect fungi or handle wildlife until the applicable approval or procedure is confirmed.