We are a community of researchers, naturalists, and passionate volunteers dedicated to protecting the ancient forests and wildlife corridors of the Maremma through our Active Custody model — a dynamic approach that rejects passive preservation in favour of living stewardship.
Whether you join us in the field at Montauto Castle, contribute to biodiversity research at Villa Drago's Scientific Hub, or help fund the Seed Bank and Fungarium, you become part of a legacy stretching across eight centuries of mountains, ruins, and rivers. Our goal is 5,000 hectares — the largest privately-owned nature reserve in Italy.
At the heart of the Maremma, La Roccaccia di Montauto and its surrounding nature reserve form a living archive of Tuscan biodiversity — 800 years of continuous stewardship woven into every stone and root. Human presence here traces back over half a million years, to Lower Paleolithic tools found on these very lands.
Our Active Custody model goes beyond passive preservation. Combining targeted forestry management, biodiversity research at Villa Drago's Scientific Hub, and a Botanical Garden, Fungarium, and Seed Bank — we ensure this ecosystem remains a robust carbon sink and thriving habitat for generations to come. Strategically based in Rome, steps from the FAO, WFP, IFAD, and Bioversity International.
Safeguarding ancient Maremma woodland through sustainable forestry care — optimising carbon sequestration, mitigating climate-intensified fire risks, and maintaining the ecosystem as a robust carbon sink across 220 hectares.
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Creating safe ecological corridors for the Italian wolf (lupo appenninico), cinghiale, daino, capriolo, volpe, and 250+ vertebrate species. Our goal: a 5,000-hectare corridor — Italy's largest private nature reserve.
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Preserving historic gardens and native plant species — holm oak (leccio), cork oak (sughera), strawberry tree (corbezzolo) — alongside a Seed Bank at Villa Drago for genetic preservation of indigenous Mediterranean flora.
Read MoreStabilising and restoring La Roccaccia di Montauto — an XI–XIII century fortress built by the Aldobrandeschi, shaped by the Orsini, and proposed as a Byzantine colony by Anna Paleologa in 1472. Eight centuries, actively protected.
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Facilitating biodiversity research at Villa Drago's Scientific Hub and Fungarium — built atop 10–15 km of I–III century Roman tunnels — in partnership with Montauto University and Rome's international institutions (FAO, WFP, IFAD, Bioversity International).
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Sharing our Active Custody philosophy with volunteers, students, and all who value the deep connection between Italian nature and living history. True conservation requires a dedicated community committed to long-term environmental resilience.
Read MoreFrom the ancient ruins of the Maremma to the Roman tunnels beneath Villa Drago — each initiative advances our mission of Active Custody.
Stabilising the Roccaccia's ruins while protecting 220 hectares of ancient woodland. Actively acquiring surrounding properties — including Castello del Pelagone — towards a 5,000-hectare ecological corridor: Italy's largest private nature reserve.
Discover the ReserveBuilt atop 10–15 km of I–III century AD Roman tunnels (latomie), Villa Drago houses Montauto University, a Botanical Garden of local and Roman flora, a Research Centre, a Scientific Fungarium reclaiming the ancient galleries, and a vital Seed Bank.
Explore Villa DragoDedicated to building a future for environmental studies and biodiversity research — a hub connecting our Maremma field stations with Rome's international institutions: FAO, WFP, IFAD, and Bioversity International.
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