Ancient Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) trees on high ground of the island. Due to intensive deforestation in the past, and extensive grazing from goats just few specimen are present on the island. In order to preserve the remaining trees and to facilitate regeneration seeds are collected and fences are used to protect small specimen from goats. Montecristo is the most distant island of the Tuscan Arcipelago form the Italian coast. It's a cone of granite with rugge valleys and peaks, the highest, Monte Fortezza is 654 meters. It has been a wildlife reserve since 1971. Federico Scoppa/CAPTA