Geographical, social and economical environment: The local community where the project takes place is the village of Anversa degli Abruzzi in the Abruzzo Region, Italy. Located within the Natural Reserve "Gole del Sagittario" ( Gorges of the Sagittario River), the City Council of Anversa degli Abruzzi, together with the patronage of the WWF ( World Wide Fund for Nature) , is managing the activities as required by Regional Law in order to protect this natural environment. Although the landscape and the location of the project is shaped within a canyon and ranges between 600 and 1500 meters above the sea-level, good communication and transportation is assured. In the village,trekking and bird watching are the main activities offered to the visitors . A project of restoring ancient houses of the village has been carried out, with the birth of an association that provides accommodation within old buildings of the village, newly restored, avoiding the construction of new buildings or big hotels in the respect of an eco-friendly local development. The social component of the village is made of a consistent part of aged people, another consistent part of inhabitants who moved to Rome but are coming back for the summer vacations and a strong wave of tourists ,concentrated between July and September. The attractions offered by the Natural Reserve and the overall quality of the life in Anversa degli Abruzzi makes the population raise up to 2000 units in August, that constitutes a high increase if compared to the wintertime stable population number, reaching less than 400 units. The Summer Programme of Anversa degli Abruzzi is full of cultural happenings , street festivals, and other activities proposed by the WWF, the City Council and the Natural Reserve Authority.

Environment for the voluntary activities: the environment where the volunteers will carry out their activities will be the Botanical Garden of the Natural Reserve, the Natural Reserve itself, the office of the Natural Reserve and the village itself as far as concerned the activities carried out by the Natural Reserve for the public, the tourists and the summer activities.