The "dark disease" that has hit the holm oaks of Sarrabus, Ogliastra and Barbagia, also reaches Nuoro, at Monte Ortobene .

The holm oaks of the mountain are taking on an ugly and suspicious color, similar to a brownish, almost orange . "We are very worried, we do not want this naturalistic heritage to be destroyed", explains Antonio Costa, president of the Monte Ortobene committee.

Already at the beginning of the summer season, with the resumption of activities and excursions, the Mount found itself without water for over a month and without its Farcana swimming pool. Now, close to the Redentore festival and with many activities scheduled - including walks in the woods - a mysterious evil appears in continuous expansion.

The command of the Forestry and Environmental Protection Corps of Nuoro was informed, which in turn alerted the University of Sassari, active in studying the phenomenon. Professor and researcher Bruno Scanu, in this regard, states: «The situation on Monte Ortobene would seem to be similar to that found in other areas of Sardinia (Ogliastra and Baronia in particular). It is a phenomenon that has no precedent in Sardinia and other Mediterranean regions, both in terms of extension (we are talking about thousands of hectares) and intensity. The symptoms we are finding on holm oaks, but also on cork oaks , are very similar to those observed in oak decline syndrome, in which numerous biotic and abiotic factors are involved. We have been studying the phenomenon for years and in several cases we have isolated microorganisms that cause diseases in plants. Among these, a significant role is played by species of the genus phytophthora that attack the roots of plants and make them less tolerant to water stress. At the same time, intense heat waves and prolonged periods of drought like those we have been experiencing in recent years make plants more susceptible to attack by parasites . We are facing a real emergency, which is why it is essential to become aware of it and act to protect our forests".