The mouth of the Neto River is one of the last wetland environments on the Ionian coast of Calabria which is primarily characterized by riparian forests and marshy areas. The site also includes a stretch of coastal area and it is surrounded by recently drained agricultural areas and scattered settlements. It is a transit area, temporary stopover or nesting site for a large number of waterbirds and seabirds, as well as a breeding site for Loggerhead turtles, European pond terrapins, and Hermann’s tortoises, which are the three species of chelonians in Calabria.