Ria de Alvor, Portugal
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| Alvor estuary |
The
Ria de Alvor is one of the most important coastal wetlands in southern Portugal.
This rich estuarine ecosystem includes sand dunes, mudflats, salt marshes and
salinas, supporting a diverse, specialised flora and fauna. Each spring and
autumn it serves as a staging site for thousands of migrant waders such as
Dunlin, Knot and Redshank. Included in the Natura 2000 site are areas of
traditional farmland and semi-natural scrubland which are noted for their rich
flora and fauna, such as Bee Orchids and Bee-eaters, and beautiful
landscapes.
What A Rocha is doing
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| Little Terns and Kentish Plovers, both under decline across Europ |
Research
and monitoring over the last 20 years has revealed the high levels of
biodiversity to be found in this area, as well as identifying particular areas
and
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| Petra Crofton with a Kentish Plover chick |
species of conservation concern. It is this information, collected largely by A
Rocha, that has formed the basis of the designation of the area as a Natura 2000
site. A Rocha has placed emphasis on working closely with the whole community of
people and organisations interested in the Ria de Alvor, including local and
national authorities and non-governmental organisations. This has enabled the
conservation value of the area to be recognised at the local, national and
European level. Supporting this has been the successful implementation of A
Rocha’s education programme, with approximately 2000 people from a variety of
educational groups and schools being welcomed to our Centre each year. A Rocha’s
permanent presence at the Ria de Alvor has been, and will continue to be,
essential in the quest to develop an integrated approach to conservation and
sustainable development for the area.
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Natura 2000 profile:
Site Details: Ria de Alvor, Algarve (1454 ha)
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Natural values:
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| Camphor Thyme |
Priority
habitats: Coastal lagoons, fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey
dunes)
Priority species: Camphor Thyme Thymus camphoratus
Other features of EU Importance: 13 habitats, including the estuary, spartina
swards, salt meadows and embryo dunes. Stripe-necked Terrapin
Mauremys leprosa, Otter Lutra lutra and Algarvian
Toadflax Linaria algarviana
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Socio-economic values:
• shell-fishing, fish farms and fish nurseries
• birdwatching, sailing and bathing
• coastal protection, assimilation of pollutants
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Threats/pressures:
Building development, high numbers of visitors and disturbance of water
birds, agricultural abandonment, water pollution, sea level rise,
over-engineering of the lagoon, invasive species such as Hottentot Fig
Carpobrotus edulis
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The A Rocha vision:
A more natural, dynamic coastal system supporting sustainable harvest of fish
and shellfish stocks, recreational activity and nature conservation.
• catchment-based approach to ensure healthy water quality and quantity
• considered zonation of different economic and recreational uses
• limits to building development
• revived agricultural enterprises combined with ecotourism for local revenue
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