Ria de Alvor, Portugal

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

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

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)

Natural values:

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

Socio-economic values:

• shell-fishing, fish farms and fish nurseries
• birdwatching, sailing and bathing
• coastal protection, assimilation of pollutants

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

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