Posted on August 19, 2024
The Foz do Almargem and Trafal Local Nature Reserve has officially been granted its protected classification and respective regulations.
One of the most important wetlands in the Algarve, the Foz do Almargem and Trafal Local Nature Reserve, has finally been granted its protected status.
Following a process initiated in 2022, the wetland’s classification and respective regulations were published in the Diário da República, the state gazette, on August 14.
This announcement represents yet another step the Loulé Municipality took to “contribute towards the environmental safeguarding of the planet and the protection of biodiversity”, says the local authority.
Soon, a Management Plan for the new wetland will be prepared, consisting of a participatory process involving all interested parties (owners, local actors, associations, entities, etc.).
Located in the Quarteira parish, the wetlands span 135.4 hectares and are crossed by the Fonte Santa (or Almargem) and Carcavai streams. An essential wildlife sanctuary in the Algarve region, it is home to a diverse range of fauna, with 329 species already identified and at least 236 species of flora, including 18 species of conservation significance or high heritage value.
By establishing the Local Nature Reserve, Loulé Municipality achieves its goals of enhancing the preservation of natural assets, raising awareness about their importance, and fostering appreciation for biodiversity.
The Municipality’s effort aligns with the newly passed Nature Restoration Law, which targets the restoration of at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems needing restoration by 2050.
It is worth noting that around 63.8% of Loulé’s municipal surface is classified according to the National System of Classified Areas (SNAC).
In a press release, Loulé Municipality added that it is “committed to investing in the legal protection and sustainable management of areas of interest that must be preserved for future generations by developing several area classification processes, namely in Nave do Barão and the Vale Telheiro Cave”.
