Nature Park of Terceira

Last updated
Nature Park of Terceira
Serra sta barbara2.jpg
The tallest point on the island of Terceira, and centerpiece of the Terceira Nature Park
PNAI Terceira.png
The location of the various protected areas that constitute the Nature Park of Terceira
Location Terceira, Central, Azores, Portugal
Coordinates 38°42′25.39″N27°12′12″W / 38.7070528°N 27.20333°W / 38.7070528; -27.20333
Length30.11 km (18.71 mi)
Width19.5 km (12.1 mi)
Area400.28 km2 (154.55 sq mi)
Elevation500 m (1,600 ft)
EstablishedDecreto Legislativo Regional n.º 11/2011/A
OperatorSecretário Regional do Ambiente e do Mar
Website Terceira Nature Park

The Nature Park of Terceira (Portuguese : Parque Natural da Terceira), or simply the Terceira Nature Park (PNTER) developed from the intention of better managing the protected areas of the island of Terceira, and was instituted by the "Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar" (English: Regional Secretariate for the Environment and Oceans), of the Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores. It includes an area of approximately 22% of the island classified under the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Nature Reserve designation.

Contents

History

The Terceira Nature Park was established by legislative decree No.11/2011/A, on 20 April 2011, which reformulated the juridical classification, management and administration of the Azorean areas of protection. [1] [2]

Local environmentalists participated in the first bat census between 2–7 July 2012, in an area that covered 20 different localities. [3] It was part of the Mais Endémicas: plantar o futuro (More Endemics: Planting the Future), which involved the inventory and monitorization of bat species, in collaboration with the ICNB. [3] In addition, training was provided in order to allow participants to identify the animals not only by morphological characteristics, but also vocalization. [3] The analysis determined that of the four species registered in the Azores, there exists only two common species: the Azorean bat (Nyctalus azoreum) and Madeiran bat (Pipistrellus maderensis)". [3]

On 19 July 2011, the director of the Nature Park accompanied by project coordinator of Geoparque Açores received an evaluation committee from the Rede Europeia de Geoparques (EGN) and an observer from UNESCO. [4] During that day, in addition to visiting the historic centre of Angra (which included the Church of the Misericórdia, Monte Brasil), the group evaluating the Terceira Park visited, the Algar do Carvão, the Furnas do Enxofre, Guilherme Moniz volcano and Lajes Graben (five of the eight principal geosites on the island). [4] Between 15 and 19 July 2011, the evaluation committee also visited five other island in order build links with the Azorean archipelago, visit other sites, experience local traditional, education and geo-tourism activities, as well as meet with the local population. [4]

Visiting the Furnas do Enxofre in 2011, the Secretário Regional do Ambiente e do Mar, Álamo Meneses, inaugurated the forest ranger station on the summit of the Serra de Santa Bárbara, which would serve as the first interpretive centre for the Park. [5] In addition to obtaining information about the park, the site would host photographic exhibitions and display various species of endemic flora and fauna. In addition, the regional secretary inaugurated the new pedestrian trail in Biscoitos, a trail that followed the vineyards of the Paisagem Protegida da Vinha dos Biscoitos (Protected Landscape of the Biscoitos Vineyards), using many of the old channels and accesses to wine properties. The trail allows hikers to follow the ancestral routes used by wine-growers that helped to develop the economic activity of the island.

Geography

Pico Alto, an integral part of the central Nature Reserve of Biscoito da Ferraria and Pico Alto Pico Alto, Praia da Vitoria, ilha Terceira, Acores.JPG
Pico Alto, an integral part of the central Nature Reserve of Biscoito da Ferraria and Pico Alto

Approximately 22% of Terceira's land area, or 400.28 square kilometres (154.55 sq mi), was integrated into the nature park, in order to create conditions for a coherent and integrated management plan. The park is guided by the principals of conservation that includes delimited spaces for nature, humans landscape use and natural resources exploitation, based on scientific criteria/guidelines established for the classification of environments at the international, national, regional and local levels. [6]

Classified areas

The shrub bush of the Protected Resource Management Area of Guilherme Moniz Caldera, showing the crater rim Caldeira guilherme moniz2.jpg
The shrub bush of the Protected Resource Management Area of Guilherme Moniz Caldera, showing the crater rim
The shoreline of the Protected Landscape of Contendas Point Baia das Contendas, Costa, ilha Terceira, Acores, Portugal.JPG
The shoreline of the Protected Landscape of Contendas Point
The coastline and Cabra islets, which are the primary elements of the Protected Landscape of the Cabras Islet Ilheus das Cabras, vistos do Mar, ilha Terceira, Acores, 2.JPG
The coastline and Cabra islets, which are the primary elements of the Protected Landscape of the Cabras Islet

The Terceira Nature Park is actually a dispersed reserve that encompasses several individual areas of protection.

Nature reserves

Those areas classified as Nature Reserves (Portuguese : Reserva Natural):

  • [TER01] Nature Reserve of the Santa Bárbara and Mistérios Negros Massif (Portuguese : Reserva Natural da Serra de Santa Bárbara e dos Mistérios Negros), defined by the presence of a large and well conserved patch of natural vegetation, with a great diversity of species, habitats and protected ecosystems, located within the slopes of the double caldera and the trachytic domes, one of which was responsible for the eruption of April 1761. [7]
  • [TER02] Nature Reserve of Biscoito da Ferraria and Pico Alto (Portuguese : Reserva Natural do Biscoito da Ferraria e Pico Alto) [7]
  • [TER03] Nature Reserve of Terra Brava and Criação das Lagoas (Portuguese : Reserva Natural da Terra Brava e Criação das Lagoas) [7]

Natural monuments

Specific Natural Monuments (Portuguese : Monumentos Naturais) protected by law for their paigestic or natural landscape include:

  • [TER04] Nature Reserve of the Algar do Carvão (Portuguese : Monumento Natural do Algar do Carvão) [8]
  • [TER05] Nature Reserve of the Furnas do Enxofre (Portuguese : Monumento Natural das Furnas do Enxofre) [9]

Protected areas

Areas classified for Protection and Management of Habitats or Species (Portuguese : Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies):

  • [TER06] Protected Landscape of Contendas Point (Portuguese : Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies da Ponta das Contendas) [10]
  • [TER07] Protected Landscape of the Cabras Islet (Portuguese : Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies dos Ilhéus das Cabras) [10]
  • [TER08] Protected Landscape of Matela (Portuguese : Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies da Matela) [11]
  • [TER09] Protected Landscape of the Biscoito das Fontinhas (Portuguese : Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies do Biscoito das Fontinhas) [11]
  • [TER10] Protected Landscape of the Quarto Ribeiras Coast (Portuguese : Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies da Costa das Quatro Ribeiras) [11]
  • [TER11] Protected Landscape of the Central Plateau and Northwest Coast (Portuguese : Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies do Planalto Central e Costa Noroeste) [11]
  • [TER12] Protected Landscape of Pico do Boi (Portuguese : Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies do Pico do Boi) [11]

Protected landscapes

Areas classified as Protected Landscapes (Portuguese : Paisagem Protegida):

  • [TER13] Protected Landscape of the Biscoitos Vineyards (Portuguese : Área de Paisagem Protegida das Vinhas dos Biscoitos) [12]

Resource areas

Areas classified for the Management of Resources (Portuguese : Gestão de Recursos):

  • [TER14] Protected Resource Management Area of Guilherme Moniz Caldera (Portuguese : Área Protegida de Gestão de Recursos da Caldeira de Guilherme Moniz) [13]
  • [TER15] Protected Marine Resource Management Area of Quatro Ribeiras (Portuguese : Área Marinha Protegida de Gestão de Recursos das Quatro Ribeiras) [14]
  • [TER16] Protected Marine Resource Management Area of the Contendas Coast (Portuguese : Área Marinha Protegida de Gestão de Recursos da Costa das Contendas) [14]
  • [TER17] Protected Marine Resource Management Area of the Cabras Islet (Portuguese : Área Marinha Protegida de Gestão de Recursos dos Ilhéus das Cabras) [14]
  • [TER18] Protected Marine Resource Management Area of Cinco Ribeiras (Portuguese : Área Marinha Protegida de Gestão de Recursos das Cinco Ribeiras) [14]
  • [TER19] Protected Marine Resource Management Area of the Vila Nova Downtown (Portuguese : Área Marinha Protegida de Gestão de Recursos da Baixa da Vila Nova) [14]
  • [TER20] Protected Marine Resource Management Area of Monte Brasil (Portuguese : Área Marinha Protegida de Gestão de Recursos do Monte Brasil), constituted for the classification of the marine environment for the management of the resources on Monte Brasil, due to the presence of natural habitats, namely submarine grottos and semi-submersed regions, associated with an elevated marine biodiversity in fauna. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corvo Island</span> Smallest island of the Azores, Portugal

Corvo Island is the smallest and the northernmost island of the Azores archipelago and the northernmost in Macaronesia. It has a population of 435 inhabitants making it the smallest single municipality in the Azores and in Portugal. The island lies on the North American Plate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faial Island</span> Portuguese island of the Central Group of the Azores

Faial Island, also known as Fayal Island, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group or Grupo Central of the Azores, in the Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capelo</span> Civil parish in Azores, Portugal

Capelo is a freguesia in the municipality of Horta on the island of Faial in the Azorean archipelago. The population in 2011 was 486, in an area of 26.64 km2. Capelo may be considered the westernmost settlement of Eurasia, if Fajã Grande, on Flores Island, is considered part of North America, for it sits on the North American Plate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altares</span> Civil parish in Azores, Portugal

Altares is a freguesia in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo on the Portuguese island of Terceira in the archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 901, in an area of 28.22 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serreta (Angra do Heroísmo)</span> Civil parish in Azores, Portugal

Serreta is a civil parish in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo on the island of Terceira in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. Its elevation is approximately 471 metres (1,545 ft). The population in 2011 was 335, in an area of 14.36 km2. It is the smallest parish in the municipality by population. It contains the localities Canada das Fontes, Canada do Mato, Rossa do Couto and Serreta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monte Brasil</span> Mountain in Portugal

Monte Brasil is the remnants of a tuff volcano connecting the south coast of Terceira in the central Azores, overlooking the city of Angra do Heroísmo. Monte Brasil is flanked by two bays: the Bay of Angra to its east, and the Bay of Fanal to its west, and was used as a defensive point during the history of Angra, resulting in the construction of various forts and redoubts, including the Fortress of São João Baptista overlooking the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bertiandos and São Pedro de Arcos Lagoons Protected Landscape</span>

The Protected Landscape of Lagoas de Bertiandos e São Pedro de Arcos is a protected landscape situated in the municipality of Ponte de Lima, in the district of Viana do Castelo in Portugal.

The Protected areas of Portugal are classified under a legal protection statute that allows for the adequate protection and maintenance of biodiversity, while providing services for ecosystem that maintains the natural and geological patrimony.

Pico da Vara is the highest mountain on the island of São Miguel, in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, and principal special protection of the Nature Reserve of Pico da Vara. The area around the mountain includes the largest remaining stand of the native laurisilva forest on the island, home to the critically endangered endemic Azores bullfinch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Açores VR</span>

The Açores VR is a Portuguese wine region located in the archipelago of the Azores. This region is classified as a Vinho Regional (VR), which corresponds to table wines with a geographical indication under European Union wine regulations, similar to a French vin de pays region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabras Islets</span> Island in the Azores, Portugal

The Cabras Islets or Cabras Islet is an uninhabited dual islet located along the southern coast of the island of Terceira in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The group, with a total area of 29 hectares and perimeter of 3,239 metres (10,627 ft), is the largest islet in the Azores. Locals normally refer to it as a single islet, but it comprises two landforms: the Ilhéu Pequeno and the Ilhéu Grande.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nature Park of Faial</span> Protected area of the island of Faial

The Nature Park of Faial, or simply Faial Nature Park (PNF), developed from the intention of better managing the protected areas of the island of Faial, and was instituted by the Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar of the Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores.

The Protected Areas of the Azores are the basic administrative-territorial and conservation structures in the archipelago of the Azores and the surrounding oceans. The areas integrate the entirety of the Azores within its Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as the surrounding waters, under the international agreements and conventions. The network realizes the categorization of management for protected areas adopted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), adapting it to the specific geographical, environmental, cultural and political-administrative territory of the archipelago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nature Park of Flores</span> Protected area of the island of Flores

The Nature Park of Flores, or simply Flores Nature Park (PNF), developed from the intention of better managing the protected areas of the island of Flores, and was instituted by the Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar, of the Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores. Although there are several ecosystems and environmentally distinct, this nature reserve includes three principal areas, in addition to several protected areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Maria Natural Park</span> Protected area of the island of Santa Maria

Santa Maria Natural Park is a protected area on Santa Maria Island in the Azores. The park was created by the Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar, of the Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores to better manage the protected areas of Santa Maria Island. Several natural landscapes were preserved and their use conditioned in order to foster conservation and support endemic flora and fauna species, as well as provide communal forms of recreation and nature interpretation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azores Geopark</span>

The Azores Geopark is a network of 121 geographically-dispersed sites of geographic heritage and marine areas that covers the nine volcanic islands of the archipelago of the Azores. This network is managed by the Azores Geopark Association, a non-profit association, with its headquarters in Horta on the island of Faial, established 19 May 2010. It is part of the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. The Association's mission is to ensure the geological conservation, environmental education and sustainable development, while promoting the well-being of the population and a respect for the environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected Landscape of Barreiro da Faneca</span>

The Protected Landscape of Barreiro da Faneca is a geological region and protected landscape of the Portuguese island of Santa Maria, Azores. The protected area is given its name by the Barreiro da Faneca, nicknamed the "Red Desert of the Azores", an arid and clayey landscape formed during the Pliocene, unique not only to the island but to all of Portugal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park</span> Natural park in Cape Verde

Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park, in the east of the island of Santo Antão, is one of ten "natural parks" in the country of Cape Verde. Its area is 20.92 km2 (8.08 sq mi), of which 8.91 km2 (3.44 sq mi) in the municipality of Ribeira Grande, 8.85 km2 (3.42 sq mi) in the municipality of Paul and 3.16 km2 (1.22 sq mi) in the municipality of Porto Novo. Since 2016, the natural park is on the tentative list of World Heritage Sites.

Moroços Natural Park, in the middle of the island of Santo Antão, is one of ten "natural parks" in Cape Verde. The protected area is 8.18 km2 (3.16 sq mi). It covers 7.46 km2 (2.88 sq mi) of the municipality of Ribeira Grande, and 0.71 km2 (0.27 sq mi) of Porto Novo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topo Islet</span> Islet in the Azores, Portugal

Topo Islet is a vegetated uninhabited islet just off the extreme southeastern tip of the island of São Jorge in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Diário da República (20 April 2011), p.2355
  2. ↑ ALRA, ed. (2011), Parcer sobre Parque Natural da Terceira (PDF) (in Portuguese), Horta (Azores), Portugal: Assemblia Legislativa Regional dos Açores, retrieved 15 November 2012
  3. 1 2 3 4 Parque Natural da Terceira acompanha visita aos principais geossítios da Terceira (in Portuguese), Angra do Heroísmo (Azores), Portugal: Secretária Regional do Ambiente e do Mar (SRAM), 7 July 2011, retrieved 6 October 2012
  4. 1 2 3 Parque Natural da Terceira acompanha visita aos principais geossítios da Terceira (in Portuguese), Angra do Heroísmo (Azores), Portugal: Secretária Regional do Ambiente e do Mar (SRAM), 19 July 2011, retrieved 6 October 2012
  5. ↑ Governo cria estruturas de apoio ao Parque Natural e novo trilho na Terceira (in Portuguese), Angra do Heroísmo (Azores), Portugal: Secretária Regional do Ambiente e do Mar (SRAM), 2011, retrieved 6 October 2012
  6. ↑ SIARMA (2011)
  7. 1 2 3 Diário da República (20 April 2011), p.2358
  8. ↑ Diário da República (20 April 2011), p.2359
  9. ↑ Diário da República (20 April 2011), p.2360
  10. 1 2 Diário da República (20 April 2011), p.2361
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Diário da República (20 April 2011), p.2362
  12. ↑ Diário da República (20 April 2011), p.2363
  13. ↑ Diário da República (20 April 2011), p.2364
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Diário da República (20 April 2011), p.2365
Sources
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.