Interconnected for thousands of years

The Paul do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve is one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the country. It has a great diversity of fauna and flora characteristic of wetlands, with 317 species of plants and 288 species of animals identified, especially birds, which have their wintering, nesting or mating grounds in the area of the reserve, which was the main reason for the creation of this protected area.

The Biosphere Reserve on the island of Corvo has land and sea scenery of international importance, including the imposing Caldeirão, the crater of an extinct volcano occupied by a lagoon, and the presence on the island of the largest and oldest peat bogs in the country. In the coastal and marine area, the presence of reefs and semi-submerged caves stands out. Corvo’s human population is very small and historically concentrated in the only urban centre, Vila do Corvo.

The volcanic origin of the island of Graciosa stands out in the occurrence of thermal waters and in one of its most characteristic features: the Furna do Enxofre, a cavity located inside the Graciosa caldera. Just off the island’s only sandy beach is the Ilhéu da Praia, a nesting site for several colonies of seabirds of very high ecological importance.

The Flores Island Reserve has unique environmental and cultural values. The coastline is characterised by Fajãzinha and Fajã Grande, coastal plains that resulted from landslides and lava flows. Ribeira Grande is the most iconic of the waterfalls, reaching 300 metres. The environmental richness includes a high diversity of habitats and species, including endemics.

The territory is home to countless migratory species that find refuge and safety in this diversity.

The Berlengas Biosphere Reserve is a group of coastal reefs in a temperate climate zone with a huge diversity of marine species and habitats and a unique landscape.

The Santana Biosphere Reserve is characterised by the presence of part of the Laurissilva Forest, classified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, a relic of the vegetation that preceded the settlement of the island. Enjoyment of the Reserve’s scenic beauty benefits from a network of walking routes that allow you to discover the footpaths and levadas and the pebble beaches characteristic of Santana.

There is great potential for tourism in the Iberian Plateau, with an emphasis on natural and cultural heritage and local particularities, such as the largest wolf populations in Europe.

The name of the Fajãs de São Jorge Biosphere Reserve emphasises one of its most important elements: the fajãs or coastal plains that have resulted from landslides and lava flows. These flat areas, located on the coastline and nestling between the sea and the cliffs, are as important from a geological and ecological point of view as they are from a cultural point of view.

The Tejo/Tajo Cross-border Biosphere Reserve, which includes the Tejo Internacional Natural Park, is located in a region of low altitude and steep terrain, providing shelter for many species of birds that find ideal environmental conditions there, and is also a refuge for threatened species of Mediterranean forests.

Castro Verde’s zonal plan, designed locally by the community, is recognised as a model of sustainable agriculture that enhances biodiversity.

The natural heritage of the Porto Santo Island Biosphere Reserve, in addition to the beaches and dune system, is home to a diversity of ecosystems and species, many of them endemic, as well as an important geological heritage.

The Paul do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve is one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the country. It has a great diversity of fauna and flora characteristic of wetlands, with 317 species of plants and 288 species of animals identified, especially birds, which have their wintering, nesting or mating grounds in the area of the reserve, which was the main reason for the creation of this protected area.

The Biosphere Reserve on the island of Corvo has land and sea scenery of international importance, including the imposing Caldeirão, the crater of an extinct volcano occupied by a lagoon, and the presence on the island of the largest and oldest peat bogs in the country. In the coastal and marine area, the presence of reefs and semi-submerged caves stands out. Corvo’s human population is very small and historically concentrated in the only urban centre, Vila do Corvo.

The volcanic origin of the island of Graciosa stands out in the occurrence of thermal waters and in one of its most characteristic features: the Furna do Enxofre, a cavity located inside the Graciosa caldera. Just off the island’s only sandy beach is the Ilhéu da Praia, a nesting site for several colonies of seabirds of very high ecological importance.

The Flores Island Reserve has unique environmental and cultural values. The coastline is characterised by Fajãzinha and Fajã Grande, coastal plains that resulted from landslides and lava flows. Ribeira Grande is the most iconic of the waterfalls, reaching 300 metres. The environmental richness includes a high diversity of habitats and species, including endemics.

The territory is home to countless migratory species that find refuge and safety in this diversity.

The Berlengas Biosphere Reserve is a group of coastal reefs in a temperate climate zone with a huge diversity of marine species and habitats and a unique landscape.

The Santana Biosphere Reserve is characterised by the presence of part of the Laurissilva Forest, classified as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, a relic of the vegetation that preceded the settlement of the island. Enjoyment of the Reserve’s scenic beauty benefits from a network of walking routes that allow you to discover the footpaths and levadas and the pebble beaches characteristic of Santana.

The name of the Fajãs de São Jorge Biosphere Reserve emphasises one of its most important elements: the fajãs or coastal plains that have resulted from landslides and lava flows. These flat areas, located on the coastline and nestling between the sea and the cliffs, are as important from a geological and ecological point of view as they are from a cultural point of view.

The Tejo / Tajo Biosphere Reserve, which includes the Tejo Internacional Natural Park, is located in a region of low altitude and steep terrain, providing shelter for many species of birds that find ideal environmental conditions there, and is also a refuge for endangered species of Mediterranean forests.

The Castro Verde Biosphere Reserve is a benchmark in birdwatching tourism. Castro Verde’s zonal plan, designed locally by the community, is recognised as a model of sustainable agriculture that enhances biodiversity.

The natural heritage of the Porto Santo Island Biosphere Reserve, in addition to the beaches and dune system, is home to a diversity of ecosystems and species, many of them endemic, as well as an important geological heritage.