New protected status will prevent further construction
The Foz do Almargem and Trafal wetland in Loulé, one of the most beautiful natural havens in the municipality, is one step away from being officially granted the protected status of ‘Local Natural Reserve’.
The municipal council of Loulé approved the wetland’s classification process and management regulations on Monday (June 3). The documents will now be submitted for approval by the municipal assembly, followed by the publication of the reserve’s new status in the Diário da República state gazette which will make the decision official.
As the municipal council states in a press release, the 135-hectare natural reserve is “one of the most important wetlands in the Algarve.”
“The natural wealth of this area, home to 236 flora species, 11 natural and seminatural habitats and over 322 fauna species, makes it especially important to the balance of the ecosystem, which is why the council decided to take over the management of this area as part of its environmental policy and climate change adaptation efforts,” it says.
The new protected status also aims to prevent further construction in the area, which is already under “great urbanistic pressure.”
“This decision once again demonstrates the municipality’s commitment to promoting and preserving biodiversity, conserving natural values, and enhancing the territory, considering the increasingly pressing challenges related to climate change,” says Loulé mayor Vítor Aleixo.
The local authority recalls that the creation of the reserve and its regulatory proposal underwent public discussion from July 6 to August 17, 2022. “During this period, 67 comments were received, recorded, analysed, and considered, resulting in reports available on the Portal Participa,” it adds.
The approval of the new protected status came just in time for World Environment Day celebrations this Wednesday (June 5). Several activities are scheduled in Loulé to mark the occasion, including bird watching for families at the Ria Formosa Natural Park on Saturday (June 8) and various educational programs by the Environmental Center until tomorrow (June 6).
