Forests in Portugal


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FORESTS IN EUROPE

Portugal covers an area of 92.000km with a population of about 10 million. The mainland has, from a climatic point of view, a Mediterranean influence, with dry and hot summers and rainy winters, but it is also influenced by the temperate macroclimate. This situation leads to a notable climatic variation that is confirmed by gradients of basic climatic data (Pereira et al., 2004)^[1]:
• Annual precipitation ranges from less than 400mm in the Guadiana valleys (South of Portugal) to more than 3000mm in the mountain range of Gerês (North of Portugal). The average number of rainy days goes from 15 to 90.
• Mean annual temperature ranges from 6-8^oC in the mountains in the North and Center to 18-20^oC in the valleys of Algarve (South). Minimum temperatures ranges from -2^oC in the mountains in the North, to 8-10^oC in Algarve.
• Mean number of frost days ranges from less than 2 to 100. The number of days with tropical nights (with more than 20^oC) ranges from less than 2 to 20.
This diversity of ecosystems, confined to small spaces, resulted in many areas of ecosystem transition, which are associated with high biodiversity. On the other hand, Mediterranean agriculture, created habitats with high conservation value, upon which the conservation of several species depends. Examples of this are the "montado" and "lameiros" (Pereira et al., 2004).
In conclusion, for its size Portugal is one of the European countries with highest diversity of organisms and farming systems, but at the same time is one of the countries more vulnerable to the loss of that diversity (Pereira et al., 2004).

	FOREST CHARACTERISTIC AND FOREST TYPES Forests provide a diverse range of goods and services of economic, environmental, recreational and cultural importance in a world growing increasingly urbanized, artificial and affected by large environmental impacts.
	TYPICAL AND EXCEPTIONAL FAUNA AND FLORA SPECIES IN FORESTS According to SIAM report (Pereira et al, 2004)^[5], Portugal has a number of very diverse fauna and flora in relation to its size, and is considered one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world.
	FORMS OF NATURE PROTECTION SUCH AS NATIONAL PARKS AND NATURE 2000 SITES Nature and landscape protection: National Park, Natural Park, Natural Reserve, Natural Monument, Protected Landscape. Natura 2000 sites.
	ORGANIZATION OF FORESTRY The National Forestry Authority (AFN) manages 8% of forests, where 2% are state forest and 6% are municipal and community forests. In Portugal, 92% of forests are being managed by 400.000 private forest owners (86%) and private companies (6%)^[16].

Portugal

Reformed by Andreia Ávila
Training and Environmental Education Department
Forestis - Associação Florestal de Portugal
Rua de Santa Catarina nº753
4000 - 454 Porto
Tlf: 222 073 130
Fax: 222 073 139
www.forestis.pt

Bibliography
1. Pereira, H.M, T. Domingos, and L. Vicente (editors). 2004. Portugal Millenium Ecosystem Assessment: State of the Assessment Report. Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa. 11/02/2011. Available online at http://ecossitemas.org
2. Autoridade Florestal Nacional (2011), Inventário Florestal Nacional 2005, AFN.
3. Autoridade Florestal Nacional (2006), Estratégia Nacional para as Florestas 2006, AFN.
4. Autoridade Florestal Nacional (2011), Inventário Florestal Nacional 2005, AFN.
5. Pereira, H.M., T. Domingos, and L. Vicente (editors). 2004. Portugal Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: State of the Assessment Report. Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa. 11/02/2011. Available online at http://ecossitemas.org
6./7./8. Autoridade Florestal Nacional (2011). Lista de Espécies de árvores florestais utilizáveis em Portugal [online]. 11/02/2011. Available at http://www.afn.min-agricultura.pt/portal/gestao-florestal/gfs/eafu-pt/?searchterm=espécies
9./10./11./12. Bingre P., Aguiar C., Espírito-Santo D., Arsénio P & Monteiro-Henriques T [Coord.s Cient.] (2007): Guiar de Campo - As árvores e os arbustos de Portugal continental. 462 pp. In vol. IX dea Sande Silva j. [Coord. Ed.] (2007): Colecção Árvores e Florestas de Portugal. Jornal Público/ Fundação Luso-Americana para o Desenvolvimento/ Liga para a Protecção da Natureza. Lisboa. 9 vols.
13. Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Biodiversidade (2011). O Livro Vermelho dos Vertebrados de Portugal [Online]. 11/02/2011. Available at
http://portal.icnb.pt/ICNPortal/vPT2007/Valores+Naturais/Livro+Vermelho+dos+Vertebrados/?res=1440x900
14. Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Biodiversidade (2011). Protected Areas [Online]. 11/02/2011. Available at: http://portal.icnb.pt/ICNPortal/vEN2007/O+ICNB/Areas+Protegidas/
15. Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e Biodiversidade (2011). A Rede Natura 2000 em Portugal Continental [Online]. 09/02/2011. Available at:
http://portal.icnb.pt/ICNPortal/vPT2007/O+ICNB/Rede+Natura+2000/Portugal+Continental
16. Torres, Amândio (2011) O sector florestal. EcoEscolas - Seminário Nacional. 4 de Fevereiro, Guarda. Available at: http://www.afn.min-agricultura.pt/portal/outros/noticias/resolveuid/2ba44502a814758e361bbe83168d3b0b
17. Parque Nacional Peneda Gerês (2011). O que é o Parque Nacional Peneda Gerês [Online]. 10/02/2011. Available at: http://www.geira.pt/pnpg/botao_1.html
18. Autoridade Florestal Nacional (2011). Missão e atribuições da AFN [Online]. 10/02/2011. Available at: http://www.afn.min-agricultura.pt/portal/afnqs/estrutura-organizac/missao
19. Autoridade Florestal Nacional (2009). Gestão de combustíveis para protecção de edificações [Online]. 11/02/2011. Available at: http://www.afn.min-agricultura.pt/portal/sensibilizacao/resource/ficheiros/material/Manual-Gestao-Combustiveis-17-08-2009.pdf

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