Three municipalities in Portugal’s Norte region have joined forces to help classify a mountainous area of the Serra d’Arga wilderness as a protected landscape. The ‘From Serra d'Arga to Foz do Âncora’ project delivered surveys and studies that will lead to the enhancement of the area’s biodiversity and economic potential. Steps have been taken to boost tourism through the creation of a smartphone app which contains walking trails and interesting information about the region.
- 29 January 2021
We want to transform these almost 5 000 hectares of Serra D'Arga territory into a protected area of regional interest. We could not do this without the support of NORTE 2020, crucial for the research and investigation field work that took over two years. That is why we are all working together: those who decide on European funds and those who benefit from them.
The project strengthens institutional cooperation between local, regional and national administrations for the joint management of this part of Serra d’Arga and its promotion as a tourism destination.
Work carried out through the ERDF-supported project included:
the creation of an Atlas of Flora, Fauna and Geology, which was informed by various surveys; the development of landscape characterisation studies, carried out in line with the European landscape convention; and a study to evaluate ecosystem services and their value to green infrastructures.Boosting tourism
The project delivered a communications plan which aims at promoting and publicising the classified area. The plan includes the production of a promotional video and a documentary film, development of a corporate image, and the preparation of printed materials.
The app is available to download. It contains interpretations of existing walking trails and descriptions of interesting geological features, landscapes and local cultural heritage. Visitors can use the app to learn about the region’s plants and animals.
Protecting the landscape
Getting part of the Serra d’Arga classified in the National Network of Protected Areas grants legal status for the maintenance of biodiversity, ecosystems and geological heritage. This legal status certifies the area’s scientific, ecological, scenic and social value. The new status will help protect the landscape from activities which could degrade its natural value.
The three Norte municipalities that collaborated on the project are Caminha (lead partner), Ponte de Lima, and Viana do Castelo.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “From Serra d'Arga to Foz do Âncora” is EUR 347 823, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 295 649 through the “NORTE 2020 – Portugal Norte Region” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Environment and resource efficiency”.