Paúl do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve - Portugal
Posted by: 
tofixe
N 39° 24.482 W 008° 31.812
29S E 540446 N 4362162
Paúl do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve in Central Portugal consists of a natural freshwater wetland surrounded by marshes, which lie in a bend of the Almonda River.
Waymark Code: WMVTNN
Location: Santarém, Portugal
Date Posted: 05/25/2017
Views: 20
Paúl do Boquilobo Biosphere Reserve is home to the largest colony of herons in the Iberian peninsular where they come to nest. In addition to the nesting herons there is an abundance of other bird species. The River Tejo and River Almonda surround most of its borders. There is a network of canals with aquatic plans and willows on its banks.
But we don't only find herons here. There is a total of around 200 bird species, most of which are aquatic species, that find shelter in the Paul do Boquilobo zone, that has been justly declared as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
Floods from the Tejo River naturally inundate the site in winter and part of it subsequently dries out when the water table is mechanically lowered in spring to create larger areas for cultivation. The site may also act as a flooding buffer zone contributing to increased protection of adjoining farmland areas against erosion caused by winter floods. For many years this wetland has been a valuable sink for alluvial particles carried in by the Tejo River creating rich cultivated areas, which have contributed to the economic wealth of the area. The marshes have characteristic aquatic vegetation in permanently inundated areas. Lines of cottonwood (Populus sp.), willow (Salix sp.) and other trees make up characteristic hedges around the wetland and offer excellent cover for breeding birds and other fauna. Three core areas are designated including the densest willow growths. Sunflower and other fast-growing annuals are grown on fertile sediments around the marsh. The wetland, which is also a Ramsar site, is a very important wintering site for waterbirds in Portugal, with concentrations of ducks pintail (Anas acuta) and cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), little egret (Egretta garzetta), black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) and a growing population of the spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia). The most obvious threat to the ecosystem is the uncontrolled spread of the water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), an exotic, invasive aquatic plant now forming dense floating mats over extensive areas in the wetland. In the surrounding area and catchment, excessive water pumping for agriculture has caused problems in the area in drier years. The local population nearby is mainly involved in agriculture including extensive cultivation.. The site is of considerable conservation value and scientific interest. Source: (
visit link)