The Nature Park of Flores ( pt, Parque Natural das Flores), or simply Flores Nature Park (PNF), developed from the intention of better managing the protected areas of the island of

Flores Flores is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, a group of islands in the eastern half of Indonesia. Including the Komodo Islands off its west coast (but excluding the Solor Archipelago to the east of Flores), the land area is 15,530.58 km2, and th ...

, and was instituted by the ''Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar'' (''Regional Secretariate for the Environment and Oceans''), of the Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores. Although there are several ecosystems and environmentally distinct, this nature reserve includes three principal areas (the calderas Funda and Rasa, the mountain region of Morro Alto and Pico da Sé and the islet of Maria Vaz), in addition to several protected areas.

History

The creation of this Nature Park was made in order to aggregate various protected areas, with various diverse protection statutes covering bio- and geo-diversity. The protected areas included are classified as nature reserves, natural monuments, protected areas for habitat preservation, areas for landscape protection and areas protected for natural resource management. The Nature Park was created by regional legislative decree on 23 March 2011 (law 8/2011/A). The island of Flores became part of the network of World Biosphere Reserves (UNESCO), along with the islands of Corvo and Graciosa, on 27 May 2009. The area that is included in the biosphere definition includes most of the island, in addition to the marine ecosystems around them: in total the region includes 58,619 hectares, selected for the landscapes, geological, environmental and cultural characteristics that make it unique. Part of its designation comes from its importance as nesting areas for migratory and marine bird species. The higher altitudes and humid areas of the Central Plateau is known for Atlantic peat bog and forest of

Juniperus brevifolia ''Juniperus brevifolia'', the Azores juniper, is a species of juniper, endemic to the Azores (on Corvo, Faial, Flores, Pico, Santa Maria, São Jorge, São Miguel, and Terceira), where it occurs at altitudes of , rarely up to . It is closely ...

, vital for the island's hydrology and for supporting the ravines and waterfalls that define the landscape.

Geography

The Flores Nature Park is actually a dispersed reserve that encompasses several individual areas of protection. The nature reserve encourages the use of the spaces and promotes biodiversity, through nature tourism and the creation of local products. Meanwhile, the regional government provides incentives for promoting scientific investigation, projects to promote international cooperation and sustainable development.

Classified areas

Nature reserves

Those areas classified as ''Nature Reserves'' ( pt, Reserva Natural) include: * LO01Nature Reserve of the islet of Maria Vaz ( pt, Reserva Natural do Ilhéu de Maria Vaz)Diário da República (23 March 2011), p.1632 * LO02Nature Reserve of Morro Alto and Pico da Sé ( pt, Reserva Natural do Morro Alto e Pico da Sé) * LO03Nature Reserve of Caldeiras Funda and Rasa ( pt, Reserva Natural das Caldeiras Funda e Rasa),Diário da República (23 March 2011), p.1622 defined by a line that extends from Pico da Marcela to the altitude and extends to the southeast, curving at a peak that separates the water bodies of Caldeira Funda and Ribeira Funda. Then the limits advance to the south along a line delimited by the watershed hydrography of Caldeira Funda, connecting the lake area forest road, before following the tract north to the old ''Caminho Velho'' to ''Rochão da Ventosa'', continuing the southern area of the ''Ribeira do Mosteiro'' until the confluence before extending north, until the top of ''Pico da Marcela'' and returning.

Natural monuments

* LO04Natural Monument of Rocha dos Bordões ( pt, Monumento Natural da Rocha dos Bordões),Diário da República (23 March 2011), p.1623 the natural monument intersects the ''Estrada Regional'' E.R.1–2 and ''Ribeira do Fundão'', extending to the south for , curving near ''Ribeira da Lapa'', before extending north to the top of the Rocha dos Bordões. From this point the border extends to the west, until the altitude before intersecting the ''Ribeira do Fundão'' back to the E.R.1–2.

Protected areas

Areas classified for ''Protection and Management of Habitats or Species'' ( pt, Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies): * LO05Protected Area of the Northwest Coast ( pt, Área Protegida da Costa Nordeste)Diário da República (23 March 2011), p.1624 * LO06Protected Area of Ponta Caveira ( pt, Área Protegida da Ponta da Caveira)Diário da República (23 March 2011), p.1625 * LO07Protected Area of the South and Southwest Coast ( pt, Área Protegida da Costa Sul e Sudoeste)

Protected landscapes

Areas classified as ''Protected Landscapes'' ( pt, Paisagem Protegida): * LO08Protected Landscape of the Central Zone and Western Bluffs ( pt, Área Protegida da Zona Central e Falésias da Costa Oeste)Diário da República (23 March 2011), p.1626

Resource areas

Areas classified for ''Management of Resources'' ( pt, Gestão de Recursos): * LO09Protected Resource Management Area of the North Coast ( pt, Área Protegida da Costa Norte)Diário da República (23 March 2011), p.1626-1627

Trails

From each of the trails, there are different points of interest that can be discovered, including varying landscapes and buildings on the journey, highlighted by common species of flora and fauna. Geological formations and various buildings mark the history of the Azores, since many of these trails were the original paths between settled areas, allowing contact between people and the exchange of agricultural products and fish, among others. The official hiking trails are: * PR1FLO ''Ponta Delgada – Fajã Grande'' * PR2FLO ''Lajedo – Fajã Grande'' * PR3FLO ''Poço do Bacalhau'' * PR4FLO ''Fajã Lopo Vaz''

Interpretative Center

Situated in the centre of Santa Cruz das Flores, in the area of Boqueiro. and created in the oil tanks used to store whale oil, produced in the whaling factory. It is an area dedicated to the promotion and learning about the local environment, and specifically, marine ecosystem. At the site it is possible to view information on migratory and local bird species, but also includes a review of the whales and marine species that abound in the hydrothermal vents off the shelf. The site includes washrooms, lounges and shops, but also access to tour guides, an auditorium for films and permanent expositions.

References

Notes

Sources

* {{citation, url=http://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2011/03/05800/0161801634.pdf , publisher=INCM Imprensa Nacional Casa da Moeda , location=Lisbon, Portugal , volume=Série I , edition=58 , date=23 March 2011 , pages=1618–1634 , language=Portuguese , accessdate=29 March 2014 , title=Decreto Legislativo Regional n.º 8/2011/A: Parque Natural da Ilha das Flores , editor=Diário da República

External links

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar
Flores Island (Azores)

Ramsar sites in Portugal