Faia Brava Guard

To protect the unique nature of Faia Brava and all the work of ecological restoration conducted in the last 12 years, ATN performs an annually intensive campaign to prevent and ...

To protect the unique nature of Faia Brava and all the work of ecological restoration conducted in the last 12 years, ATN performs an annually intensive campaign to prevent and guard against fires.

FAIA BRAVA

Faia Brava is the first private protected area in Portugal, in the heart of the Côa Valley, Northeastern Portugal. Along the steep canyon of the Côa River and the extensive cork oak woodland the majestic cliff-breeding birds soar. These are priority species for nature conservation. Here nature is the most important value. Associação Transumância e Natureza (ATN) has purchased and manages 800 hectares exclusively for nature conservation, in order to create a model of local and sustainable natural resources management.

WOODLAND RECOVERY

After a tragic fire in 2003, which consumed a large area of about 4500 hectares in the Côa Valley, ATN has been active in the recovery of burned areas in Faia Brava. From 2005 to 2012, these are some of the achievements in Faia Brava:

10,000 produced by trees indigenous years

26,800 trees planted

10 km of water lines reforested

352 560 acorns sown

515 hectares of native forest in recovery

Average of less than 15 hectares burned annually

200 volunteers per year

GUARD BEECH BRAVA - a successful fire surveillance campaign

The critical period of fire takes place every year from July to October, during the hot dry summer in our region. Fire is a natural process to which the vegetation is extremely well adapted. However, the high frequency with which it occurs, the high temperatures reached by fire during the summer and the existence of large abandoned areas, where vegetation density is extremely high, are factors that have great impact on these woodland areas which are currently in a process of natural regeneration. These fires are mostly of anthropogenic origin and are meant to accelerate the pastureland renovation.

In order to prevent the destruction of these unique natural areas and protect all the work of ecological restoration that has been done by ATN over the last 12 years, we perform an annual intensive campaign to prevent and guard Faia Brava and surrounding areas against fires. In Faia Brava, the ranger team works 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, traveling by 4WD car and using strategic points for surveillance. The main objectives are:

1. Detect fire as soon as possible and thus reduce the maximum area burned per year.
2. Support the work of firefighters, supporting 1^st intervention, indicating the best routes and closest ponds.
3. Contact with local communities, raising awareness to a more sustainable use of natural areas, including technical support for forest management (pruning, thinning, woodland and dirt road cleaning, and controlled fires in other seasons.

FUNDING

Every year, ATN puts aside funds to operate the surveillance campaign against fires at Faia Brava. These funds are raised through the support of our members, the sale of products and services, and donations. The annual cost of the campaign is 3,000 euros and includes the transportation of rangers, safety equipment, first intervention and communication kits, and payment of services to the dedicated and tireless rangers.

In 2012, ATN has available funding for surveillance work until the end of August. It is essential to keep the team working on the ground at least until the end of September. ATN still needs to raise 1,000 euros to complete the campaign of 2012.

This crowdfunding campaign intends to raise this money and at the same time raise awareness of the community to the importance of prevention and surveillance to fight fires. Surveillance can often avoid the use of the last line of defense: firefighting.

About the author

Associação Transumância e Natureza (ATN) is a non-governmental environmental, local and nonprofit organization, which was established in 2000 and whose mission to conserve, improve and disseminate knowledge on the natural heritage of the Northeast of Portugal, through the management and protection of natural areas, in a sustainable way and with the participation of the community.

ATN is not subsidized by the government, and depends entirely on funding from its members, donations and sponsorship, sales of products and services, and national and international funding target proposals.

Based on the profound conviction that civil society should play an active role in safeguarding ecological heritage, and that Faia Brava Reserve - the conservation of an area where nature is the most important value - is a socio-economic and cultural development factor, ATN aims to make the first private protected area in Portugal a self-sustainable model for biodiversity management.

In a project where social and business participation is supported, we seek innovative solutions for the use and profitability of the sector through marketing products and services related to nature, training and environmental education, in a natural area which made by all and for all to enjoy.

Learn more about us at: www.atnatureza.blogspot.com| www.atnatureza.org

THE RANGERS

Ricardo Nabais Forestry Technician | Agriculture and Forestry Sector | Works at ATN since November 2009 and is ATN’s manager of all woodland conservation projects (recovery of stream vegetation cover, tree nursery management) and head of the fire surveillance team at Faia Brava and ZIF Algodres / Vale de Afonsinho.

Eduardo Realinho Biologist / Master Student | Sector Conservation and sustainability | Degree in Biology (Aveiro University), currently completing a Masters in Applied Biology - Ecology, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management. Conducting research on vulture feeders and Egyptian Vulture behavior at the Faia Brava Reserve. Has supported ATN in the area of visitation, as a guide and monitor and also performs surveillance work.

Budget and due dates

Images

Documents

• VIGIA FAIA BRAVA.pdf

  pdf • 1.66 MB