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Discovering Faia Brava Reserve
Walking circuit through Faia Brava Reserve
Located in the Coa Valley, in the interior Center of Portugal, the Faia Brava Reserve covers about 1000ha of land in the municipalities of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo and Pinhel. In this area, the slopes of the Coa river are formed by granite outcroppings, with cliffs, providing great conditions for several species of birds.
Faia Brava’s classifications
This territory also includes the Coa Valley SPA (Natura 2000) and the IBA (Birdlife International Important Bird Area) and, finally, it is integrated in the Archaeological Park of the Coa Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 2010 the Faia Brava Reserve was classified by the Portuguese Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Institute (ICNB) as the first private protected area of the country and is currently a pilot area of the European project Rewilding Europe, whose main goal is to create wild natural areas and to estimulate nature tourism development in Europe.
Main natural values
The Coa Valley fauna is quite diverse and important for conservation, and this is the main feature of Faia Brava Reserve. The most emblematic group are the cliff-breeding birds, of which stand out: the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), the Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata), the Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo), the Alpine Swift (Apus melba). Recently, it was also confirmed the nesting of White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer).
Other values
Group of engravings and rock paintings of Faia (UNESCO), traditional dovecotes, Maronesas herd of cows and Garrano horses in semi-wild state.
