PT003
Montesinho and Nogueira mountains


Site description (2002 baseline):

Site location and context
A series of mountain ranges (Coroa, Montesinho and Nogueira), located in the north-east corner of Portugal, with a continental-type climate. There is a vast forest of deciduous oak Quercus pyrenaica, together with heathland and other shrublands.



Key biodiversity
The area holds a very diversified bird fauna, with over 126 breeding species.These mountains support important numbers of breeding raptors



Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The area is relatively unaffected by human activities, although the abandonment of agriculture is reducing landscape diversity, through regeneration of forest-cover and loss of the patchwork of open areas. Firewood-collection in the deciduous forests, allied to lack of management, is preventing the development of forest stands of high ecological quality.



Protected areas
National:Natural Park (Montesinho, 74618 ha included in IBA)Special Protection Area (Serras de Montesinho e Nogueira, 108089 ha overlaps with IBA) SIC ProposalMontesinho/NogueiraInternational:Special Protection Area Serras de Montesinho e Nogueira; SIC candidature Montesinho/Nogueira




Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Montesinho and Nogueira mountains (Portugal). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/montesinho-and-nogueira-mountains-iba-portugal on 05/12/2024.