Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
This site refers to an extensive inland area of the São Miguel island, including its highest points - Pico da Vara (1.103m), Pico Verde (931m), some valleys and other mountains in the norteast sector of the island. It comprises the only remnant areas of the native laurisilva forest of the island of São Miguel.
The only population of the world for the Azorean Bullfinch. Also one of the important sites for the Azorean Wood Pigeon in all the archipelago. Also interesting for several endemic subspecies of passerines, e.g. the Chaffinch, the Goldcrest and the Blackcap.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
This IBA is severely affected by invasive plant species and is surrounded by large areas of intensively explored forests. Two LIFE projects were runned until recently with some management measures for restoring the habitat of laurisilva. The species has been monitored since 1991 in an irregular basis, currently carried out by SPEA. There is a Specific Action Plan for the Azorean Bullfinch, developed by the Council of Europe and BirdLife International. The absence of the establishment of the SPA by the regional law constitutes a weakness in its surveillance and legal protection.
National:Forestal Nature Reserve Graminhais;Forestal Nature Reserve Pico da Vara,International:Special Protection Area Pico da Vara/Ribeira do Guilherme
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Pico da Vara (Portugal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/pico-da-vara-iba-portugal on 26/12/2024.
