Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
Mountains with NE-SW orientation and maximum altitudes of 1330 meters (Alvão) and 1416 m. (Marão). The site is longitudinally bounded by the valleys of the rivers Tâmega (at West) and Corgo (at East). The site reaches its lower altitude at river Corgo's mouth. This site holds a large diversity of geomorphologic situations and natural habitats, namely atlantic humid meridional heaths and mountanious grass-lands. Groves, oak forests of
Quercus robur and
Q. pyrenaica, water fringe forests of
Salix alba and
Populus alba and cork oak forests are also found.
Alvão and Marão mountains re important due to the presence of an isolated breeding pair of
Aquila chrysaetos. The site also holds a resident colony of
Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax that during winter increases its number with feeding individuals. These mountains have ornithological importance for holding interesting raptors and transaharian migratory passerines. There are 146 bird species refered for this area.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
There is not any management plan for the Nature Park or Rede Natura 2000 sites, however there is a proposal of planning for Alvão Nature Park. As a response to progressive abandonment of humvan activities in the area, the climax sequence is recuperated in some places, with vegetal cover recuperation. Alhough the agricultural abandonment and the resulting decrease of natural and landscape values, the site is still well-preserved. Unsustainable exploitation is worrying (turism and recreation, monocultural forestry, road system...). Some important formations like turf bogs, silver birch forest, laurel groves and some grasslands and natural heaths, should be protected. The lack of forest management do not allow the progress of forests with higher ecologic value. Conservation steps for oak forests and other important patches should be carried out.
National: Nature Park Alvão,7220ha cointaned by IBA.SIC proposal Alvão/Marão, 58788 ha overlaps by IBA
International: SICs Proposal Alvão/Marão
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Serras do Alvão e Marão (Portugal). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/serras-do-alvão-e-marão-iba-portugal on 23/11/2024.
