The decision was taken after verification of compliance with the requirements set out in the law by the authority with jurisdiction in this matter, the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), said Loulé Council in a statement.

The reserve, located on the south-eastern edge of the coastal strip of the parish of Quarteira, extends over 135.7 hectares, constituting “one of the important wetlands of the Algarve”, and is crossed by two streams - the Fonte Santa or Almargem streams and the Carcavai River.

“Terrestrial and inland water areas and marine areas, where biodiversity or other natural occurrences, due to their rarity, scientific, ecological, social or scenic value, are of special relevance that require specific conservation and management measures are classified as protected areas, in order to promote the rational management of natural resources and the appreciation of natural and cultural heritage, regulating artificial interventions that could degrade them”, says the note.

Loulé Council points out that the Foz do Almargem e do Trafal Local Nature Reserve constitutes “a natural refuge for many species of fauna and flora on a coastline that is highly urbanised”.

In this area, there is also “the presence of a diverse mosaic of landscapes which, together with the presence of two rivers, ensures the provision of a set of ecosystem services, the reduction of biodiversity loss and even the discovery of new species for the country”.

The classification of the Foz do Almargem and Trafal Local Nature Reserve and its management regulations were made official in an announcement published on August 14 in the Official Gazette of the Union.