Nature protection and biodiversity - Drivers and pressures (Portugal)

In Portugal, the human-induced change in ecosystems started thousands of years ago. The progressive dominance by human populations, mostly induced by the need to improve food production, has provoked the decline of forests and several species of large mammals. By the end of the 19th century only 10 % of the national territory was covered by forest and there were serious erosion problems in mountain areas. To mitigate these problems and to increase forest coverage, the Portuguese government promoted several campaigns for forestation, mostly involving the planting of wild pine trees. Meanwhile, the growing demand for cork and pork meat led to an increase in the “montado” (cork-trees and Holm-oaks) of Alentejo. By the middle of the twentieth century the forest area had tripled (MEA, 2004).

Due to political and economic circumstances, Portuguese society was predominantly rural until around twenty years ago (ICNB, 2010).

In 2006, 71 % of the land in continental Portugal was used for forestry and agriculture and approximately 15 % was a mixture of agriculture and natural areas (APA, 2009). Land use changes have produced modifications in the Portuguese landscape, ecosystems and environment. Urban areas and infrastructures are huge consumers, at the expense of agricultural lands. Rural landscapes are also undergoing change, with the intensification of farming and forestry activities, on one hand, and the abandonment of land on the other.

Coastal zones are a combination of complex ecological systems and intense human occupation. These areas are subject to constant pressures as they are the focus of increasingly intensive urbanisation, tourism and countless leisure activities leading to habitat loss. The demand for natural areas for recreation and tourism is still growing, as is the popularity of second homes (particularly in the south).

The road network has expanded greatly over the last 20 years and this development has had an impact on all areas with a protection status, be it ecological reserves, agriculture reserves, protected areas, Natura 2000 sites or areas of water in the public domain, contributing to the fragmentation of natural and semi-natural areas.

Forest fires are also a threat that Portugal has to deal with every year. In addition to the loss of forest and fauna and flora, areas damaged by forest fire are more susceptible to disease and soil erosion.

Similarly, animal species are being adversely affected, mainly by changes in their habitat caused by increasing pressure from certain agro-industrial practices, but also by depopulation and consequent changes in land use. Intensive agriculture; monoculture tree plantations; continued urban expansion; enlargement of the road network and excessive hunting also affect the survival of certain species.

References

• APA (2009). Relatório do Estado do Ambiente 2008. Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente. Amadora.

(http://www.apambiente.pt/divulgacao/Publicacoes/REA/Documents/REA%202008_Final.pdf)

• ICNB (2010). ICNB presentation

http://portal.icnb.pt/ICNPortal/vEN2007/O+ICNB/Quem+Somos/Apresentação+do+ICNB/

• MEA (2004). Pereira, H.M, T. Domingos, and L. Vicente (editors). Portugal Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: State of the Assessment Report. Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa.