Higro - demonstrative actions for the conservation of priority habitats in northern mountain areas in Portugal
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An innovative methodology is being tested towards the restoration and conservation of 200 ha of mountain priority
habitats: hygrophilous heather-gorse dominated shrublands [(4020) ‘*temperate Atlantic wet heaths with Erica ciliaris
and Erica tetralix’] and higrophile moor matgrasses [(6230) ‘*species-rich Nardus grasslands on silicious substrates’].
These experiments comprise 35 ha in the Atlantic Biogeographical Region - SCI “Serra de Arga” (PTCON0039) - and 50
ha on SCI “Serra de Montemuro” (PTCON0025) and 115 ha on SCI “Alvão-Marão” (PTCON0003) in the Mediterranean
Biogeographical Region, located at the supra-temperate and supra-mediterranean levels on granitic mountains from the
Northern Portugal, whose meso-higrophile and higrophile heather-gorse shrublands are nowadays in steep regression.
The experiment comprehends the assemblage of 10 km of removable fences; the selective control of grass and shrub
formations on 50 ha; the restoration of the natural hydrology on 100 ha (using artificial levees); and the promotion of
extensive grazing along a path on 100 ha, all ruled by contract with the landowners. A preparatory stage has undergone,
collecting and mapping data on the biogeography, climate, topography, lithology, land-use history, species, and habitats.
A repport was produced over the reference status (1st stage of the Project). This presentation shows the preliminary
results, carrying new information into the discussion about the most suitable techniques, implemented together or
by themselves, in different intensities and periodicities, in order to induce vegetation diversity and the conservation
of rare vascular plants (e.g. Genista berberidea, Gentiana pneumonanthe) and invertebrates (e.g. Maculinea alcon).
Albeit burning, draining and grazing in mountain areas pose threats to the higrophile formations of Erica ciliaris, E.
tetralix, Calluna vulgaris (usually with Ulex minor and, less often, Genista anglica, G. berberidea, and G. micrantha),
these activities seem to benefit mat moorgrasses (e.g. Agrostis hesperica, Nardus stricta), sedges (e.g. Carex asturica,
C. pilulifera), rushes (e.g. Juncus squarrosus) and herbaceous dicotyledons (e.g. genuses Cirsium, Polygala, Potentilla).
Grazing is an activity in decline; still it does render vital services for well-conserved montain priority habitats. The
challenge is, thus, to find ways that allow short and medium-term profitable grazing and, at the same time, ensure the
ecological balance.
