> The LIFE Charcos Project attended the BIRDWATCHING FESTIVAL held from 01> 04 October in Sagres.

 

In Portugal, Sagres is one of the most important places for observing birds. Due to its geographical location, between August and November this area registers a high abundance of migratory birds mostly raptors, passerines and seabirds that leave their nesting territories of Europe and fly towards Africa.

Of course that birds are the biggest attraction in this Festival and since most of the activities are centered on them. But there is much more to discover. Given the enormous diversity of habitats found in the area of western Algarve, the program includes various activities of nature providing contact with other species and habitats.

Thus, the Project LIFE Charcos attended the Birdwatching and Nature Activities Festival, on 3 and 4 October, 2015, in Sagres to give three lectures and a volunteer action for the removal of an exotic plant in the temporary pool of Vale Santo, Sagres. The three lectures started before lunch on the 3^rd day, Saturday, and all took place in the Junta de Freguesia of Sagres.

The first was titled "Meet the LIFE Charcos Project" whose habitat, biodiversity associated with it, the threats and the main actions planned for its conservation were presented between 11.30am and 12am by Arthur Lagartinho Project Coordinator.

(Artur Lagartinho, LIFE Charcos coordinator making a presentation of the Project)

The second lecture was held from 12am to 12.30am and was referring to the "Fascination of plants of the Mediterranean Temporary Ponds", a priority habitat for conservation and the main target of LIFE Charcos Project. The teacher Carla Pinto Cruz of the University of Évora explained how the plant dynamics of these ponds work.

(Carla Pinto Cruz, scientific coordinator of LIFE Charcos talking about the Fascination of Plants from Mediterranean Temporary Ponds)

Finally, the third lecture was immediately afterwards (from 12.30am to 1pm) where the teacher Margarida Cristo of the University of Algarve focused on one of the most important groups of organisms associated with this habitat, freshwater crustaceans, with the lecture titled "Great Branchiopods of Temporary Ponds".

(Margarida Cristo talking about Triops vicentinus)

The volunteer action took place on Sunday morning, the 4^th, and the meeting point was at 8am at the Forte do Beliche in Sagres. This action involved a short walk to the temporary pond of Vale Santo where then proceeded to the removal of an exotic plant (Carpobrotus edulis) in the surrounding area of the pond. Later the remains were sent to the Algarve treatment plant with the support of the Municipality of Vila do Bispo.

It should be noted that the 16 volunteers present were able to remove 2900 kg of the plant in just three hours.

(Some of the volunteers that removed the exotic plant with the help of gloves and garbage bags)