> From Lisbon to Vila Nova de Milfontes to learn about Mediterranean Temporary Ponds of the Southwest Coast of Portugal.

 

As part of the celebration of World Wetlands Day, LPN organized a field trip to give a sense of conservation of the Mediterranean Temporary Ponds, a unique and ancient habitat.

This activity had about 45 participants that, in the morning, attended a lecture about the Project LIFE Charcos, coordinated by the LPN, and in the afternoon, they visit one in the S. Miguel complex, for a in situ observation of its dynamics and some rare species of flora and fauna with high conservation value.

A singularity of this habitat is associated with the diversity and peculiarity of organisms that it hosts. The associated flora and fauna are very specific and adapted to alternatives to extreme wetting or dry conditions, according to the time of the year, as temporary ponds are wetlands where the permanence of water depends on annual rainfall and local hydrogeological conditions.

Because they are one of the most remarkable and unique freshwater habitats in Europe, Temporary Ponds are considered to be priority by Annex I of the Habitats Directive (92/43).