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{{Geobox|Protected Area}} The Nature Park of São Miguel (Portuguese: Parque Natural de São Miguel), or simply or São Miguel Nature Park (PNSM) developed from the intention of better managing the protected areas of the island of São Miguel, and was instituted by the Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar (Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Oceans), of the Autonomous Regional Government of the Azores. Several natural landscapes were preserved and their use conditioned in order to foster conservation and support endemic flora and fauna species, as well as provide communal forms of recreation and nature interpretation.

History

On the 8 July 2008, the Regional Government legislated the creation (under Regional Legislative Decree 19/2008/A) of the Parque Natural da Ilha de São Miguel (Nature Park of the Island of São Miguel) in order to encapsulate and administer the various territorial units into one scheme (that includes reserves, natural monuments and protected landscapes, including one of Portugal's 7 Natural Wonders). The intent of the connection was to conciliate and preserve the biodiversity, as well as allow economic and sustainable development.

Geography

The view from Pico da Barrosa of the entire watershed of Lagoa do Fogo

Looking towards the Graminhais Plateau from Pico dos Bodes and the valleys of Povoação

The São Miguel Nature Park is actually a dispersed reserve that encompasses several individual areas of protection.

Classified areas

Nature Reserves

Those areas classified as Nature Reserves (Portuguese: Reserva Natural):

• [SMG01] Nature Reserve of Lagoa do Fogo (Portuguese: Reserva Natural da Lagoa do Fogo), defined by the hydrographic basin/watershed of the Lagoa do Fogo;
• [SMG02] Nature Reserve of Pico da Vara (Portuguese: Reserva Natural do Pico da Vara), beginning on a dirt road that extends into the Graminhais plateau to Pico da Vara, interesting at the Ribeira do Purgar, where it inflects northwest to pass through the 947 metres (3,107 ft) marker, until the 900 metres (3,000 ft) altitude, where it extends east until the pedestrian trial from Malhada. From there, the limit follows the road north to Grota Escura, descending to the valley Ribeira do Guilherme, inflecting to the south to the Francisco Pires and Bodes until the roadway of Tronqueira. The frontier extends north to Serreta, descending later to the Tronqueria roadway again, continuing east in the same direction until the intersection at Grotinha do Pico Verde. Continuing along the valley west until the promontory at 775 metres (2,543 ft), it then extends to the 800 metres (2,600 ft) isoline, continuing until the ravine and west to Pico Verde. Descending into the ravine, until the 700 metres (2,300 ft), the border continues to the afluent of Ribeira do Purgar until the Graminhais Plateau.

Natural Monument

The thermal waters of the Caldeira Velha

Those areas classified as Natural Monuments (Portuguese: Monumento Natural):

• [SMG03] Natural Monument of Caldeira Velha (Portuguese: Monumento Natural da Caldeira Velha), the monument begins along the regional roadway separating Ribeira Grande from Lagoa, extending towards Lagoa do Fogo until intersecting at the 400 metres (1,300 ft) isoline, continuing along this line until the watercourse supporting the warm spring of Caldeira Velha. Extending from this watercourse to the 460 metres (1,510 ft) elevation, it then inflects to 428 metres (1,404 ft), then north-northwest until the 380 metres (1,250 ft) elevation, diverting to the northwest.
• [SMG04] Natural Monument of Gruta do Carvão (Portuguese: Monumento Natural da Gruta do Carvão)
• [SMG05] Natural Monument of Pico das Camarinhas Ponta da Ferraria (Portuguese: Monumento Natural do Pico das Camarinhas Ponta da Ferraria)

Protected Areas

Areas classified for Protection and Management of Habitats or Species (Portuguese: Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies):

• [SMG06] Protected Area of the Islet of Vila Franca (Portuguese: Área protegida do ilhéu de Vila Franca)
• [SMG07] Protected Area of the Serra de Água de Pau (Portuguese: Área protegida da serra de Água de Pau)
• [SMG08] Protected Area of the Tronqueira and Graminhais Plateus (Portuguese: Área protegida da Tronqueira e planalto dos Graminhais)
• [SMG09} Protected Area of Ponta do Cintrão (Portuguese: Área protegida da Ponta do Cintrão)
• [SMG10] Protected Area of Ponta do Arnel (Portuguese: Área protegida da Ponta do Arnel)
• [SMG11] Protected Area of Feteiras (Portuguese: Área protegida das Feteiras)
• [SMG12] Protected Area of Ponta do Escalvado (Portuguese: Área protegida da Ponta do Escalvado)
• [SMG13] Protected Area of Ponta da Bretanha (Portuguese: Área protegida da Ponta da Bretanha)
• [SMG14] Protected Area of Faial da Terra (Portuguese: Área protegida do Faial da Terra)
• [SMG15] Protected Area of Ferraria (Portuguese: Área protegida da Ferraria)
• [SMG16] Protected Area of Lagoa do Congro (Portuguese: Área protegida da lagoa do Congro)

Protected Landscapes

Areas classified as Protected Landscapes (Portuguese: Paisagem Protegida):

• [SMG17] Protected Landscape of Sete Cidades (Portuguese: Área de paisagem protegida das Sete Cidades)
• [SMG18] Protected Landscape of Furnas (Portuguese: Área de paisagem protegida das Furnas)
• [SMG19] Protected Landscape of Caloura-Islet of Vila Franca (Portuguese: Área protegida da Caloura — Ilhéu de Vila Franca)
• [SMG20] Protected Landscape of the East Coast (Portuguese: Área protegida de gestão de recursos da costa este)
• [SMG21] Protected Landscape of Ponta do Cintrão-Ponta da Maia (Portuguese: Área protegida da ponta do Cintrão — Ponta da Maia)
• [SMG22] Protected Landscape of Porto das Capelas-Ponta das Calhetas (Portuguese: Área protegida das Capelas — Ponta das Calhetas)
• [SMG23] Protected Landscape of Ponta da Ferraria-Ponta da Bretanha (Portuguese: Área protegida Ponta da Ferraria — Ponta da Bretanha)

References

Sources

• Decreto Legislativo Regional 19/2008/A: Parque Natural da Ilha de São Miguel (PDF) (in Portuguese) (Série 1 ed.), Lisbon, Portugal: Diário da República, 8 July 2008, pp. 4242–4246, retrieved 24 October 2016