Recreational Forest Reserve of Valverde

Recreational Forest
Reserve of Valverde (Reserva Florestal de
Recreio do Valverde)
Forest Park of Valverde
Recreational Forest (Florestal de Recreio)
Inaugurated in 1963, the administrative building of the Direcção dos Recursos Florestais for Santa Maria
Named for: Valverde
Nickname: Parque florestal do Valverde
Country  Portugal
Autonomous Region  Azores
Group Eastern
Island Santa Maria
Municipality Vila do Porto
Localities Vila do Porto
River Ribeira de Valverde
Location Salvaterra
 - elevation 135 m (443 ft)
 - coordinates 36°57′31.27″N 25°8′6.63″W / 36.9586861°N 25.1351750°W / 36.9586861; -25.1351750Coordinates: 36°57′31.27″N 25°8′6.63″W / 36.9586861°N 25.1351750°W / 36.9586861; -25.1351750
Biomes Temperate, Mediterranean
Geology Alkali basalt, Tephra, Trachyte, Trachybasalt
Orogeny Volcanism
Period Holocene
Founded Decreto Legislativo Regional 16/1989/A
Date 30 August 1989
Management Secretário Regional do Ambiente e do Mar
 - location Rua Cônsul Dabney, Colónia Alemã, 140, Horta, Faial
 - elevation 28 m (92 ft)
 - coordinates 38°32′2″N 28°37′45″W / 38.53389°N 28.62917°W / 38.53389; -28.62917
Owner Regional Government of the Azores
For public Public
Visitation Closed (Sundays)
Easiest access Caminho do Valverde
Hours 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The location of the Regional National Monument on the island of Santa Maria
Wikimedia Commons: Reserva Florestal de Recreio de Valverde
Geographic detail from CAOP (2010)[1] produced by Instituto Geográfico Português (IGP)

The Recreational Forest Reserve of Valverde (Portuguese: Reserva Florestal de Recreio do Valverde) is a recreational forest located centrally on the island of Santa Maria, in the civil parish of Vila do Porto, municipality of Vila do Porto in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.[2]

History

The open spaces near the deer and animal pens, looking towards the children's park and washrooms
Pedestrian trail within the Nature Reserve

The Reserva Florestal de Recreio de Valverde was created by decree on August 30, 1989 (16/89/A) by the legislature of the Regional Government of the Azores, but dates back to the creation of the Forest Services in 1949.[2][3][4]

It is administered by the Secretaria Regional de Agricultura e Pescas (Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Fishing), and run day-to-day by the Direcção Regional de Recursos Florestais (Regional Directorate of Forest Resources), as the seat of the Forest Services on the island of Santa Maria.

Geography

Located in Salvaterra, in the parish of Vila do Porto, the park's 4 hectares are situated at approximately 130 metres (430 ft) above sea level.[3] The park is composed of picnic and play areas with picturesque views, as well as where animals are exhibited. The nature reserve is a unit of multi-use in the Azores archipelago combining several activities; it is oriented towards human-nature interactivity, providing spaces for human leisure (picnicking, barbecues, minor recreational activities, sightseeing, pedestrian trails) with aspects of nature (public education and proximity to flora and fauna associated with the area).[3]

There are short pedestrian trails, with access to various infrastructures; in the past there have been public tours/walks and activities associated with identifying native species of flora and educating residents on conservation.

The highlight of the park is the headquarters building, inaugurated in 1962, based on a pilot project, of French origin.[4]

The Valverde Reserve is an area with many Eucalyptus and Cypress trees, as well as endemic plants such as Picconia azorica and the local AzoreanHeather.[3][4]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ IGP, ed. (2010), Carta Administrativa Oficial de Portugal (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Geográfico Português, retrieved 1 July 2011
  2. 1 2 GRA, ed. (21 June 2000), Reserva Florestal de Recreio do Valverde (in Portuguese), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal: Governo Regional dos Açores
  3. 1 2 3 4 DRRF, ed. (2011), Reserva Florestal de Recreio do Valverde (in Portuguese), Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal: Direcção Regional de Recursos Florestais
  4. 1 2 3 Isabel Soares de Albergaria (2006), p.38-39
Sources
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