The protected areas of Portugal include one national park, 13 natural parks, nine natural reserves, seven protected landscapes, five natural monuments, seven classified places and two specially designated areas.
Two extensive areas of Portugal have been designated as Geoparks on account of their outstanding geological heritage. Arouca and Naturtejo are member Geoparks of the European Geoparks Network and the UNESCO Global Network of National Geoparks. Though not statutory designations under Portuguese or European law, membership of these networks affords additional protection to the geological heritage of the areas.[1]
Several places in Portugal (national parks, natural parks, reserves or protected landscapes) are protected under the European Natura 2000 programme, designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe.
| Peneda-Gerês | ||
| Corno do Bico | Montesinho | |
| Lagoa de Bertiandos e São Pedro de Arco | Albufeira de Azibo | |
| Litoral norte | Alvão | |
| Dunas de São Jacinto | Douro Internacional | |
| Paul de Arzila | ||
| Montes de Santa Olaia e Ferrestelo | Serra da Estrela | |
| Serras de Aire e Candeeiros | Serra da Malcata | |
| Monte de São Bartolomeu | Serra do Açor | |
| Berlengas | Tejo internacional | |
| Serra de Montejunto | Pegadas de Dinossauros | |
| C. Lapiaz da Granja dos Serrões | Paul do Boquilobo | |
| Granja dos Serrões e Negrais | Serra de São Mamede | |
| Açude da Agolada | ||
| Sintra-Cascais | Centro Histórico de Coruche | |
| Carenque | Açude do Monte da Barca | |
| Arriba Fóssil da C. Caparica | Estuário do Tejo | |
| Pedreira do Avelino | Estuário do Sado | |
| Lagosteiros | Lagoa de St. André e Sancha | |
| Pedra da Mua | Vale do Guadiana | |
| Gruta do Zambujal | Fonte Benémola | |
| Arrábida | S.C.Marim-V.R.S. António | |
| Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina | Ria Formosa | |
| Rocha da Pena e Fonte Benémola |
The national park, Peneda-Gerês National Park is located in the extreme north of Portugal. The park has a wide variety of oak and mixed forests, with rare habitats, groves, peat bogs, and diversebushes. The Golden Eagle, the Eagle Owl, the Honey Buzzard, and the Whinchat are some of the 147 Portuguese birds that can be found in Gerês. Along with the Pine Marten, the Stoat, the Wolf, the brown bear, the wild goat, the adders (Vipera latasteiand Vipera seoanei) and a number of squirrel species.
The Serra da Estrela Natural Park in central Portugal, with its extensive valleys and turf soils, and the Arrábida Natural Park in the Setúbal Peninsulawith its Mediterranean character and the sand varieties of its beaches unveil the ecological variety of Portugal.
The Natural Park of Madeira protects a very rare type of subtropical rainforest (Laurissilva), and has been designated a UNESCO heritage site. In addition to this special area, the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores have several areas designated under protection for species and habitat conservation.
The Tapada Nacional de Mafra is conspicuous, due to its rich flora and fauna. The Tapada was created in the reign of King John V for the royal delight of the monarch, as a hunting preserve. With an area of 8 km² the park included species of stag, boar, fox, rapine birds and several other species. Today, the Tapada is classified as a national hunting zone (Portuguese: Zona de Caça Nacional).
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