Protection efforts based at the Ria Formosa Natural Park in the eastern Algarve has received high praise, boasting restored habitats, thriving protected species, and a strengthened ecological resilience in “one of the country’s most fragile and important coastal areas”. These feathers added to the park’s cap have been largely tied to the six-year LIFE Ilhas Barreira project, which, according to the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA), sets in stone “solid foundations for the future conservation” of the Ria Formosa.
“The LIFE Ilhas Barreira project has shown that conservation is possible, effective and replicable. It is now up to the authorities and wider society to keep this commitment alive and to act to ensure the long-term protection of the Barrier Islands and the Ria Formosa,” stressed Joana Andrade, head of SPEA’s Marine Conservation Department, and coordinator of the LIFE Ilhas Barreira project.
The avian study society notes that “the continuation of these positive results will depend on the implementation of the new marine Special Protection Area (SPA), as well as ongoing cooperation between institutions, scientists, fishermen, and citizens. The project partners are committed to carrying out the actions outlined in the Post-LIFE Conservation Plan over the next five years, using their own resources while seeking additional funding.”
Launched in 2019 and funded by the EU’s LIFE Programme, the project “played a decisive role in restoring the population of Audouin’s gull (Larus audouinii), a globally declining species that has found a thriving refuge on the Barrier Islands” of the Ria Formosa, a habitat which is ecologically unique not just in Portugal, but throughout Europe.
“In 2019, there were around 2,500 nests; by 2024, that number had exceeded 7,000. This recovery was accompanied by a recent natural expansion of the colony from Ilha Deserta to Ilha da Culatra, reducing the risks associated with having a large population concentrated at a single site,” SPEA added in a statement marking the close of the project, which ended this summer.
To safeguard the colony on the Deserta island of the park, the LIFE Ilhas Barreira project “implemented rigorous biosecurity measures. In partnership with the association Animais de Rua, all feral cats were removed from Deserta island, reducing predation risks. At the same time, rodent-control traps were installed and a full biosecurity plan was developed.”
From a scientific standpoint, the project updated the International Action Plan for Audouin’s gull, drawing in experts from several countries. It also proposed expanding the Ria Formosa SPA, increasing its marine area to more than five times its current size, a step deemed essential for protecting threatened seabirds.
“The little tern (Sternula albifrons) was another species that benefited from the project’s measures. Because it nests directly on the sand, it is highly vulnerable to human disturbance. The installation of fencing and signs around nesting areas on the beaches significantly reduced disruption,” SPEA said.
In terms of wildlife recovery, LIFE Ilhas Barreira “helped modernise the RIAS Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, equipping it with new tools and expertise for seabird care. Between 2019 and 2024, the centre treated 7,562 seabirds, of which 3,208 were returned to the wild. The project also identified the agent responsible for ‘paralytic syndrome’ — botulism, enabling the creation of an internationally shared treatment protocol.”
Grey dunes, a fragile and critical habitat, were also a priority. By restricting gull access and removing invasive plants across 1.6 hectares, with the help of dozens of technicians and volunteers, the project initiated the ecological restoration of Ilha Deserta. Innovative techniques, such as using dark tarps to eliminate ice plant, proved effective, while mapping invasive species on the other islands inspired removal efforts on Tavira and Armona.
At the intersection of conservation and community engagement, “the project developed solutions to reduce accidental seabird bycatch in fishing nets and promoted good practices among the fishing community. Simple measures, such as properly securing fish waste instead of discarding it at sea during operations, had a direct impact on bird safety. Deterrence methods were also tested in landfills and ports to limit access of yellow-legged gulls to food sources.”
The initiative also had a strong educational component, “notably the schools programme, which reached 6,807 pupils across the Algarve region, along with teaching materials now available to educators nationwide.”
Co-funded by the European Union and supported by Portugal’s Environmental Fund, the project began in 2019 and concluded in the summer of 2025. Alongside SPEA as the coordinating body, it involved five additional partners: the University of the Algarve, the University of Coimbra, the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), the RIAS Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, and Animaris, the company operating the restaurant concession on Barreta island.
Source: Sul Informação
Photo credit: Maria Ruiz (SPEA)
