This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, one of Portugal's most important protected landscapes and a defining feature of the Beiras.
Created on 16 July 1976, the park was the first natural park established in Portugal and remains the country's largest protected mountain area. Covering around 100,000 hectares across the municipalities of Covilhã, Manteigas, Seia, Gouveia, Guarda and Celorico da Beira, it has spent half a century protecting unique landscapes, wildlife and mountain traditions while supporting sustainable tourism and local communities. (cm-gouveia.pt)
The milestone is being celebrated by the environmental association RAPA – Rede de Aldeias de Montanha, which is organising a programme of activities highlighting the park's natural and cultural heritage.
Fifty Years of Conservation
The Serra da Estrela Natural Park was created to safeguard one of Portugal's most distinctive landscapes.
Home to glacial valleys, granite peaks, mountain streams, peat bogs and native forests, the park supports a wide variety of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the country.
Over the decades, the park has also played an important role in protecting traditional mountain communities, shepherding, cheese production, transhumance routes and other cultural practices that remain closely linked to life in the Serra da Estrela. (cm-gouveia.pt)
International Recognition Continues to Grow
The anniversary comes only weeks after another major achievement for the region.
Earlier this year, Serra da Estrela was recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, adding to its status as a UNESCO Global Geopark, awarded in 2020. Together, these international designations recognise not only the area's exceptional natural heritage but also the relationship between people and the landscape. (beira.pt)
The new Biosphere Reserve designation is expected to strengthen conservation, environmental education and sustainable tourism throughout the region.
More Than a Tourist Destination
For many visitors, Serra da Estrela is known for its snow, hiking trails and dramatic scenery.
However, the park also supports biodiversity conservation, scientific research, traditional agriculture and rural economies across six municipalities.
For Covilhã, one of the principal gateways to the mountain, the park remains central to tourism throughout the year, attracting walkers, cyclists, nature enthusiasts and winter sports visitors from Portugal and abroad.
Celebrating the Anniversary
To mark the 50th anniversary, RAPA has organised a series of commemorative activities celebrating the natural, cultural and historical importance of the park.
The programme includes walks, educational activities and opportunities for residents and visitors to learn more about one of Portugal's most important protected landscapes.
The celebrations provide an opportunity not only to reflect on the achievements of the past five decades but also to consider the future challenges of balancing conservation, tourism and sustainable development in one of the country's most treasured natural areas.
Related Reading
Serra da Estrela Becomes a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Discover how the latest UNESCO designation strengthens international recognition for one of Portugal's most important mountain landscapes.
Sources
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https://beira.pt/portal/noticias/sociedade/rapa-celebra-50-anos-do-parque-natural-da-serra-da-estrela/
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https://www.icnf.pt/
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https://www.icnf.pt/conservacao/parques/parquenaturaldaserradaestrela
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https://www.cm-gouveia.pt/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Proposta-do-Plano-de-Cogestao-do-Parque-Natural-da-Serra-da-Estrela-2024-2026.pdf
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https://beira.pt/portal/noticias/serra-da-estrela-passa-a-integrar-reserva-da-biosfera-da-unesco/