Field Trip

Field Trip, Friday 20th November 2009

The field trip will take us to visit Companhia das Lezírias, S.A. (CL), the biggest agro-forestry-pastoral farm in Portugal (25km north of Lisbon), current keeper of a 173 years old historical, natural and know-how heritage.

Provisional Timetable
8.30 – Departure from Lisbon
9.30 – Arrival to Companhia das Lezírias

9.30 – 12.30 – Guided visit to the different habitats and farm activities

The farm consists of two distinct areas:

- the Lezíria (Vila Franca), a 8.500 ha island of alluvial soils delimited by Tagus and Sorraia rivers; and

- the Charneca (Infantado) with 11.500 ha, characterized by poor, sandy or sandy loam soils, with deficient drainage and a predominance of shrubby vegetation. The forest occupies 74% of this area with 6.700 ha of cork oak (Quercus suber) woodlands, known as montado, 1.600 ha of pinewoods and 400 ha of eucalyptus stands.  Forest goods, as cork and pine sawn wood, represent the major production of the CL. Moreover, 5.500 ha of the montado understorey are designated for biological cattle breeding. Other major land uses include vineyards, oliveyards, rice fields and an irrigated area for forage. All these productions are either devoted for biological production, integrated production or integrated protection.

Most of the CL managed land is protected, representing: 12% of the Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve, one of the major wetlands in Europe and a Ramsar Site, and 62% of the Tagus Estuary Special Protection Area and Site. As part of a Business & Biodiversity protocol established between the Companhia das Lezírias and the Faculty of Science of Lisbon University, with the sponsorship of the Institute for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, a research project entitled “Mammal diversity and abundance – response to multi-use and management” is currently ongoing. The local carnivore community includes several species, 5 of which are mustelids: least weasel (Mustela nivalis); polecat (Mustela putorius); stone marten (Martes foina); Eurasian badger (Meles meles); Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). The remaining are the red fox (Vulpes vulpes, the common genet (Genetta genetta), the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) and the wild cat (Felis silvestris).

The field trip will take place in the Charneca area and we will have the opportunity to visit different farm activities and production systems, habitats and landscapes, like:

● vineyards and cellar,

● intensive and superintensive olive yards,

● irrigated cultures,

● montado landscape where we may observe herds of cattle in free range,

● pinewoods with Mediterranean shrubland,

● rice fields

● and finally the stud farm of Lusitanian pure-breed horses.

12.30 – 13.00 – Horse and cattle show

13.00 – Lunch (Regional Buffet)

15.00 – 16.30 – Free time (opportunity for walking and birdwatching)

16.30 – Return to Lisbon