| Nature |
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| 1. Natural Values |
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There are two areas for nature preservation in the municipality of
Torres Vedras which correspond to the Natura 2000 sites: Sintra /
Cascais (PTCON0008) and Peniche / Santa Cruz (PTCON0056), both of
which are places of outstanding beauty where natural habitats are
present which conform to those set out in the Habitats Directive.
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| 2. Information & Education |
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The Torres Vedras Municipal Council has an Environmental Education
Center (EEC) which promotes activities for school children about biodiversity
and nature conservation in the context of the classroom. The EEC also
organises walks / visits to Natura 2000 sites in the municipality
to celebrate Green Days, where leaflets are given to visitors.
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The information panels sited at the entrances to and access points
for the beaches provide relevant information about the beaches and
their natural surroundings.
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| 3. Contact with Nature |
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There are currently seven designated walks along a total of 56 km
of marked paths: the Wine and Vineyards Pathway; the Atlantic Pathway;
the Lapas Pathway and the Castro Zambujal Pathway. There are panels
along the length of these trails, giving information about the route
and its natural and cultural surroundings.
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Visitors to the municipality of Torres
Vedras can enjoy contact with nature by walking the existing pathways
or by cycling along the cycle paths. The Nature Network 2000 sites in
the municipality can be reached by following the appropriate trail,
as well as other environmentally themed activities. Visitors can walk
the 11.5 km of pathway, which takes on average 4 hours.
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| 4. Green Policies |
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The Torres Vedras Municipal Council has
sought to describe the geographical area of the municipality by carrying
out various studies and drawing up plans and strategies. These include:
the Torres Vedras “Green Card”, the Municipal Plan for Natural
Resources, adherence to the Aalborg Commitments, the development an
Action Plan Local Agenda 21 of Torres Vedras, descriptive studies of
local assets for the creation of two protected areas of local interest,
the Municipal Civil Protection Plan, the Municipal Forest Fire Prevention
Plan (PMDFCI), as well as the national plans which apply to the municipal
area (the Seafront Regulation Plan, the Sectorial Natura 2000 Plan,
etc.).
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| 5. Open
Landscapes |
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The beauty of the landscape of the municipality is unmistakeable:
the green of the hills, fields and pine forests; the white of the
windmills; the golden sand juxtaposed with the blue of the sea. The
municipality is rich in mixed farming land.
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There are fertile valleys throughout the area, mostly used as vineyards.
There are also areas of sand dunes, including Nature Network 2000
sites, along the coast.
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