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Costa Sudoeste
Protected Area for the Management of Habitats or Species
Gallery
Located next to the Ilhéu da Vila Nature Reserve, the Costa Sudoeste (southwest coast) stretches between Ponta do Malmerendo and Ponta da Cagarra, covering around 47 hectares and characterised by imposing cliffs and steep slopes sculpted by the sea and natural erosion.
This area is an important nesting site for seabirds, and its preservation is essential given potential human disturbance. Among the species regularly observed here are the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), the Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii), the Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis), the Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo rothschildi), and the Rock Dove (Columba livia atlantis), making up a highly diverse bird population.
Together with Ilhéu da Vila, the Costa Sudoeste is part of the Ilhéu da Vila e Costa Adjacente Special Protection Area, designated under the Natura 2000 network, reinforcing its importance for biodiversity conservation and the protection of the island's coastal ecosystems.