AMBIENTE IMAGENS DISPERSAS 2013
9th Ovar Photography Journeys

João Petronilho

Gândara Woods: history, biodiversity and emotions

The Gândara extends along portuguese coast from the north slope of Serra da Boa Viagem, to the moment it finds to the north of the Ria de Aveiro, crossing the counties of Figueira da Foz, Cantanhede, Mira and Vagos. Winds, sand and water shaped this region, creating and destroying land.
The landscape of Gândara was strongly anthropomorphized, touched by human hand, in a tumultuous, but passionate relationship.
The Gândara woods assumes in a regional context, and even national, a high importance for preservation of valious flora and fauna values. Hence their integration, in the Natura 2000 network under the Habitats Directive.
In these woods, where the Maritime Pine Pinus pinaster dominates, the existence of temporary ponds, drains, streams, understory and the intimate contact with the surrounding lagoons, provide ideal conditions for hosting and attracting many living beings. Among them there is common species such as Chafinch Fingilla coelebs or more difficult to observe, such as discrete Goshawk Accipiter gentillis (whose population is one of the most well studied in Portugal) or rare and with localized distribution, like Urticularia australis , a small carnivorous plant.
This presentation takes us on a journey to the past, giving us to know the history of the origin of the Gândara woods, illustrates their present biodiversity and reflects the emotions that this “green blanket” awakens in the author.

BIO

João Petronilho was born in Mira in 1964. Since a very early age the fascination for nature prompted him to cover animal tracks, seeking, thereby, a better understanding of the world around him. Forest Guard, naturalist and amateur photographer, he spends part of his free time in the observation and studying of birds, as well as doing nature photography. Throughout his journey through the world of nature he has coordinated, supervised and participated in different fieldwork like atlas, censuses, feeding ecology and scientific bird ringing. He is author and co-author of several papers in the field of ornithology, having published several articles in specialty magazines. He is the author of two books: Fauna do Concelho de Mira and A Serra Encantada. At photographic level his images have illustrated informative panels, museums and several magazines and guides. He was awarded several national and international nature photo competitions. He held several individual and collective exhibitions in Portugal and abroad, on the fauna and flora of the Natura 2000 Site “Dunas de Mira, Gândara and Gafanhas” and “Serra da Freita”.
www.joaopetronilho.blogspot.com / www.aserraencantada.blogspot.com