PORTUGUESE COMMUNIST PARTY

Parliamentary Group

DRAFT RESOLUTION NO. 248 /XI/1ª

Support for the Candidacy of Arrábida the Heritage of Humanity

Exhibition of reasons

The Arrábida Cordillida lies at the southern end of the Setúbal Peninsula,

north of the Sado estuary and up to the Atlantic Ocean, covering the Concelhos de

Palmela, Setúbal and Sesimbra. In 1976 is created the Natural Park of the Arrábida, through

of the Decree-Law No. 622/76 of July 28, reasoned on grounds of " order

scientific, cultural, historical, landscaping, which make the saw of the Arrábida a zone a

protect (...) with a view to taking full advantage of all its resources and

potentials ", and the valorisation of geological aspects, fauna and flora-" cannot be

let it be mentioned that the coastal zone of the Arrábida is part of the clipping of a bay that

constitutes one of the principal manancients in the North Atlantic "and" constitutes still the serra

of the Arrábida an extraordinary natural component of great scenic value,

enacting panoramic views of great natural beauty and secular humanization ".

The Arrábida is a natural site of exceptional value and unique for its beauty, illustrative

of the history of life on earth, by the geological and the great richness of the flora,

with a singular maritime component. A site where you can find the

balance between nature and traditional human activity, of high cultural value

material and immaterial.

In 2001 the first initiatives with the aim of applying for

Arraased the World Heritage Site and in May 2004, the Arrábida is included in the List

Portuguese Indicative for World Heritage. In 2008 a UNESCO changed the

Guidelines for Implementation of the Convention, reformulating the criteria and procedures

of application. The Association of Municipalities of the Setúbal Region (AMRS) has promoted the

contact with the Natural Park of the Arrábida to update the process and advanced with

the development of the Candidacy of Arrábida with a comprehensive character,

integrating the criteria of immaterial natural, cultural and cultural order, transforming-

if in a Candidature for Mixed World Heritage.

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With the aim of creating the support structures of the Candidacy, in September

2009 has been formalized a collaboration protocol between AMRS and the Institute of the

Conservation of Nature and Biodiversity (ICNB). In this sense was constituted a

Executive Board, which coordinates the whole process; a Commission of

Accompaniment, composed of 22 entities, which ensures technical sustenance and

scientific application, encompassing the participation of institutions, entities and

personalities of recognised scientific merit; the Forum of Candidacy, constituted

by about 50 entities, being a space of public discussion and a Commission

Technique, responsible for the drafting of the dossier. In the drafting of the Candidature there is

concern to involve the various local, regional entities, with the knowledge

of the National Commission of UNESCO.

The Candidature covers the territory of the Arrábida mountain range, from the Castle of

Palmela to the Cape Espichel, integrating the marine area, specifically the Park

Marine Luiz Saldanha, based on the natural values, the landscape, the geology, the fauna

and flora, their habitats and biodiversity, in cultural values, archaeology, the

edited heritage and the immaterial cultural heritage.

Collaboration protocols have already been established between the AMRS and the Museum of

Archeology and Ethnography of the District of Setúbal, the Faculty of Science and Technology

of the Nova University of Lisbon, the Higher Institute of Agronomy, the Foundation of

Faculty of Science of the University of Lisbon and the Portuguese Federation of

Speleology, with a view to the elaboration of the respective components of archaeology;

geology, geomorphology, paleontology, cartography and information system

geographical, landscape, biodiversity and species of fauna and terrestrial flora and still of

speleology of the application dossier.

1-Natural Heritage Criteria

At the level of the Natural Heritage the criteria to be applied for are:

-" To represent natural phenomena or areas of a natural beauty and of a

exceptional aesthetic importance ";

-" Being exceptional examples representative of the great stadiums in the history of the

Land, including the testimony of life, of ongoing geological processes in the

development of terrestrial forms or geomorphic or physiographical elements

of great significance ";

-" Being exceptional examples representative of ecological and biological processes in

course in the evolution and development of ecosystems and communities of

plants and of terrestrial, aquatic, coastal and marine animals ";

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-" Containing the most representative and most important natural habitats for the

conservation in situ of biological diversity, including those where they survive

threatened species that have an exceptional universal value from the point of view of

science or conservation ".

The Arrábida constitutes one of the most beautiful Portuguese landscapes and the World, with the

its mountains, valleys and peaks, in a relationship with its enveloping: the sea and the estuary

of the Sado. The massive south-west of the Arrábida possesses the largest Portuguese cliffs à

beira-sea, being the Risk to escarpment the highest calcareous coastline in Europe. The

geomorphological component, the vegetation, the luminance, the conjugation of the sea,

land, sky and saw will confer on the Arrábida the valuable attribute of aesthetics.

In relation to the geological aspects the Arrábida is an important region for the

knowledge and understanding of the evolution of the western edge of the Iberian sub-plate,

notably the opening of the North Atlantic, the magmatism and the collision with the plate

African. The rock Brecha da Arrábida is an example of geological phenomena

scientifically relevant, being unique at world level.

The dense vegetation of the Arrábida comes from the natural evolution of this region, initiated there is

about 180 million years. The flora of the Arrábida is of the Mediterranean type, with the

intrusion of some more Atlantic species, being this conjugation what makes it

single. In the mats one can find the Portuguese oak, the medroner, the loudsmith,

the zambujeiro, the executioner. The variety of microclimates, associated with the rugged relief,

has originated diverse biotopes, contributing also to a wide variety of

fauna. One can find the coelho-bravo, cat-bravo, geneta, badger, towill, doninha

and fox; and of the protected species of birds, the bufo-real, the eagle-de-Bonelli, the

francelho-de-dorso-liso and the peregrine falcon. In the Natural Park of the Arrábida are

recorded 213 species of vertebrates, of which 8 are amphibians, 16 are reptiles, 154

are birds and 35 are mammals. There are 130 species of butterflies. In The Marine Park

Luiz Saldanha are identified more than 1300 species of fauna and marine floras.

The geographical positioning and orography of the Serra da Arrábida allow for

differentiation of microclimates and the existence of a large diversity of species,

being an example the unique diversity of the flora of the Arrábida. The grottoes located in the

arribas have been associated with a very particular fauna, with colonies bats in the ways of

extinction such as the bat-rat-large and the bat-of-horseshoe-mourisco. The

promontory of the Cape Espichel, with its rupestrian habitats and cracks and fissure of the

cliffs have a lot of importance in the migration of waterfowl and terrestrial birds, and the

nidification of diverse protected and / or conservation priority species

has led to the classification of the Cape Espichel area as a Special Protection Zone, and

integrates the Natura 2000 Network. The Arrábida has still a national relevance and

international with respect to marine ecosystems. Your marine wealth

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advices of the characteristics of the Costa Arrábida-Espichel, on rocky substrates, what

potency the reproduction and growth of marine fauna and flora.

The values to apply in these criteria are:

-Natural landscape-the Serra da Arrábida's mountain range, from the Morro of Palmela to

to the Cape Espichel, saws, valleys, platforms and cliffs; coastal strip; Serras and lands of the

Risk; Matas of the Vidal; Solitary and Coberta; Formosinho; Serras of the Louro and Saint Louis and the

sea of the Arrábida (Marinho Luiz Saldanha Park).

-Geological aspects-Upper California, failure of El Carmem; rock Brecha da

Arrábida; Serra de São Luís by the Conglomerates of the Valley of the Rasca; Pists of

Dinosaurs-Lobster and Stone of the Mua; lust of the Paria da Foz; Gesseira de

Sesimbra; Archery of the Arrábida; artificial fold of the Serra do Formosinho; Praia da Foz-

penedo (study of the Miocénico); morass of Palmela by the slipping slip

gravitic; Cape Espichel; Grutas of the Frade, of the Zambujal, the middle, the Throat and the

Great Failure; Lapas of Santa Margarida, of the Conchas and the Areias.

-Ecological and Biological Aspects-Cape Espichel-platform and cliffs; coastal strip,

Saws and Land of the Risk; Matas of the Vidal; Solitary and Coberta; Formosinho; Serra de São Paulo

Louis and Marine Park.

-Natural ecosystems-part of the Arrábida-Espichel site of the Natura 2000 Network; the

Cape Espichel Special Protection Area; the full and partial protection zones 1 of the

Plan of Planning of the Natural Park of the Arrábida, Marine Park and Systems

Sesimbra caves.

2-Cultural Heritage Criteria

In terms of the criteria the Cultural Heritage the Candidature of the Arrábida proposes to

" be an exceptional example of a type of construction or set-up

architectural or technological or a landscape, illustrating one or several periods

significant of human history ".

The Serra da Arrábida constitutes a natural space that combines its characteristics

natural with human occupation, which dates back to about half a million years. There is

archaeological vestiges of the Lower Palaeolithic in the Lapa of Santa Margarida in the Portinho

of the Arrábida (200 a to 400 thousand years), of the Calcolitic and the Bronze age final in the Roça of the

Couple of Middle and Roman Epoch in the Creiro. In the sixteenth century was built the Convent

of the Arrábida and the Fort of Santa Maria da Arrábida. The military architecture is present

with the Medieval Castles of Sesimbra and Palmela and the fortresses quinhentist and

seiscentists, such as the Fortaleza of Saint Philip, of Santiago and of the Outon, and a vast

heritage, with the various religious constructions, palaces and Thursdays.

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Some elements and archeological testimonials to apply for: Grutas and Sepulcros

Neolithic on the Fifth of the Angel, Castro of Chibanes, Islamic Rural Alcaria of the High

Burnt, Roça of the Middle Couple, Grotto of the Brava Figueira, Lapa de Santa Margarida,

Castles of Sesimbra and Palmela, Fortification of the Outon, Forte de São Filipe, Fortaleza

from Santiago, Fort of St. Theodosio-Fort of the Horse, Convent of the Arrábida, Sanctuary

of the Cape Espichel, Ermida of Memory, Quintas, Palaces and Solars.

3-Criteria for Cultural Heritage Imaterial

Finally, at the level of Cultural Heritage Imaterial the Candidature of the Arrábida

proposes to " be directly or materially associated with events or the

living traditions, to ideas, to beliefs, or to artistic and literary works with a meaning

universal exceptional ". Only exceptionally this criterion justifies an inscription on the

list of applications, and only when applied jointly with other criteria

cultural or natural.

The criterion of immaterial cultural heritage is associated with the landscape, the geology and the

biodiversity. The cultural manifestations associated with the Arrábida, the religiosity, the

agriculture, fisheries, pastorcian and gastronomy, promote self-knowledge,

facilitate communication and learning, constituting a heritage and setting up

a long cultural tradition.

In this scope they apply: the legend of Hildebrandt and the Festas of Our Lady of the

Arrábida that associates with the landscape component and material of the Convent of the

Arrábida; the legend of the stone of the Mua and the Festas of Our Lady of the Cape that se

associates with the landscape component of the Cape Espichel, geological of the footprints of

dinosaurian and material of the Sanctuary of the Espichel and Ermida of Memory; the production

cheese artisanal of Azeitão and Azoia, the traditional fishing gear, the construction

traditional naval and the Festas of the Palmela Vindims, which associates with the component

material from the products resulting from the specific biodiversity of the Sea and the Serra.

It is thus unequivocal the great natural, cultural and landscaped value of the Arrábida, a

heritage of the Setúbal Peninsula, from Portugal, but mainly a heritage

of humanity that must be preserved for the future. The preservation of this

heritage is important to ensure the balanced development of our

society, for its use by Man, today and in future generations. In this

sense, the classification of the Arrábida as a Mixed World Heritage, in its

natural, cultural and cultural immaterial component is an important step and

necessary for the continuation of the valorisation of the Arrábida.

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It deserves in this particular context appreciation to AMRS for the development of the process

The Candidacy of the Arrábida the Mixed World Heritage and the indispensable contribution

of all the institutions, entities and associations that have partnered with this process and

who collaborate with commitment to the achievement of the goal of classifying the

Arraised as a world heritage by UNESCO.

The classification of Arrábida as Heritage of Humanity is essential for the

preservation of the important natural heritage, traditional human activities and

cultural and contributing decisively to economic, social, cultural development

and environmental of the Setúbal Peninsula and the Country.

In these terms, and taking into consideration the above, under point (b) of the

Article 156 of the Constitution and paragraph 1 (b) of Rule 4 of the Rules of Procedure

of the Assembly of the Republic, the undersigned Deputies of the Parliamentary Group

of the CPP propose that the Assembly of the Republic express its support for the Candidature

of Arrábida the Mixed World Heritage together with UNESCO and adopt the following:

Resolution

The Assembly of the Republic, expressing its support for the candidacy of Arrábida a

Mixed World Heritage together with UNESCO, recommends to the Government, pursuant to the

n Article 166 (5) of the Constitution, the adoption of the following measures:

-Supporting Institutionally the Candidacy of Arrábida the World Heritage Site

Mixed together with UNESCO, engaging in its approval and recognizing the Arrábida

as exceptional value, which scientific, cultural, historical and landscape, which interconnects the

nature with traditional human activities, by their natural characteristics,

biodiversity, geological aspects, the marine park and its heritage

material and immaterial cultural

-Supporting in accordance with its possibilities, the Executive Board of the

Candidacy of Arrábida the World Heritage Site.

Assembly of the Republic, July 22, 2010

The Deputies,

PAULA SANTOS; FRANCISCO LOPES; BRUNO DIAS; MIGUEL TIAGO; RITA RATO;

JERONIMO DE SOUSA; JOSÉ SOEIRO; ANTÓNIO FILIPE; JOÃO OLIVEIRA; BERNARDINO

SOARES; JORGE MACHADO; HONORIUS NEW