Terras do Miño Biosphere Reserve

Miño islands, located within the river's course, have lush forests and inland lagoons where there is a significant aquatic flora and wildlife. In its upper course, the river Miño defines a wide territory known as Terras do Miño. Declared a Biosphere Reserve in 2002, this territory reflects the perfect integration between the traditional rural landscape and important Atlantic-type ecosystems.

Terras do Miño occupies a wide area in the centre-north of Lugo that corresponds to the upper basin of the river Miño. The 26 municipalities that make up this area have a long agricultural tradition and together occupy a third of the total surface area of the province. From its source, the Miño and its tributaries flow through a landscape of mountains and valleys where pastures and cultivated land share the limelight with natural habitats of great value. It is worth mentioning the importance of the typical “fragas” (oceanic forests), which are home to species typical of humid areas such as oak, chestnut, holly and birch. The course of the Miño also draws river islets (islands), spaces of great beauty where a wide variety of aquatic flora and fauna can be found. In these hidden places, small lake ecosystems that are hidden among the lush riparian vegetation take centre stage and constitute the reserve's maximum protection zones. In addition to its importance from an ecological point of view, the abundant river courses that drain Terras do Miño mean that this territory plays a decisive role in the water supply of the whole province. Its declaration as a Biosphere Reserve has allowed for sustainable economic and human development while contributing to the conservation of natural resources and habitats.