Category:Barrocal

English: The Barrocal or Baroque is area of Site of Community Importance and is a protected Natural sub-region of the Algarve. The Area is located in the central area of the region between the Sierra to the north of the region and Coast to the south. The natural vegetation of the area was once predominantly of forests of Oak trees but the continued action of Human activity has given rise to a more degraded vegetation which is now dominated shrubs such as wild olive or myrtle, carob, Almond and fig trees. The valleys have been irrigated in the past years and turned over to citrus fruit trees, however Currently agricultural production is largely abandoned in the area. In recent decades the valleys and hillsides have witnessed a slow and careful expansion of irrigated crops and vineyards. The fauna of the region includes some rare and endangered species such as Bonelli's Eagle, Barn owl, Hedgehog, Sparrows and Bats species. In the past the region saw the extinction of the Iberian lynx and the Iberian wolf, but in recent years efforts have been made to re-introduce the Iberian lynx