Under the Portuguese law, the National Agricultural Reserve (RAN - Reserva Agrícola Nacional) is intended to preserve and protect the most productive soils, which are defined as RAN soils, and to ensure that they are used to develop portuguese agriculture and to guarantee a correct landscape management.
(Decreto-Lei 196/89, June 14th / 4th present version as per Decreto-Lei 278/95, October 25th).

Agricultural land - RAN soil - on the outskirts of Fátima, Ourém - Portugal.

Also under the Portuguse law, the National Ecological Reserve (REN - Reserva Ecológica Nacional) is intended to ensure the full protection of special ecological areas, designated as REN areas, as well as the related biological activities and ecosystems and so guarantee a balanced human environment.
(Decreto-Lei 93/90, March 19th / 7th present version as per Rectificação 75-A/2006, November 3rd).

Flood plane near the Tagus River - REN area - on the outskirts of Coruche, Santarém - Portugal.

NOTE: The Portuguese Government has recentely allowed for a huge construction over the Tagus flood plane, previously decreed as both agricultural and ecological reserve. The law is only for the people, not for the Government! You can read more about Castanheira do Ribatejo, Vila Franca de Xira.

[Originally posted on Mar 15th, 2008]

Category: MOUNTS AND VALLEYS