Nature

The last remnants of natural forest in Portugal form the nucleus of the PAN Parks Wilderness area in Peneda-Gerêsn. Decreasing and abandoned grazing have created an opportunity for wilderness restoration thus adding several thousand hectares of mountainous wilderness to the existing wilderness area. This will provide a unique opportunity for visitors to experience and enjoy the natural dynamics of oak forest re-growth and observe wilderness restoration in a Mediterranean country.

Flora

Due to the fact that Peneda-Gerês NP is situated near the border of the Eurosiberian and Mediterranean biogeographic regions, many plants of both origins occur. Some existent species are of a great floristic value, such as the Gerês fern (Woodwardia radicans) and the daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. nobilis) associated with bushes; the Gerês lily (Iris boissieri) and the thrifts, such as the Armeria humilis subsp. humilis, associated with dry bushes; of the round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) and the cotton-grass (Eriophorum angustifolium), associated with humid areas.
Among the most characteristic habitats of Peneda-Gerês NP one can point out: the oak forest, the mixed forest of deciduous and evergreen trees; the riparian vegetation, with yew, alder and ash-trees; the peat-bogs and humid bushes, rare and vulnerable habitats which are developed in wet soils; and moorlands, furze-fields and several kinds of broom fields, which occupy ancient areas of oak forest.

Fauna

As far as the fauna is concerned, Peneda-Gerês NP is greatly diversified due to the combination of flora richness and unique physiography. Among invertebrates one can point out two species of butterflies – Euphydryas aurinia and Callimorpha quadripunctata – due to its conservation status – a beetle Lucanus cervus and a slug Geomalacus maculosus.
From the 235 species of vertebrates, 204 are both nationally and internationally protected and 71 belong to the endangered species list of the Red Book of the Vertebrates of Portugal.
There are four fish species in the watercourses of Peneda-Gerês NP, from which one can point out the salmon trout (Salmo trutta) as the most characteristic one, and the common eel (Anguilla anguilla), due to its conservation status. Among other species associated with water courses, one can stress the importance of the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), the otter (Lutra lutra), the dipper (Cinclus cinclus), the lizard (Lacerta schreiberi), the Iberian frog (Rana iberica) and the golden-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica).
There are 147 identified bird species, a great part of these are migrant. The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), the eagle owl (Bubo bubo), the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) and the whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) are significant due to their conservation status and for their limited distribution in Portugal.
In this area we can also find other particularly important species, such as the pine marten (Martes martes), the stoat (Mustela erminea), the vipers (Vipera latastei and Vipera seoanei) and the wolf (Canis lupus), a strictly protected species by various legislations. The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) population can be found in great geographic expansion.

Flagship species: ibex (Capra pyrenaica), wolf