Olhão is a stunning area in the Algarve that showcases a variety of captivating natural wonders, stretching from the coast to the Barrocal. The dunes at Ria Formosa Natural Park are teeming with vegetation, including Coastal Crucianella (Crucianella maritime) and Sea Daffodil, (Pancratium maritimum). Two examples endemic plants are – Echium gaditanum and Ononis variegata.

In the lagoons of Ria Formosa there’s an abundance of marine meadows of Cymodocea nodosa and Zoostera spp which play incredibly important roles when it comes to carbon sequestration, stored in the peat, otherwise known as ‘blue carbon’. Small Cordgrass (Spartina maritime), Suaeda albescens , and Salsola vermiculata are examples of the different species of plants that inhabit the lush marshes.

Under the protection of pine trees located on the sandy banks of the Ria Formosa lagoons, numerous species of plants grow. Dianthus broteroi, Halimium halimifolium, and the endemic Thyme (Thymus lotocephalus) are small samples of the diverse flora of the pine forest. Also located close to the wetlands, Bridal broom shrubland is home to an abundant diversity of plants such as the Pycnocomon rutifolium and the endangered Linaria pedunculata.

As we move away from the coast, typical dryland farms begin to appear, consisting of Carob trees (Ceratonia síliqua), Olive trees (Olea europaea), and Almond trees (Prunus dulcis) that once were the livelihood of the local population. The wild artichoke (Cynara cardunculus), the Aristolochia baetica and the wild  Woodcock bee-orchid (Ophrys scolopax) represent a small example of the abundant rural flora. In this place, we often find meadows that in spring display a spectacle of admirable beauty where there are explosions of colour in a hue of several pleasant fragrances.

For millennia, the bounty of plant life has been an endlessly renewable source for human survival and evolution. We have seen plants move from a mere food supply to becoming foundational elements in our sedentary lifestyles due to agriculture; further used as raw materials for everything from clothing and construction, along with medicinal practices that are still being used today.

In the Algarve region, there are numerous uses of plants by the local population, plants are also associated with various customs that emphasize the culture and identity of the region and create their authenticity.

There are many examples such as :

The Wild artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) has been used as curdle in cheese-making.

Lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta) has long served as an aromatic herb in marinades for olives since Roman times.

The existence of Esparto grass (Stipa tenacissima) in the region played an important role in the development of fishing and fishing communities because it was used for the production of fishing nets and ropes. Ropes have always been essential for navigation as it was not possible to perform the necessary manoeuvres to control the sails and the boats without them.

The Dwarf Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) was used as a raw material in the artisanal industry of chair seats, baskets, saddlebags, brushes, brooms, hats, ropes, mats, mattresses, etc.