The Funchal City Council (CMF) has invested approximately €106,000 in deforestation, clearing, maintenance and recovery of the walking routes under the municipality’s care. According to the Mayor of Funchal, Miguel Silva Gouveia, the objective of these works, which will take place periodically throughout the year, is in direct support of the cleanliness and safety of the the majority of paths that are part of the Funchal Ecological Park walking network. In addition, firebreaks and water drainage networks will be managed and maintained to protect the park.
Further work, including deforestation of eucalyptus and other volatile trees, the clearing and cleaning of water drainage networks including aqueducts and ditches will also continue.
The cleaning of Recommended Pedestrian Routes will also be undertaken. This is planned to happen in PR3 – Pico do Areeiro – Ribeira das Cales; PR 3.1 – Ribeira das Cales to Terreiro da Luta; PR 4 – Poço da Neve – Casa do Barreiro; (New Connection) to PR4 Ribeira das Cales – North Gate of the Casa do Barreiro Forest Path – Levada do Barreiro.
Also the Forest Path of Casa do Barreiro – Path of Tornos Altos – Bridge of Pisão – Levada dos Tornos – Former Water Treatment Plant of Tornos – Caminho dos Tornos will be cleaned three times throughout the year, plus the Reverend Father Eugénio Borgonovo Path and the Levada do Barreiro – “Apartment” Path – Ribeira de Santa Luzia Valley – Levada do Barreiro – Eira do Serrado Path.
In 2019, the CMF restored 12.8 km of walking paths in the Ecological Park of Funchal, at a cost of €361,000 as part of the PRODERAM 2020 Community Programme.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
