In 2010, the Faia Brava Natural Reserve was classified by the former Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Institute (ICNB) as the first private protected area of the country and is also currently a pilot area of the European project Rewilding Europe, for the creation of wild natural areas and for the development of nature tourism in Europe.
Located in the Côa Valley, along the border of Guarda District, very close to the charming Historical Village of Castelo Rodrigo, the Faia Brava Natural Reserve covers about 850 ha of land in the municipalities of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo and Pinhel. In this sector, the steep slopes of the river are formed by granite outcroppings and cliffs, a good habitat for the cliff-breeding birds. This area is inserted in the Coa Valley Special Protected Area (Natura 2000) and IBA (Birdlife International Important Bird Area) and, finally, in the Archaeological Park of the Côa Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This is the spot where several bird species nest, namely: griffon vultures, Egyptian vulture, Royal eagle, Bonelli eagle, black stork and Western Orphean warbler.