Our headquarters ...

... has also got some new plants on its outside

We planted a few specimens of Laurel species , such as cedar, Azorean cherry, Azorean blueberry ... We now expect that plants like the new site and that they grow at their own pace.

Another attraction for those who visite the headquarters of the project ... Even if only to enjoy the beautiful scenery that we admire in days like these.

Video about the VII Journeys for the Conservation of Priolo

The TV channel RTP Açores, shows a video about the VII Journeys for the Conservation of Priolo, this year included in the Week of Trees and Forests of the School Domingos Rebelo em Ponta Delgada!

VII Journeys for the Conservation of Priolo

On March 22th we celebrated the VII Journeys about the Conservation of Priolo with several lectures for students of Land Use Planning of the School Domingos Rebelo.

The lectures were presented by various organizations and different topics were discussed: "The Priolo and the Laurel Forest" (Azucena de la Cruz, SPEA), "Work in the Endemic Plant's Greenhouse" (Filipe Figueiredo SPEA)," The Importance of the in vitro procedure in Endemic Plants"(Maria João Pereira, University of the Azores),"The Project Islands of Seabirds for the islet of Vila Franca do Campo "(Joaquim Teodósio SPEA),"The Project PRECEFIAS "(Ana Marcal, Natural Park San Miguel Island), "The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in the Lands of Priolo" (Azucena de la Cruz, SPEA). The World Water Day was not forgotten but remembered with the presentation, "Recovery of the Active Bogs of the Plateau of Graminhais" by Rui Botelho (SPEA).

This was all for you! We hope you enjoyed and that above all, have learned much about the conservation projects active in the island of São Miguel.

Installation of mechanical fans at the greenhouse of Povoação

During 2010 we noted that in the warmer months, the temperature of the greenhouse of Povoação reached values ​​of very high temperature (40 ºC), that were harmful to some plants. In fact, there were some losses, including in fire-tree (Myrica faya), which lead to the installation of fans.

The fans' main function reduce heat and increase air circulation in the greenhouse, allowing the temperature on hot days to download to a constant 20 ºC. We installed two fans (one in each tunnel of the greenhouse), and the temperature of each can be adjustable (5 ° C at 5 º C).

The fans sense the temperature of the greenhouse and will automatically come into operation whenever the preset optimal temperature is exceeded. Along with the shade, fans allow the greenhouse to maintain an optimal temperature throughout the day, which is fundamental for its proper functioning and well-being of the plants.

We celebrated Arbor Day!

We celebrated Arbor Day along with the students of the School Domingos Rebelo!

The Arbor Day, March 21th was marked with the planting of more than 1,000 endemic plants (Heaths and Fire trees) by 75 students from the School Domingos Rebelo, in the area of Pico Vereda, also known as Labaçal.

Here it was possible for the students to get to know all the work already done by the Project LIFE Sustainable Laurel, that includes the removal of exotic and invasive species for the planting of endemic plants.

Students could not fail to visit the greenhouse of Povoação, where endemic plants are produced, without which the reforestation of areas intervened it would not be possible.

It was an excellent day where many endemics where planted, and where the Project grew a little bit more, thanks to all participants. Thank You!

Training in EBI school of Maia

Taking advantage of the free class days of the carnival , the teachers of EBI school of Maia got a training, in which they had the opportunity to learn more about the biodiversity of the Azores, while acquiring tools to explore these themes in the classroom with the students.

On Thursday 10th of March, the session was titled 'The Priolo and its habitat", focusing on the work of the educational kit created under the Project LIFE Priolo and the development of working methods in the theme of biodiversity and conservation.

To continue this training, on Friday their knowledge about fauna and flora as elements of the laurel forest of the Azores was deepened, namely the unique avifauna found here, the species of endemic flora and the main threat to this habitat, which are the invasive alien species.

It is very important that this type of action takes place, since preservation and conservation depends on every people and begins with the little ones, not only at home but at school, where teachers play a key role. Thus, we can only hope that teachers who participated ensured the best training, and while they have become so passionate about the Azorean biodiversity as we are.

Environmental Center of priolo got visitors!

On Thursday, 10th of March, The Environmental Centre of Priolo spent the day in the company of the youngest; this time with a group of 6th grade of Primary and Secondary School of Vila Franca do Campo.

The students visited the Environmental Center of Priolo where they learned more about the Laurel forest and the endemic plants of the Azores, the Priolo and other birds as emblematic, and the direction of the various actions undertaken by the current LIFE project Sustainable Laurel, previous LIFE Priolo.

The garden of endemic species is always a beautiful and interesting place to go, and is the site where the activity 'Discovering the Laurel Forest' takes place. Here the students are led to identify the plants that surround them.

From here we went through the Tronqueira road to the Viewpoint, and passed through the areas of Laurel recovery intervened by the project.

The plant nursery in Povoação is a must visit site for our visitors, as the seedlings that grow here later will repopulate areas of replanting, and where students can to learn the process 'From seed to plant'.

Thanks for your company this weekend, we hope you visit us more often and that you participate in future activities!

For more information about the activities taking place, consult the website of the Environmental Center of Priolo.

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A weekend with the Environmental Center of Priolo

This weekend, the Environmental Center of Priolo received special visitors: a group of Scouts of 720 - Nordeste, and a very nice family!

It was planned to plant endemic species, but the rainy and windy weather did not permit this activity. However, the scouts always cheerful and energetic, visited the nursery of Povoação, where they got to know all the work that is done there and the importance of young seedlings to reforest the areas of intervention of the project LIFE Sustainable Laurel. The couple accompanied us with their four wonderful children, where there was a nice baby who distributed sincere smiles all around.

Later, the scouts were back at the Environmental Center of Priolo, where they camped for the night, but not before playing in the middle of many games, animation and positive energy, with the Heads Natália Abreu, Carmelia Medeiros, Diana Adams Luis Pacheco and Caminheiros Mónica Botelho Claudia Medeiros.

Thank you to all Lobitos and Exploradores, Caminheiros, their Heads and the Dias family for joining us in one more activity conducted by the Environmental Centre of Priolo!

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Vidália, symbol of the Azores, is germinating at the plant nursery...

Some seeds of Azorina vidalii were collected in Lombo Gordo, in the municipality of Nordeste, in November 2010, and are now germinating at the plant nursery. Today they are giving rise to about 500 seedlings. These plants will be planted in areas of low altitude, hoping that in future they can be used in gardens or open spaces where they can be seen and appreciated by people.

The Azorina vidalii, known locally as Vidália, is a plant endemic to the Azores and is distributed throughout the islands of the archipelago. This species is most easily seen growing on coastal cliffs and in areas of basaltic rock heavily exposed to the sea. It is the only endemic genus in the Azores and one of the most beautiful species, which is why it is considered a symbol of endemic flora of the archipelago.

The Vidalia is a small shrub growth that reaches up to 100 cm tall, consisting of stems slightly pink, with flowers campanulate, usually a light pink to white. Their flowering occurs between August and October, but can occur in June in drier and sunny areas. It is protected by the Berne Convention and the European Union Habitats Directive.

European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in 'Terras do Priolo'

The application to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS) is being prepared to enhance sustainable tourism in the "Lands of the Priolo": in the municipalities of Nordeste and Povoação.

Through the LIFE project Sustainable Laurel, SPEA, the Government and municipalities are looking to implement for the first time the CETS in this region. The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS) is a tool at the european level, that aims to improve tourism in protected areas, with the primary objectives of conserving the biodiversity and develop a sustainable tourism. At the same time, the CETS is an opportunity to disclose these protected areas and the municipalities that encompass it at an international level.

The process to this certification, was presented on 25th of February by the Regional Director of Environment, the week that a Formation about the process was given to the technicians of the entities envolved.

In 2011, the process has started along with the local inhabitants of the municipalities, by presenting CETS in each one of them, in Nordeste and Povoação. To date, eight meetings were held, which involved a good share of the population, and where important contributions to this process, were collected.