Day of the Conservation of Nature commemorated with the visit of the Environment Secretary

Yesterday, thursday the 27th of July, day that celebrated the National Day of the Conservation of Nature, the Regional Secretary of the Environment and the Sea of Azores, Álamo Meneses, went to the municipalities of Povoação and Nordeste to visit the Project Life Sustainable Laurel and to observe closely the good results obtained so far.

The visit began at the headquarters of the project in Povoação, with a short presentation of the results. Next, the participants visited one of the sites where the project has field intervention, the Planalto dos Graminhais Peats of Graminhais, where it was possible to observe the work at the level of regulation of water regime and the removal of exotic species for the recovery of an important area of peat.

Then it was time to visit the greenhouse and plant nursery of the project, where currently the Project nurseries have about 26,500 species. Having been made a tour throughout the production process of native species, we saw from Heather through the Azorean Blueberry and Picconia azorica...

In the afternoon visited the area Labaçal, Sierra Tronqueira of one of the first areas intervened by the project and where it is possible to observe the native forest invaded by exotic species, and weed control after the recovery of the area with endemic species to germinate without difficulty since there are no invasive species on site.

In this day the various stakeholders and collaborators on the project were present: the Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea, the SPEA, the Forestry Service of the Nordeste, the Delegation of Tourism of São Miguel, the Natural Park of the Island of São Miguel and the City Council of the Nordeste.

With this visit of the Secretary for the Environment and the Sea to the work of this project Life in a Special Protection Area (SPA) Pico da Vara / Ribeira do Guilherme, it was possible to observe not only the relevance and success of the conservation actions taken, in different areas of intervention, but also note the urgency and importance of continuing this work in the future after the completion of the project, by finding ways to ensure the sustainability of conservation and restoration of this important natural heritage of the Azores.

The Project LIFE Sustainable Laurel, coordinated by SPEA in partnership with the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, with the City Council of Povoação and other regional entities, is one of the most important conservation projects taking place in the Azores and seeks recovery of important areas of Laurel Forest and Peats, in the eastern island of São Miguel.

With a duration of 4 years, this is a project with an estimated cost of 2.4 million euros, 70% reimbursed by the Life + Programme, it is up to regional partners 30% financing.

One Person, One Endemic Plant

"One Person, One Endemic Plant" is a project that is ongoing in the village of Faial da Terra, in the municipality of Povoação, conducted by the Archipels Association in partnership with the parish of Faial da Terra. This project aims to raise awareness among the general population to the importance of the Azorean Laurel Forest as a source of plant and animal biodiversity, as well as its importance in quality of life for the populations.

The Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA), the Natural Park of S. Miguel Island and the Regional Direction of Forestry Resources joined this project, where on July 11th was inaugurated an exhibition on Natural Biodiversity of the Azores in the House of Faial da Terra which was attended by Paulo Nazaré, President of the Parish of Faial da Terra, Anne Bruyere responsible for the Archipels Association, Anabela Isidoro Regional Director of Forestry Resources (DRRF), Catarina Furtado Directora Regional da Energia , em representação do Governo Regional e Joaquim Teodósio, Coordenador da SPEA AçoresPaul Nazaré, Chairman of the Board local Parish, Anne Bruyere, responsible for Archipels Association, Anabela Isidro, Regional Director of Forestry, Catarina Furtado, Regional Director of Energy, on behalf of the Regional Government of Azores and Joaquim Teodósio Coordinator of SPEA Azores.

SPEA and DRRF will also develop various activities in Faial da Terra over the months of July and August, related to birding, identification and production of endemic plants of the Laurel Forest of Azores and also a demonstration of the fieldwork done by the Project LIFE Sustainable Laurel in the eradication of invasive alien species.

Exposure Natural Biodiversity will be open until 31 August.

LIFE Laurel Sustainable receives three new interns

With the arrival of July, the Project LIFE Sustainable Laurel received three new interns: Quentin Aufrere of 21 year-old from France who will join the team until August; Lourdes Perez, 28 years from Spain, who will be here until December, and Eva Laporta from Spain 24 years, both from the Eurodyssee Program.

These three new elements will be joining the team of LIFE Sustainable Laurel and doing field work in the greenhouse of the project as well as in the Environmental Center of Priolo, especially at a time in which complicated the work abounds.

We welcome these new elements and we thank you for your presence and collaboration in the project.

Quentin Auferre



Lourdes Pérez



Eva Laporta

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LIFE Sustainable Laurel promotes Biology in Summer in the Island of São Miguel

From 15th of July to the 15th of September , the Project LIFE Sustainable Laurel joins once again the Ciência Viva to promote the Biology in the Summer, with a wide range of activities for everyone who's interested.

In this program there are several weekly activities: every Friday, from 10am will be held "From Seed to Plant" in the greenhouse of the Project LIFE Sustainable Laurel in Lomba de Loução (Povoação) and in the afternoon (15h - 16h) you may leave for the "Discovery of the Laurel" in the Recreational Forestry Reserve Cancela do Cinzeiro. On Saturdays, discover the "Priolo - a Treasury of Tronqueira" (10h to 13h) and also join us every Monday from 10h to 13h for Birdwatching in several fixed locations on the island of Sao Miguel! Occasionally you will have the chance to know the birds through their bones with our Bone Collection activity, next on 17th of August.

See the program in more detail at: www.centropriolo.com

And register to the activities of Ciência Viva at: www.cienciaviva.pt

The Project LIFE Sustainable Laurel promotes this activity program just for you. Enjoy a great holiday in the company of Nature!