The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced in Nordeste that the Government will award the sale of 155 hectares of certified cryptomeria wood to a local company very soon, thus contributing to the increase in the export of certified timber from the Azores.
 
"Very soon, following a public tender, we will award the sale of certified cryptomeria wood bearing the FSC eco-label and the reforestation of cutting areas of 155 hectares to a local company with a five-year operation period," said João Ponte at the opening of the seminar "Certified Forest Management - new challenges for the Azores forest."
 
In his speech, he pointed out that this action has provided private forest producers with the possibility to enter and benefit from export circuits, recalling that "timber exports were practically non-existent or many years, being limited to one or two operators."
 
For João Ponte, one of the great challenges the Azores forest is facing concerns the fact that, within 10 years, cryptomeria forests planted by private entities with Community support will be ready for cutting and the market will not be able to absorb all the wood.
 
"The market that we are already conquering with the sale of public forest areas, associated with certification, will have to be the path of the future", the Regional Secretary stressed, adding that it is important to enhance the promotion of timber among national and international buyers.
 
Participation in international fairs to promote the productive potential of Azorean forests and the support to projects aimed at innovation and the creation of new products were other challenges pointed out by the Secretary for Forestry.
 
For João Ponte, it is also important to focus on the dissemination of the "Azores Cryptomeria" and "Azores - Forest" brands to gain projection in new markets as well as on the capacity of the timber sector to join other sectors in order to grow in size and competitiveness.
 
"Today we proudly see what we did not think was possible a few years ago: cryptomeria wood being used and disseminated in the country and abroad," João Ponte said, expressing his confidence that this is just the beginning of a path of success.
 
The Azorean forest currently generates an annual volume of about two million Euros with the direct sale of woody material and 12 million Euros if we take into account the industrial sector of first processing.
 
The seminar that took place today in Nordeste was attended by the Secretary of State for Forestry and Rural Development, Amândio Torres, and brought together political leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs and other partners in a reflection on the new challenges for the Azores forest.
 
The overall forest area and natural spaces of the Region make up more than 72 thousand hectares, of which 16 thousand hectares are under public domain.