The Regional Secretary for Natural Resources revealed today that nearly 19,000 students from regional schools participated in the hundreds of actions that took place under "Parque Escola" programme, an initiative that encompasses the environmental educational offer provided by the Government of the Azores.

"Parque Escola" is a programme that falls within the Regional Plan for Environmental Education and Awareness Raising, an initiative implemented by the nine Island Parks as well as by the networks of Environmental Centres and "Ecotecas" (Environmental Awareness Raising Centres). This environmental programme includes field trips to Protected Areas and the development of activities in classroom context.

Luís Neto Viveiros stressed that this is an "investment" in future generations, which the Regional Government considers to be strategic.
 
According to him, "these messages can be easily passed on to younger generations, who will have the opportunity of disseminating them."

The Regional Secretary spoke in Água d'Alto in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo during the launching of the publication “Lia & Nicolau, a Energia Elétrica nos Açores” (Lia & Nicolau, Electric Power in the Azores). This new educational resource was developed by the Regional Directorate for the Environment and the Department of Environmental Education of Azorina, with the technical and scientific support of EDA.

In his speech, Luís Neto Viveiros stressed that "this publication evidences the precautions that must be taken with regard to the rational use of energy" through the examples of Lia and Nicolau, the characters designed to introduce environmental themes to Azorean children.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony held at the  Praia Hydroelectric Power Plant (museum centre of Vila Franca do Campo Museum), Luís Neto Viveiros revealed that all contents will be provided in the electronic address http://educarparaoambiente.azores.gov.pt. The ceremony was attended by the students from two local elementary schools.

The "Energy Kit" and the adventures of Lia and Nicolau will be freely distributed among students and teachers; the latter will also receive proposals for educational activities. Similarly to the "Biodiversity Kit" in the previous school year, this new Kit will be distributed to "Ecotecas" as well as to all public and private elementary schools in the Azores."