The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated today that the good results achieved with the management of Azorean forests are an example to follow and arouse the interest of other regions in the development of the Region's cryptomeria forests. According to him, this is a positive aspect that the Regional Government values, being the result of the work carried out in regional forests.
"The importance of the timber industry in the Azores is growing, both in terms of exports and in terms of sustainable management of resources, which is now beginning to arouse the interest of other regions, such as the Basque Country," said João Ponte. The government official spoke at the end of a meeting with the Deputy Counsellor for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Policy of this Autonomous Community located in the north of Spain that took place at Pinhal da Paz Recreational Forest Reserve on São Miguel Island.
The Basque Country delegation began today a visit to the Azores in order to assess the potential of the Azorean forest, especially regarding the Japanese Cryptomeria, with a view to its introduction in the Basque Country and, thereby, invest in forest diversification.
The Regional Secretary stated that the Basque delegation expressed its intention to establish a collaborative partnership, namely in terms of seed transfer, technical support and knowledge.
"This link that is now being established will certainly help the Azores to expand the dissemination of cryptomeria wood, open new markets and benefit from the technological development of the Basque Country in the timber industry," said João Ponte.
In 2014, the Regional Government started a forest renewal process in the areas under its administration, through the selection of cutting areas and the definition of a series operations and rules to be carried out and met in its exploitation.
These options, embodied in a Forest Management Plan for the planning of exploited forest areas, also aim to rejuvenate Azorean public forests, always bearing in mind the respect for natural values associated with them and minimising the impacts often associated with this type of actions.
João Ponte also considered that the international certification "Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)" of cryptomeria was a decisive step to ensure the respect for sustainability and reach new markets.
The government official also highlighted the growing importance of timber export in the Azores, revealing that about 5,000 cubic metres of wood were exported last year, mainly to the USA but also to new markets, such Pakistan and Morocco.
Besides the meeting with the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry, the Basque Country delegation will visit wood cutting, reforestation and forest planning areas as well as a sawmill on the island of São Miguel.