The Government, through the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, launches the 1st Terceira Natural Park Guide on July 1. On the same day, the Biscoitos pedestrian trail will be opened and there will be a visit to the "Furnas do Enxofre” (Sulphur Cave) and the respective support infrastructure.

The Terceira Natural Park, created by the Regional Legislative Decree no. 11/2012/A of April 20, comprises all protected areas: the regional natural monuments of "Algar do Carvão" and "Furnas do Enxofre"; the natural forest reserves of Biscoito da Ferraria; the Santa Bárbara mountain range and Mistérios Negros; the protected areas for the management of habitats or the Matela species; the protected areas of Biscoito and Fontinhas and Pico do Boi; the protected areas for the management of resources of caldeira Guilherme Moniz, Cinco Ribeiras, Pontas da Contendas; the Cabras, Baixa da Vila Nova and Monte Brasil islets and the Biscoitos vineyard landscape.

Terceira Natural Park has one largest pristine forest areas in the Azores which is a major challenge for its conservation and preservation. Hence, it is important to promote its dissemination so that locals and visitors may learn to respect nature.

In this context, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea has improved the road signage with the installation of identification signs and interpretation plates in the park areas and viewpoint. Moreover, the Government has carried out some interventions in the pedestrian trails located within the park in order to improve their accessibility and safety conditions, which included the maintenance of trails, installation of protection rails and the construction of walkways to reduce the impact of visitors on the landscape.

The support house for the visitors of this Natural Park is located in the site of "Furnas do Enxofre." Currently, this house hosts a photography exhibition depicting the park's landscapes and species, and includes a map containing the identification of the main places to visit.

The new pedestrian trail "Vinhas dos Biscoitos" (Biscoitos Vineyards) intends to enhance the humanised landscape of the Natural Park, highlight the social and cultural values of that areas as well as to bring out the most important aspects concerning the flora, fauna and geologic features.

With the Natural Park Guide, visitors may find useful information for its interpretation, such as the location, identification and features of the places to visit and the species that may be found there. It will certainly be an important tool for those who visit us as well as for local inhabitants.