In the Azores, where there are 13 areas classified as Wetlands of International Importance, the Regional Government will celebrate the World Wetlands Day across the archipelago across the archipelago. This day celebrates signing of the Convention in Ramsar, Iran, on February 2, 1971, with the aim of promoting international cooperation and national actions for a rational and sustainable management of these sites.
These areas are of particular importance not only for their biodiversity and high ecological value, but also for the important role in flood control, groundwater replenishment, regulation of the water cycle and mitigation of climate change. In addition to being relevant in terms of cultural values, they also evidence a recreational and tourism potential.
The 13 sites in the Azores classified under the Ramsar Convention, which cover an area exceeding 13 thousand hectares, are the following: crater lakes of Fajã dos Cubres and Fajã do Santo Cristo (S. Jorge island); Caldeira da Graciosa (Furna do Enxofre - Graciosa island); Caldeira do Faial (Faial island); Caldeirão do Corvo (Corvo island); volcanic complex of Furnas, Sete Cidades and Lagoa do Fogo (São Miguel island); Formigas islet and Dollabarat Reef (Santa Maria island); Planalto Central da Terceira (Furnas do Enxofre and Algar do Carvão) and Paul da Praia da Vitória (Terceira island); Planalto Central das Flores (Morro Alto - Flores island); Planalto Central de São Jorge (Pico da Esperança - São Jorge island) and Planalto Central do Pico (Achada - Pico island).
The Regional Secretariat for Natural Resources, through the Regional Directorate for the Environment, has prepared a poster highlighting the importance of wetlands as a resting place for migratory birds and promoted free actions addressed at the public in general.
On February 1, the Corvo Natural Park will organise a guided tour to the Caldeirão Wetland - Ramsar site; participants should register at the Environmental Interpretation Centre.
Faial Nature Park promotes a "day with Nature Watchers," an initiative that includes bird watching in some wetlands of Faial; prior registration should be made at the Dabney House - Monte da Guia.
In turn, the "Ecoteca" of Terceira (Environmental Awareness Raising Centre) will address the theme "Wetlands and Agriculture" in an interpretative trail with Scouts Groups in Lagoa do Negro, while the Graciosa Natural Park will organise a pedestrian trail with bird watching at the island's Ramsar site - Caldeira da Graciosa.
On February 2, the Furnas Monitoring and Research Centre, São Miguel, promotes in partnership with SPEA - Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds a guided pedestrian walk under the theme "In the Kingdom of Fungi - Let's go find Mushrooms!"
In addition, the Santa Maria Natural Park will open the exhibition titled "Formigas and Dollabarat - The Sanctuary" at the local museum on February 3. In the beginning of the next month, this exhibition will be open to the public at the Dalberto Pombo Interpretation Centre until September.
On the same day, the Pico Natural Park will promote an Interpretative Pedestrian Trail to the Wetland of Planalto Central, an initiative targeted at tourism entertainment companies.
From February 3 to 7, several "Ecotecas" will promote various activities for schools, with special emphasis on the islands of São Jorge, Terceira and Flores.
The Board of the Water Management and Spatial Planning Services, under the jurisdiction of the Regional Directorate for the Environment, will also celebrate this date with the publication of a poster on the theme "Monitoring Water Quality on São Miguel Crater Lakes."
Those who are interested may obtain further information on these activities at http://parquesnaturais.azores.gov.pt. All the information of the Azores Wetlands and their importance is available on the Regional Government Portal at the following addresses:
http://www.azores.gov.pt/Gra/srrn-natureza/menus/secundario/Áreas+RAMSAR/
http://www.siaram.azores.gov.pt/vegetacao/zonas-humidas/_intro.html