Information: Azorean Government to invest over one million Euros in the Landscape of Pico Island Vineyard Culture this year
The Government of the Azores plans to invest over one million Euros this year under the incentive schemes for the Landscape of Pico Island Vineyard. These investments are intended to renew and maintain the traditional vineyard culture landscape in "currais" (plots protected by stone walls), classified as World Heritage, announced the Regional Director for the Environment today. Hernâni Jorg... more >>

Information: "Amigo dos Parques" Card provides free access of residents to environmental centres
The Regional Secretariat for Natural Resources presented today the "Amigo dos Parques" (Parks' Friend) Card, being an initiative addressed at all those residing in the Azores. It will provide free access of residents to the environmental centres that are part of the Island Natural Park and 50% discount on admissions to environmental centres on other islands. Speaking at a press conference hel... more >>

Information: Regional Director for the Environment highlights "very positive" results of "ECO Freguesia - Freguesia Limpa" contest
The Regional Director for the Environment said on Friday that the "ECO Freguesia - Freguesia Limpa" (ECO Village - Clean Village) contest showed "very positive" results in last year's edition, in which 112 of the 154 Azorean villages have participated. Speaking at the ceremony to deliver the first ECO-Village 2013 flags to the winning villages of Faial, Hernâni Jorge stressed that 72% of re... more >>

Information: Coordination and Maintenance Team of Pedestrian Trails with 20 new members
The Network of Classified Pedestrian Trails of the Azores will now have a team composed by 20 new members, who will be in charge of the coordination and maintenance of the classified pedestrian trails across the archipelago. Vítor Fraga, who presided over the presentation of this team, stressed that the new members "will be responsible for the monitoring the trails on a regular basis, repla... more >>

Information: Amendments to Land Management Plan of Protected Landscape of Pico Vineyard Culture under public consultation
The Regional Secretariat of Natural Resources promotes a public consultation to collect suggestions and contributions for the amendments to the Land Management Plan of Protected Landscape of Regional Interest of Pico Vineyard Culture (POPPVIP). The consultation period takes place from today until October 17. "According to the decree published on Thursday, citizens and entities can make suggestio... more >>

Information: Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre reached 100,000 visitors today
The Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Centre on Faial Island registered today 100,000 visitors since its opening five years ago. This record was reached with the registration of a German tourist at 11:58 AM. To mark the occasion, the Regional Director for the Environment, Hernâni Jorge, offered Jurgen Patzer a book about the Capelinhos Volcano and several souvenirs related to this Interpreta... more >>

Information: Recovery of Carapacho beach area at completion stage
The works in the area surrounding the Carapacho pool on the island of Graciosa are basically concluded. By the end of June, this beach area should meet all the conditions it had before the bad weather conditions that caused damages last winter. The works comprise various interventions, including the consolidation of walls, the repair of pavements and the removal of the old structure that collaps... more >>

Information: European Day of Parks celebrated on all Azorean islands
The Regional Secretariat for Natural Resources, through the Regional Directorate for the Environment, joins this year, for the first time, the celebrations of the European Day of Natural Parks, which will be celebrated on Friday, May 24. In this celebration, established by the Europarc Federation to promote the sustainable management of protected areas in Europe, the Regional Secretariat for Natu... more >>

Information: Regional Director for the Environment says that protected areas can bring "added value" to Azorean products
The Regional Director for the Environment defended in Horta today that the Azores' protected areas "can become a brand and bring added value" for regional products. Hernâni Jorge spoke at the presentation ceremony of "Mel do Parque" (honey); this specific honey is being produced by the beekeepers from Faial Farmers' Association in Monte da Guia Protected Landscape. The Regional Director e... more >>

Information: Azores have another site included in the list of wetlands protected by the Ramsar Convention
The Autonomous Region of the Azores will now have 13 sites included in the Ramsar Convention list with the approval of the application submitted by the Paul da Praia da Vitória (Praia da Vitória Marsh), located on Terceira island, for the classification as protected wetland of international interest. This marsh was filled in the early 20th century with saltwater brought by each tide th... more >>