The Government of the Azores marked the Autochthonous Forest Day in the Azores with the planting of endemic and native species near the access road to Pico Bartolomeu in Nordeste, São Miguel Island.
This activity will take place in an area of about 20,000 square metres located within the Forest Perimeter. This area is being redeveloped by the Government with the cutting of pine trees, cryptomeria trees and invasive plants.
In order to replace these species, the Nordeste Forest Services are planting several endemic and indigenous woody species that are part of the Azores natural forest, thus contributing to biodiversity conservation in the archipelago.
On Saturday, the Region will join the "Plantar Portugal" (Planting Portugal) movement, an initiative that aims to raise the awareness of the population for the importance of forests and ecosystems, bearing in mind the sustained development of modern societies.
The awareness raising action and the planting will take place in an area located within the Terceira Forest Perimeter in Lagoa do Negro, starting at 2 PM.
Promoted by the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment, this activity is implemented by Terceira Forest Service in collaboration with the Angra do Heroísmo City Hall, "Os Montanheiros" Association and the Terceira Island Natural Park. The area where this intervention will be carried out is comprised by the Renaturalisation and Recovery project for the Lagoa do Negro Forest Area.
This project arises from a protocol signed between the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and the Gaspar Frutuoso Foundation, through the Applied Vegetal Research Office (GEVA) of the University of the Azores.
The initiative will be open to the public in general and will include the presentation of the works that have been developed in the field as well as the results of the renaturalisation and recovery actions in this vast wetland area. The presentation will be held at the premises of the Gruta de Natal Visitor Centre.
This event will be followed by the planting of a plot with Azorean native species: Juniperus brevifolia (Juniper), IIex azorica (Azorean holly), Prunnus azorica (Azores laurel cherry), Laurus azorica (Azores laurel) e Viburnum treleasei (Lauristinus).