The Regional Director for the Environment, João Bettencourt, will participate in the meeting of the executive commission of the “Life Laurissilva” project to be held in the municipality of Povoação, São Miguel Island.
This meeting, according to João Bettencourt, aims to analyse the actions developed under this programme by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) in a partnership with the Regional Directorates for Tourism and Forest Resources as well as with the Povoação and Nordeste Town Halls.
A field action carried out by SPEA took place on Tuesday, which culminated in a meeting held on Wednesday to analyse the projects that are being developed in the municipalities of Povoação and Nordeste, stated the Regional Director for the Environment.
For João Bettencourt, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea is satisfied with the results achieved by the “Life Laurissilva” programme, thus contributing to the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems in the Azores.
One should remind that the action plan for the project that runs from 2009 to 2012 is being developed in the municipality of Nordeste by combating invasive species and carrying out reforestation actions with endemic species in Tronqueira Mountain range and Graminhais.
Povoação is another municipality where the programme is being implemented, through the creation of a seedling nursery where 40,000 endemic species were planted, stressed the Regional Director.
Moreover, the “Life Priolo” project was developed between 2003 and 2008 with the purpose of saving the Azores Bullfinch species, which was seriously endangered.
This project, stressed João Bettencourt, was eventually distinguished by the European Union with the “Best of the Best – Nature” award for its contribution to significant increase of the Azores Bullfinch population.