Regional Government classifies Serra da Tronqueira Range and Graminhais Plateau as Special Area of Conservation
The Government of the Azores has approved a Regional Implementing Decree that classifies the "Serra da Tronqueira Range/Graminhais Plateau" Site of Community Importance, São Miguel Island, as Special Area of Conservation (SAC) within Natura 2000 Network. It covers a land area of about 2,010 hectares that stretches over the municipalities of Nordeste, Povoação and Ribeira Grande
The new SAC will be under the management and conservation schemes established by the legal scheme on nature conservation and biodiversity protection, the Sectoral Plan of Natura 2000 Network and the legal framework for the São Miguel Island Natural Park. Moreover, the complementary measures and actions for the management and conservation of habitats and species to be defined in the Management Plan for Terrestrial Areas of São Miguel Island Natural Park are also applied to the Pico da Vara Natural Reserve as well as to the Protected Area for the Management of Habitats or Species of Tronqueira and Graminhais Plateau.
This Council of the Government's decision took place during the week marking the European Day of the Natura 2000 Network, which is celebrated today, to mark the entry into force of the Habitats Directive. It promoted the creation in 1992 of the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world and the main nature conservation and biodiversity tool in the European Union, covering more than 26 thousand sites as well as about 18% of Europe's land territory and substantial portions of its marine areas.
In the Azores, the Natura 2000 Network includes 41 sites, specifically 24 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), 15 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and two Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), making up a total area of 80,418 hectares, of which 42,754 hectares correspond to land areas.
This week also marks the World Biodiversity Day, which is celebrated on Friday, May 22, an area where the Regional Government has dedicated its attention and made considerable investments, as is the case with the implementation of three LIFE projects. With a global investment of almost 23 million Euros, these projects aim to improve the conservation status of protected and priority habitats and species, as a priority in public policies for nature conservation and biodiversity protection.