During the Delivery Ceremony of the 2012 National Landscape, held in Lisbon, the Regional Director for the Environment, Hernâni Jorge, stated that these distinctions the Azores have received represent the recognition of regional public policies in addition to being a source of pride.

"The awards we have just received on behalf of the Government of the Azores have brought great honour to us and feel us with pride," stated Hernâni Jorge. The government official added that these distinctions "are the evidence and national recognition of the policies pursued by the Government in the areas of spatial planning and land management in recent years."

The "Ecological and Landscape Recovery of Furnas Crater Lake Hydrographic Basin," a project developed in the Protected Landscape of Furnas, São Miguel Island, was the recipient of the 2012 National Landscape Award. The prize was awarded by the Ministries of Agriculture, Sea and of Environment and Spatial Planning, through the Directorate-General of Territorial Development.

With this distinction, the Azorean project was selected to represent Portugal at the 2013 Landscape Award of the Council of Europe, whose results will be made public in October.

In turn, the project designated as "Protection and Management of Capelinhos Volcano," which is mainly intended to promote the sustainable development of the Capelinhos Volcano Landscape on Faial, received an Honourable Mention at the ceremony held at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation on Friday.

On the occasion, the Regional Director for the Environment noted that it has been precisely three years that the Volcanic Landscape of Pico and Sete Cidades Crater Lake were distinguished among the Seven Wonders of Portugal.

"Over the centuries, the introduction of human factors has brought changes to the landscape of the islands as a result of the interaction between men and nature," stressed Hernâni Jorge. The Regional Director added that "some of these transformations were clearly positive, brining added value to the territory, such as the traditional land-use systems, with special emphasis on the Pico Island Vineyard Culture that was classified as World Heritage by UNESCO in 2004."

However, Hernâni Jorge stressed that "we cannot be limited to the values we have inherited. These resources, like most legacies, do not last forever; they need to maintained, organised, protected and subject to recovery or damage mitigation interventions."

"This has been the path followed by the Government of the Azores over the last decade and half, with the development of spatial planning and land management tools, either with general scope or with specificities for protected areas," said the Regional Director.
 
As an example, Hernâni Jorge pointed out the fact that in 2004, the Region only had five Municipal Master Plans (PDM) in force and the Special Land Management Plan (PEOT) was non-existent. Currently, all 19 municipalities have their Municipal Master Plan and there are 16 Special Land Management Plan in force. Moreover, the Government has installed over a dozen interpretation and visitor support centres in some protected areas.

"We believe that the reinforcement of public environmental policies is a key factor to induce the necessary structural changes required by the global agenda," said the Regional Director. The government official conveyed his wish that the awards and presentations made by São Miguel and Faial Natural Parks may awake "the desire of enjoying the magnificent landscapes of the Azores."