Marta Guerreiro reveals that extension of "LIFE Priolo Lands" project will be requested in January
The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism revealed in Nordeste that the European Commission will request to the European Commission the extension of the deadline for the implementation of the "LIFE Priolo Lands" project in order to prolong its intervention for another year, until the end of 2019.
"The LIFE Priolo Lands project is primarily intended to promote the sustainability of ‘priolo’ population (Azores bullfinch) in the medium and long-term, through the development and implementation of techniques that have allowed the recovery of important areas of its main habitat: laurel forest of Serra da Tronqueira and Pico da Vara," said Marta Guerreiro.
The Secretary for the Environment spoke during a visit to the areas of intervention of the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) under that project. They comprise the ecological recovery of peatlands, the redevelopment of the pedestrian trails in the Graminhais Plateau, the recovery of landslides through biophysical measures, the control of invasive exotic species in Mata dos Bispos forest area and the reconversion area of the Laurel Forest.
Marta Guerreiro also stated that "the Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism is working with SPEA on new projects for Priolo Lands, namely with regard to an integrated and multimodal trail network, which is expected to be implemented by 2019."
The Regional Secretary emphasised that the Europarc Federation has recently renewed the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Priolo Lands, involving a dozen entities, including private companies. It will be implemented through a new Action Plan until 2021.
"The main purpose of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism is based on the sustainable development of the territory, so that it may respond to economic, social and environmental needs of present generations, with jeopardising those of forthcoming generations," stressed the government official.
In this regard, the Regional Secretary stated that this Charter represents "the establishment of a partnership between the Protected Area and all those who play a key role in the development of tourism in that area with the aim of implementing the principles of sustainable development."