The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry has launched a public tender for the sale of certified cryptomeria wood bearing the FSC® eco-label and the reforestation of 154.78 hectares of cutting areas.
The competition, published today in the Official Journal, stipulates that the term of exploitation will be set at five years. João Ponte considered that this period represents "a guarantee of regular supply of wood material to companies that need to strengthen business relations with their customers."
The cutting and reforestation areas covered by this tender are located in Tronqueira Forest, Lomba de São Pedro and Água Retorta, located in the forest perimeter of São Miguel island, in the municipalities of Nordeste, Ribeira Grande and Povoação.
The Government of the Azores started in 2014 the active management of the forest areas under its responsibility, through the selection of areas for cutting and the definition of a series of operations and regulations to be met in the exploitation of this resource.
These options, embodied in a Forest Management Plan for the re-planning of exploited forest areas, also aim to rejuvenate Azorean public forests, always bearing in mind the respect for natural values associated with it and minimising the impacts often associated with this type of actions.
With this measure, the Government of the Azores seeks to promote the emergence of new businesses in the areas of processing and innovation in the timber industry as well as to increase exports.
In this context, the FSC® eco-label, which currently distinguishes "Azores Cryptomeria," and the existence of the Portuguese Standard for CE marking of Cryptomeria wood enhance the competitiveness of this resource, which has conquered consumers and markets in the country and abroad.
Japanese Cryptomeria is one of the most representative species of forest production in the Azores, generating an annual turnover of 12 million Euros.
João Ponte pointed out that the Azorean forest, besides its importance to the environment, territorial development and protection of soil erosion, holds "a great potential," which is the processing, sale and export of wood.
"The Government of the Azores will continue the effort undertaken in the economic exploitation of timber, because it is a source of wealth and job creation," assured the Regional Secretary.
In the last four years, added João Ponte, "three million trees" were planted in the archipelago, mostly cryptomeria specimens but also resinous, hardwood and endemic species.