Recreational Forest Reserves of S. Miguel, Terceira and Faial highly sought-after by residents and tourists throughout the year
The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry estimates that more than 200 thousand people visit each year four of the 27 forest reserves of the Azores, enjoying the landscape and recreational components that these intergenerational spaces offer.
According to data from a survey carried out for the first time by the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources this year, during 15 days in May and June, four Recreational Forest Reserves located on the islands of S. Miguel, Terceira and Faial registered 12 thousand people, 54% are residents and 44% are domestic and foreign tourists.
The information collected allows us to estimate the number of visitors during 2017. It is widely known that June, July, August and September are the months that register the highest inflow, with a decrease of visitors between November and February.
The Monte Brasil Recreational Forest Reserve on Terceira, which stretches over an area of 63 hectares, is highlighted in this survey. It is estimated to receive 78% of the total number of visitants per year of the four reserves under analysis.
The second Recreational Forest Reserve with the highest demand among the four surveyed was Pinhal da Paz landscaped forest on S. Miguel Island. It is estimated that this Forest Reserve with an extension of 49 hectares receives, throughout the year, 15% of the overall number of visitors.
The Capelo Recreational Forest Reserve on Faial and Cerrado dos Bezerros Recreational Forest Reserve on S. Miguel receive during the year 7% of the total number of visitors.
The Recreational Forest Reserves of the Azores, which stretch over an area of more than 600 hectares, are wooded areas that combine a landscape and environmental component with leisure and social interaction between different generations.
These spaces, visited throughout the year, include barbecue areas, spaces for animals, such peacocks and deer, among others, as well as physical maintenance circuits.
Admission to the 27 Recreational Forest Reserves located on eight of the nine islands of the archipelago is free. These spaces are open throughout the year, with operating hours adapted to each of the reserves.