LIFE BEETLES project highlighted as success story by International Union for Conservation of Nature - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The LIFE BEETLES nature conservation project, coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, has been recognised as a success story by the Atlantic Islands Invertebrate Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN SSC). This recognition was highlighted in a recently published communication.

The announcement came during the Final Conference of the LIFE BEETLES project, which took place on Tuesday at the Angra do Heroísmo Interpretation Centre on Terceira Island. The opening session was chaired by the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel.

Alonso Miguel recalled that “LIFE BEETLES is one of four LIFE projects coordinated by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action currently underway in the Region, dedicated to nature conservation and mitigation and adaptation to the effects of climate change, which together represent an investment of over €40 million.”

“This is a nature conservation project, which began in 2020 and will end in late 2025, involving an investment of around €1.8 million, with 55% co-financed by the European Union. It is aimed at improving the size of populations, the distribution area and the conservation status of three endemic species of endangered beetles in the Azores: the ironclad beetle, on Flores Island, the ground beetle, on Pico Island, and the ground beetle, on Teceira Island," stressed the Regional Secretary.

Alonso Miguel explained that "the project has covered an area of 345 hectares, spread across the islands of Terceira, Flores and Pico, over the last six years, leading to a remarkable work to preserve and rehabilitate habitats of high ecological importance. This has been achieved through the implementation of natural engineering solutions, the control of invasive flora and the planting of about 25 thousand endemic plants."

According to the government official, LIFE BEETLES also made an important contribution to promoting environmental education and awareness in the Azores, through the organisation of more than 50 volunteering activities and more than 300 environmental awareness activities, which reached more than 6,000 people. Additionally, these activities included an educational game dedicated to nature conservation, distributed to all schools across the Azores, and a travelling macro photography exhibition, which toured the three islands. The latter intended to showcase the richness of biodiversity in a creative and innovative manner, highlighting the importance of the work carried out for its conservation.

Alonso Miguel emphasised that the "project not only created 10 direct jobs but also facilitated the training of operational staff. Moreover, it provided capacity building and fitted the environmental and climate action services on these three islands with essential tools and equipment for biodiversity preservation and nature conservation efforts."

The Regional Secretary acknowledged that “the LIFE BEETLES project achieved excellent results, successfully fulfilling its targets and giving the Region a great wealth of knowledge, technical skills and improved natural ecosystems.”

“The measures implemented resulted in a significant increase in the populations of the three target species, exceeding 50% in the case of the ground beetle of Terceira Island, 60% in the case of the ground beetle of Pico Island, and, impressively, more than 200% in the case of the ironclad beetle in Flores. The outcome demonstrates the success of the implementation of this project over the last six years," he revealed.

Alonso Miguel considered that "this project is an extraordinary example of how cooperation among regional, national and European institutions, with the involvement of the community and based on scientific rigour, can produce tangible and inspiring results for biodiversity protection and nature conservation."

The Secretary for the Environment concluded by acknowledging that "LIFE projects, with a strong Community co-financing component, are essential financial and operational instruments for capacity building in the Region. They bring with them scientific knowledge, technical capacity and financial resources that are indispensable for environmental protection, nature conservation and biodiversity preservation, which are important assets for the well-being of populations, sustainability, as well as the social and economic development of our islands."

He concluded: "Its implementation will continue to be a priority for the Regional Government of the Azores."