World Forest Day marked with more than 3,000 participants across the archipelago - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, has brought together more than 3,000 people in a wide-ranging programme of activities to mark World Forest Day, which has inspired initiatives taking place between March 16 and today. The initiatives were organised by the Forestry Services of the nine islands.

According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, the occasion meant “much more than a symbolic date.”

“We celebrate our forests, their irreplaceable value and the collective commitment we have been building across all islands,” he stressed.

“Over the course of these days, thousands of children, young people, teachers, volunteers, scouts and local partners have come together for planting, awareness-raising and active learning activities,” he added.

The activities focused on promoting the native Azorean forest, dominated by laurel forest and endemic species such as the Azores juniper and the Azorean Buckthorn, which are a unique heritage and the natural habitat of iconic species such as the Azores bullfinch.

The strong mobilisation of the Azorean community was reflected in a diverse programme of events across the Region.

On Santa Maria Island, environmental protection planting initiatives were organised at the airport and in local schools, involving students, teachers and scouts.

On São Miguel Island, exhibitions, treasure hunts, biodiversity activities, sapling planting and talks delivered by forest rangers took place in schools located in Nordeste, Vila Franca do Campo, Ponta Garça and Ponta Delgada.

In turn, volunteering and educational activities took place on the island of Terceira, namely the symbolic planting at Monte Brasil, in partnership with the army, and the planting of endemic species, including an event open to the public and another involving scouts. There were also recreational and educational activities in various schools across the island.

On Graciosa Island, the programme included the planting of around 600 native trees in Serra das Fontes, in partnership with the Quercus Association, Portuguese Postal Services (CTT), schools and the Santa Cruz da Graciosa Municipal Council, as well as symbolic plantings in the island’s four parishes.

On São Jorge Island, the activities were part of the Biosphere Reserve Festival, featuring tree-planting, traditional games and other activities aimed at children and families in the Macelas and Silveira Forest Reserves.

Meanwhile, on the island of Pico, the exhibition and themed activities entitled “Forest of the Senses” in Lajes and Madalena involved more than 460 students.

On Faial Island, the celebrations took the form of a tree-planting event along the Cabouco–Caldeira Forest Trail, organised in partnership with Horta Municipal Council and the Faial Automobile Club, as well as awareness-raising activities at three institutions in Horta.

Lastly, on the island of Flores, native species were planted at Lagoa Branca and on the grounds of the Flores Basic Education and Secondary School, with the support of the GNR (National Republican Guard) and the Environmental Service.

António Ventura assured that the conservation of Azorean forests will remain a collective priority, resulting in practical actions that ensure their protection for future generations.

“Every action, whether it be planting a tree, tending a seed, an environmental education activity or a simple conversation about nature, represents an investment in the future of the Azores,” concluded the government official.