Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development met in São Miguel - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, chaired on Tuesday the first regular meeting of the Regional Council for the Environment and Sustainable Development (CRADS) of 2026 in Ponta Delgada.

The Regional Secretary noted that the CRADS is a highly relevant advisory body for government action in the environmental and sustainable development field, ensuring close dialogue between the Regional Government and environmental non-governmental organisations and other bodies involved in or interested in environmental and sustainability issues.

During this meeting, Alonso Miguel emphasised that “a presentation was made to the members of the Council on the current status of the implementation of ongoing LIFE projects in the Region. Furthermore, proposals for amendments to various regulations governing access to natural areas in the Azores were considered, with a view to improving the efficiency of procedures and adapting them to the current government structure, as well as the decree approving the list of coastal bathing waters identified in the Azores for 2026."

Alonso Miguel pointed out that, “regarding the ordinance regulating access to the Pico Mountain Nature Reserve, there is a proposal to introduce a series of amendments concerning the conditions under which bookings are made and the terms on which refunds are issued when, for duly justified reasons, visits do not take place. Specific provisions include a maximum period of 72 hours after booking for the submission of refund requests, as well as the requirement for proof of refunds to visitors.”

“It is also proposed to improve the equipment and items required for access to the mountain, as well as the requirement for children aged five and over to be accompanied on the ascent, with the signing of a liability waiver, whilst also introducing changes to discourage ascents in situations where this is not recommended, thereby reinforcing individual responsibility,” he added.

As for the amendment to the regulations governing access to the interior of the Caldeira do Faial, Alonso Miguel highlighted “the reduction in the daily visitor capacity from 40 to 30, and in the maximum group size from 15 to 10,” whilst “it is also proposed to increase the number of hours visitors may remain inside the Caldeira, from three to five hours.”

“The conditions for access to the interior of the Caldeira have also become stricter, and the requirement to pay access fees 48 hours in advance has been removed, making it possible to carry out activities on the day itself,” he added.

Regarding the proposed amendment to the ordinance regulating access to the Praia islet, on Graciosa Island, Alonso Miguel pointed out that “the proposal stipulates that authorised activities must be supervised by a Nature Ranger or a technician from the Graciosa Nature Park.”

The Regional Secretary took the opportunity to note that “the concession contract with a local company for accessing the islet has recently been revoked. It is now available to all maritime tourism companies, provided they comply with the regulations and observe the passenger capacity limits, thereby making access to that nature reserve widely available.”

During the session, the decree approving the list of coastal bathing waters identified in the Azores for 2026 was presented, under the responsibility of the Regional Directorate for Maritime Policies. It includes 88 identified bathing waters, the same 87 as last year, with the addition of the bathing water on the Franca do Campo Islet, which is set to reopen in the current bathing season.

“There was a commitment on the part of the Regional Government to continue monitoring the bathing water on the islet, in collaboration with APA - Portuguese Environment Agency, and, following the tests carried out in 2025, an "acceptable" rating was achieved."

He concluded: “If only the 2025 tests were considered, the classification would be ‘excellent’, but as the calculations are based on data from recent years, the classification reached the ‘acceptable’ level; however, this result allows us to reopen the islet for bathing already this bathing season.”