Faial Botanical Garden celebrates 40 years of work to protect nature in the Azores - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, chaired this week the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of Faial Botanical Garden, a leading facility in the conservation of Azorean flora, the preservation and restoration of natural habitats, scientific research and environmental education.

As part of the ceremony, the Regional Secretary symbolically marked the occasion by planting a specimen of Azores juniper (Juniperus brevifolia), a species endemic to the Azores and one of the most emblematic of the Azorean Laurissilva forest. This gesture was intended to represent the Regional Government’s commitment to preserving the Region’s natural heritage and the future of biodiversity conservation.

On the occasion, Alonso Miguel emphasised that “the Faial Botanical Garden is much more than just a visitor attraction. It is a centre of excellence in the conservation of Azorean flora, scientific research, environmental education, the production of plants for the ecological restoration of natural habitats, and the promotion of the Azores’ natural heritage.”

"The journey undertaken over the 40 years of the Faial Botanical Garden – which is the oldest environmental centre in the Azores – demonstrates that investing in nature conservation is investing in the future of the Azores. Today, we celebrate a success story built by several generations of experts, researchers and staff who have made this Garden a regional and international benchmark," he said.

Established in 1986, the Faial Botanical Garden began its work with a focus on preserving and promoting the flora of Macaronesia, and has since evolved into a key facility for protecting Azorean biodiversity. It currently comprises important facilities, such as the Azores Seed Bank, the Ilídio Botelho Gonçalves Herbarium, the Azores Orchid Garden, collections of endemic, native and Macaronesian flora, nurseries specialising in the production of endemic and native species, as well as the Pedro Miguel High-Altitude Centre; the latter is dedicated to the conservation of species characteristic of the archipelago’s higher altitude areas.

According to the government official, “since its creation, the Botanical Garden has played a decisive role in the ex situ and in situ conservation of threatened species, the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the provision of thousands of plants used in ecological restoration projects carried out on various islands of the Azores.”

Alonso Miguel also emphasised that “the protection of biodiversity requires scientific knowledge, technical expertise and a long-term vision, and the Faial Botanical Garden brings together these three aspects, establishing itself as an indispensable partner in the implementation of the Region’s environmental policies”.

The government official also pointed out that the Faial Botanical Garden is a major tourist attraction and a cornerstone of environmental education, having welcomed over 132,000 visitors since 2008, including over 40,000 in the last five years alone. This reflects the growing interest among both locals and tourists in the Azores’ natural heritage and the work carried out on the facilities.

“The growing number of visitors demonstrates a greater environmental awareness and an increasingly significant recognition of our natural heritage. This is also a way of promoting the Azores as a destination that prioritises sustainability and nature conservation as distinctive features,” he emphasised.

The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action also highlighted the importance of environmental education as one of the pillars of civic education, emphasising its contribution to developing critical awareness of environmental issues, strengthening a sense of belonging and promoting appreciation of the Azores’ natural heritage.

In this context, he pointed out that “the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action has been promoting the School Environmental Awareness Activities Programme (OASAE) since 2022. Aimed at all levels of education, from preschool to vocational education, it offers a wide range of initiatives in the areas of nature conservation, natural and cultural heritage, climate change, water resources, waste and the circular economy.”

The programme includes interpretative trails, field activities in designated areas, games, exhibitions, educational and recreational sessions and guided tours to Environmental Centres.

As for the Faial Botanical Garden, over a hundred environmental awareness activities have been organised since the implementation of OASAE, involving around 2,200 participants. This confirms the role of this facility in promoting environmental literacy and raising awareness among younger generations about nature conservation.

As part of the 40th-anniversary celebrations, the Faial Botanical Garden also organised the "40 years – 40 photographs" activity, developed in partnership with APADIF service users. The initiative provided an inclusive experience of connection with nature, encouraging observation, teamwork and the discovery of the Botanical Garden in a dynamic and participatory way, whilst maintaining a symbolic link to the celebration of this facility’s four decades.

The celebrations also extend to the wider community, with the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action inviting all interested parties to visit the Azores’ only Botanical Garden and join in the celebrations. Throughout the day, visitors will enjoy free admission. They will also have the possibility to celebrate the anniversary with a commemorative cake and herbal teas made from aromatic plants grown in the Botanical Garden itself.

The planting of an Azores juniper tree was one of the most symbolic moments of the celebration, representing not only the 40-year history of Faial Botanical Garden but also the collective commitment to preserving the Azores’ flora and natural habitats in the decades to come.

“The Azores juniper tree we have planted today symbolises the deep roots of the work carried out over all these years and the responsibility we have towards future generations. With the same resilience with which this tree will grow over the coming years, we also wish to continue bolstering nature conservation policies, ensuring that the Azores remain a benchmark in the protection of their unique biodiversity,” concluded the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action.