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Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Regional Government activates Legal and Financial Support Scheme for Climate Emergencies following weather events in Água de Pau
Regional Government activates Legal and Financial Support Scheme for Climate Emergencies following weather events in Água de Pau
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Alonso Miguel visits Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre after fire
Alonso Miguel visits Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre after fire
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Press release
Press release
October 29, 2025
Regional Government activates Legal and Financial Support Scheme for Climate Emergencies following weather events in Água de Pau
October 17, 2025
Alonso Miguel visits Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre after fire
October 15, 2025
Press release
News
Nota de Imprensa
October 29, 2025
Regional Government activates Legal and Financial Support Scheme for Climate Emergencies following weather events in Água de Pau
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, visited on Tuesday the parishes of Água de Pau, in Lagoa, and Ribeirinha, in Ribeira Grande, on the island of São Miguel, in the aftermath of last Saturday's storm. The visit was intended to assess the extent of the damage caused and find solutions to help the affected families. During his visit to Lagoa, Alonso Miguel was accompanied by the Mayor of Lagoa, Frederico Sousa, and the President of the Parish Council of Água de Pau, Vanessa Silva. When visiting Ribeirinha, the Regional Secretary was accompanied by Alexandre Gaudêncio and Jaime Vieira, the current and future Mayors of Ribeira Grande, as well as the President of the Parish Council of Ribeirinha, Marco Furtado. The government official took the opportunity to "show solidarity and offer words of comfort to the families affected by this unexpected event, which caused very significant damage." He reiterated the Regional Government's commitment and dedication to resolving the situation and providing support to compensate for the losses incurred. According to the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, "the Legal and Financial Support Scheme for Climate Emergencies will be activated for this purpose. This solidarity-based instrument was created by the Regional Government in 2022, with a view to providing financial support to families affected by material and property damage following extreme weather events that are not covered by other existing support schemes." "This mechanism will be extremely beneficial in the case of the events that occurred in Água de Pau, namely to address the damage caused by the dragging of approximately 15 vehicles, 5 of which were destroyed, as well as other damage that is not covered by other support schemes," he added. The government official emphasised that it is also necessary to determine the causes of the flooding and work to prevent future occurrences, especially at a time when it is known that this type of natural phenomenon will become increasingly frequent due to climate change. Alonso Miguel noted that "everyone must contribute to minimising this type of situation by complying with the law," adding that this requires "the owners of private land within stream beds to ensure the maintenance and cleaning of their properties. Moreover, municipal councils are required to clean and maintain land within urban areas, with the responsibility for other cases falling to the Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action." The Regional Secretary revealed that "within the scope of the Regional Government's powers, this work is carried out continuously throughout the year by the operational teams of the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, based on data from the State of Azorean Streams (RERA). This report is produced annually and ranks incidents according to their severity and defines the prioritisation of the most urgent interventions.” Alonso Miguel stated that, in the case of the events in Água de Pau, everything indicates that the situation that caused the flooding originated from a duly licensed logging operation upstream. Nevertheless, the necessary good practices may not have been followed, particularly regarding the non-deposition of wood and plant debris near watercourses, which led to these materials being swept away, blocking two hydraulic passages. This resulted in the overflowing of water and flooding of the entire area, causing very significant damage. Alonso Miguel stated that "this situation has already been reported to the Regional Government department responsible for licensing and supervising logging operations, namely the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and Spatial Planning, so that an investigation can be launched and, if non-compliance is found, the respective administrative offence proceedings will be initiated." Regarding the situation in the Gramas area, in Ribeirinha, Alonso Miguel acknowledged that this is a recurring problem. However, he pointed out that "the definitive solution will be implemented shortly, following an ARAAL contract signed between the Regional Government and the Ribeira Grande Municipal Council. It will ensure the redevelopment and improvement of the drainage conditions of the tributary to Ribeira das Gramas stream, namely through the widening of the canal and the levelling of the watercourse bed." The government official concluded by recalling "the importance of preventive and responsible action on the part of the population, particularly regarding the disposal of waste and other materials in watercourses, as well as the adoption of good practices in productive activities, such as timber harvesting in the vicinity of watercourses. This will prevent the silting up of stream beds and culverts, thereby minimising the risk of flooding, which often threatens the safety of people and property and causes significant material and financial damage."
October 29, 2025
Regional Government activates Legal and Financial Support Scheme for Climate Emergencies following weather events in Água de Pau
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, visited on Tuesday the parishes of Água de Pau, in Lagoa, and Ribeirinha, in Ribeira Grande, on the island of São Miguel, in the aftermath of last Saturday's storm. The visit was intended to assess the extent of the damage caused and find solutions to help the affected families. During his visit to Lagoa, Alonso Miguel was accompanied by the Mayor of Lagoa, Frederico Sousa, and the President of the Parish Council of Água de Pau, Vanessa Silva. When visiting Ribeirinha, the Regional Secretary was accompanied by Alexandre Gaudêncio and Jaime Vieira, the current and future Mayors of Ribeira Grande, as well as the President of the Parish Council of Ribeirinha, Marco Furtado. The government official took the opportunity to "show solidarity and offer words of comfort to the families affected by this unexpected event, which caused very significant damage." He reiterated the Regional Government's commitment and dedication to resolving the situation and providing support to compensate for the losses incurred. According to the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, "the Legal and Financial Support Scheme for Climate Emergencies will be activated for this purpose. This solidarity-based instrument was created by the Regional Government in 2022, with a view to providing financial support to families affected by material and property damage following extreme weather events that are not covered by other existing support schemes." "This mechanism will be extremely beneficial in the case of the events that occurred in Água de Pau, namely to address the damage caused by the dragging of approximately 15 vehicles, 5 of which were destroyed, as well as other damage that is not covered by other support schemes," he added. The government official emphasised that it is also necessary to determine the causes of the flooding and work to prevent future occurrences, especially at a time when it is known that this type of natural phenomenon will become increasingly frequent due to climate change. Alonso Miguel noted that "everyone must contribute to minimising this type of situation by complying with the law," adding that this requires "the owners of private land within stream beds to ensure the maintenance and cleaning of their properties. Moreover, municipal councils are required to clean and maintain land within urban areas, with the responsibility for other cases falling to the Regional Government, through the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action." The Regional Secretary revealed that "within the scope of the Regional Government's powers, this work is carried out continuously throughout the year by the operational teams of the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action, based on data from the State of Azorean Streams (RERA). This report is produced annually and ranks incidents according to their severity and defines the prioritisation of the most urgent interventions.” Alonso Miguel stated that, in the case of the events in Água de Pau, everything indicates that the situation that caused the flooding originated from a duly licensed logging operation upstream. Nevertheless, the necessary good practices may not have been followed, particularly regarding the non-deposition of wood and plant debris near watercourses, which led to these materials being swept away, blocking two hydraulic passages. This resulted in the overflowing of water and flooding of the entire area, causing very significant damage. Alonso Miguel stated that "this situation has already been reported to the Regional Government department responsible for licensing and supervising logging operations, namely the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and Spatial Planning, so that an investigation can be launched and, if non-compliance is found, the respective administrative offence proceedings will be initiated." Regarding the situation in the Gramas area, in Ribeirinha, Alonso Miguel acknowledged that this is a recurring problem. However, he pointed out that "the definitive solution will be implemented shortly, following an ARAAL contract signed between the Regional Government and the Ribeira Grande Municipal Council. It will ensure the redevelopment and improvement of the drainage conditions of the tributary to Ribeira das Gramas stream, namely through the widening of the canal and the levelling of the watercourse bed." The government official concluded by recalling "the importance of preventive and responsible action on the part of the population, particularly regarding the disposal of waste and other materials in watercourses, as well as the adoption of good practices in productive activities, such as timber harvesting in the vicinity of watercourses. This will prevent the silting up of stream beds and culverts, thereby minimising the risk of flooding, which often threatens the safety of people and property and causes significant material and financial damage."
Nota de Imprensa
October 17, 2025
Alonso Miguel visits Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre after fire
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, travelled to Graciosa Island on Thursday to visit the Waste Processing Centre (CPR), following the fire that broke out on October 9 at that facility. The main purpose of the visit was to assess the damage caused by the fire, meet with the entities responsible for managing the space, and monitor the cleaning, repair, and reactivation of operations. During the visit, the government official highlighted “the rapid and effective response of the Santa Cruz da Graciosa volunteer firefighters, as well as the various teams present at the scene. They acted promptly to fight the flames, limiting the spread of the fire, minimising environmental impacts and contributing to the safety of people and property.” "All available resources were mobilised to control the situation and ensure the safety of the population and the environment. The priority, immediately after extinguishing the fire, was to ensure a swift and safe recovery of the centre's operations, while also reinforcing prevention and monitoring measures, stated Alonso Miguel. In 2012, the Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre was awarded, through a public tender, to Equiambi, Lda., which is also responsible for managing the São Jorge Island Waste Processing Centre. The Regional Secretary also stressed that the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action "will continue to monitor the situation closely, in coordination with the municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa and Equiambi, the company managing the Centre, to ensure a coordinated and effective response." “The damage caused by the fire is currently being assessed, as well as its coverage under the insurance policies held by the concessionaire. At the same time, various actions are underway to restore waste reception and processing on the island, guaranteeing the continuity of this essential public service,” added the Regional Secretary. Alonso Miguel explained that, with a view to restoring normal operations at CPR, Equiambi has already sent a set of equipment and technical resources to Graciosa, including a forklift, while a pressork, a rotating fork clamp and a telescopic forklift, as well as roll baling equipment, are already in the process of being transported. "Loader services have also been commissioned, and a technician specialising in dismantling is on the island to coordinate the removal and replacement of affected structures," he added. Meanwhile, specialised equipment for cutting and dismantling the damaged structures has already arrived on Graciosa, allowing the necessary work to be carried out to restore the space. The Regional Secretary recalled that the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action launched an international public tender in February 2025, amounting to three million Euros, to modernise waste recycling and processing on several islands, which will equip the Graciosa CPR with a new mixed sorting line for unsorted waste (TMB) and selective collection. Alonso Miguel revealed that "this investment, amounting to around €800,000, provides for the installation of new equipment at the Graciosa CPR in the first half of 2026, ensuring better operating conditions, greater efficiency and safety at work, and increased waste recovery." According to the government official, the new sorting line will include various pieces of equipment, such as a feed dosing bunker, a conveyor belt for receiving and feeding the pre-sorting table, a conveyor belt for the pre-sorting table, a conveyor belt for feeding the rotary screen, rotary screen, conveyor belt for receiving and feeding the sorting table, conveyor belt for the sorting table and platform, conveyor belt for feeding the baling press, and baling press. Alonso Miguel concluded by stating that, "with these immediate and structural measures, the Regional Government and the concessionaire Equiambi are not only ensuring the restoration of normal operations at the Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre, but also ensuring its modernisation. This reinforces the commitment to environmental protection, operational safety and efficient waste management."
October 17, 2025
Alonso Miguel visits Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre after fire
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, travelled to Graciosa Island on Thursday to visit the Waste Processing Centre (CPR), following the fire that broke out on October 9 at that facility. The main purpose of the visit was to assess the damage caused by the fire, meet with the entities responsible for managing the space, and monitor the cleaning, repair, and reactivation of operations. During the visit, the government official highlighted “the rapid and effective response of the Santa Cruz da Graciosa volunteer firefighters, as well as the various teams present at the scene. They acted promptly to fight the flames, limiting the spread of the fire, minimising environmental impacts and contributing to the safety of people and property.” "All available resources were mobilised to control the situation and ensure the safety of the population and the environment. The priority, immediately after extinguishing the fire, was to ensure a swift and safe recovery of the centre's operations, while also reinforcing prevention and monitoring measures, stated Alonso Miguel. In 2012, the Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre was awarded, through a public tender, to Equiambi, Lda., which is also responsible for managing the São Jorge Island Waste Processing Centre. The Regional Secretary also stressed that the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action "will continue to monitor the situation closely, in coordination with the municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa and Equiambi, the company managing the Centre, to ensure a coordinated and effective response." “The damage caused by the fire is currently being assessed, as well as its coverage under the insurance policies held by the concessionaire. At the same time, various actions are underway to restore waste reception and processing on the island, guaranteeing the continuity of this essential public service,” added the Regional Secretary. Alonso Miguel explained that, with a view to restoring normal operations at CPR, Equiambi has already sent a set of equipment and technical resources to Graciosa, including a forklift, while a pressork, a rotating fork clamp and a telescopic forklift, as well as roll baling equipment, are already in the process of being transported. "Loader services have also been commissioned, and a technician specialising in dismantling is on the island to coordinate the removal and replacement of affected structures," he added. Meanwhile, specialised equipment for cutting and dismantling the damaged structures has already arrived on Graciosa, allowing the necessary work to be carried out to restore the space. The Regional Secretary recalled that the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action launched an international public tender in February 2025, amounting to three million Euros, to modernise waste recycling and processing on several islands, which will equip the Graciosa CPR with a new mixed sorting line for unsorted waste (TMB) and selective collection. Alonso Miguel revealed that "this investment, amounting to around €800,000, provides for the installation of new equipment at the Graciosa CPR in the first half of 2026, ensuring better operating conditions, greater efficiency and safety at work, and increased waste recovery." According to the government official, the new sorting line will include various pieces of equipment, such as a feed dosing bunker, a conveyor belt for receiving and feeding the pre-sorting table, a conveyor belt for the pre-sorting table, a conveyor belt for feeding the rotary screen, rotary screen, conveyor belt for receiving and feeding the sorting table, conveyor belt for the sorting table and platform, conveyor belt for feeding the baling press, and baling press. Alonso Miguel concluded by stating that, "with these immediate and structural measures, the Regional Government and the concessionaire Equiambi are not only ensuring the restoration of normal operations at the Graciosa Island Waste Processing Centre, but also ensuring its modernisation. This reinforces the commitment to environmental protection, operational safety and efficient waste management."
