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LIFE BEETLES project highlighted as success story by International Union for Conservation of Nature
Regional Government reinforces pre-hospital emergency care in Faial with SIV vehicle operating 24/7
Regional Government reinforces commitment to Azores Geopark at 11th International Geoparks Conference
As nossas ilhas são reconhecidas internacionalmente pelos seus elevados níveis de qualidade ambiental e por um extraordinário património natural, que temos a responsabilidade de proteger e de legar às futuras gerações.
O XIV Governo Regional dos Açores está comprometido com a preservação e valorização de todo este património único, tendo como objetivo garantir o desenvolvimento sustentável da Região Autónoma dos Açores, através de uma estratégia centrada no fomento da educação, sensibilização e literacia ambiental, que configuram pilares essenciais para a sustentabilidade ambiental dos Açores.
Estamos absolutamente focados na conservação da natureza e na proteção dos nossos ecossistemas, bem como na preservação da biodiversidade e no combate à proliferação das espécies exóticas invasoras.
É também uma missão prioritária da Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática a construção de políticas que garantam a melhoria da gestão de resíduos e uma transição célere para uma economia circular, com vista a atingir as metas definidas a nível regional e contribuir para o cumprimento dos compromissos assumidos a nível nacional e comunitário.
O planeamento e a gestão eficiente dos recursos hídricos representam também importantes desafios, que exigem respostas integradas que permitam assegurar, em quantidade e qualidade adequadas, o abastecimento de água às nossas populações, bem como satisfazer as necessidades atuais da sociedade, perspetivando ainda futuras necessidades expetáveis no contexto de diferentes cenários de evolução social e económica.
As Alterações Climáticas representam um dos maiores desafios com que a humanidade jamais se deparou. É, portanto, necessário que estejamos preparados para garantir a mitigação dos impactes negativos das alterações climáticas, mas, sobretudo, para nos adaptarmos a este fenómeno, assegurando uma transição energética e ecológica firme e responsável, tão acelerada quanto possível, garantindo um desenvolvimento sustentável dos Açores.
A Proteção Civil assume-se cada vez mais como um fator decisivo na segurança e bem-estar da população. É, pois, um desiderato da Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática, garantir a existência nos Açores de um Serviço Regional de Proteção Civil e Bombeiros bem organizado, devidamente equipado, e com capacidade de garantir uma atuação preventiva e de resposta rápida e eficaz a situações de risco, acidente grave ou catástrofe, para evitar a perda de vidas humanas, proteger bens e contribuir para preservar a segurança individual e coletiva dos Açorianos.
September 17, 2025
LIFE BEETLES project highlighted as success story by International Union for Conservation of Nature
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."
September 16, 2025
Regional Government reinforces pre-hospital emergency care in Faial with SIV vehicle operating 24/7
The Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, announced that Faial Immediate Life Support Service (SIV) will now operate 24 hours a day, reinforcing the island's response capacity in pre-hospital medical emergencies and rescue conditions. For Alonso Miguel, this is "a historic step," noting that "until now, the SIV vehicle was only available 16 hours a day, a limitation that no longer exists to ensure a closer, more effective and permanent response." "From now on, it will be available 24/7 with an SIV AMBULANCE model, already successfully tested by the Praia da Vitória Fire Department," Alonso Miguel emphasised during the delivery ceremony of an ambulance to the Faial Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters. The government official explained that the permanent operation of SIV services represents a government investment of around €360,000, including €100,000 for a new ambulance and about €260,000 to staff the two crews assigned to pre-hospital emergency medical services. The ambulance now delivered to Faial is one of nine vehicles acquired under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), representing an overall investment of about one million Euros. All ambulances have now been delivered to their respective associations. “Therefore, the population of Faial will now have another ambulance, more days of ambulance crews and the SIV vehicle operating 24 hours a day. This clearly demonstrates the importance we attach to the response capacity of our fire brigade in the area of pre-hospital emergency medical care,” he added. On that occasion, Alonso Miguel also thanked the Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security and the Horta Hospital "for increasing nursing resources and the joint work that proved essential for the implementation of this new project in Faial." The Regional Secretary, who oversees Civil Protection, also pointed out that "the Regional Government's investment in pre-hospital medical emergencies has been growing significantly," noting that there was an increase from €4.9 million in 2020 to €7.9 million in 2025. He continued: "This is a 61% increase in investment, which reflects the Regional Government's firm commitment and clear focus on responding immediately to emergencies and supporting the professionals working in this field. This is reflected not only in the renewal of the red and yellow fleet, but also in the expansion of the SIV vehicle fleet and the increase of pre-hospital emergency medical crews." The government official concluded by reiterating the Regional Government's commitment to the Azorean fire brigades, assuring that it will continue to invest, support and jointly work "to safeguard the most precious asset: human life."