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Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Press release
Press release
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Faial Botanical Garden celebrates 40 years of work to protect nature in the Azores
Faial Botanical Garden celebrates 40 years of work to protect nature in the Azores
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Ação Climática
Alonso Miguel highlights refurbishment and modernisation of Graciosa Waste Processing Centre after fire
Alonso Miguel highlights refurbishment and modernisation of Graciosa Waste Processing Centre after fire
June 25, 2026
Press release
June 18, 2026
Faial Botanical Garden celebrates 40 years of work to protect nature in the Azores
June 8, 2026
Alonso Miguel highlights refurbishment and modernisation of Graciosa Waste Processing Centre after fire
News
Nota de Imprensa
June 25, 2026
Press release
The Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action considers it essential to set the record straight about the recent statements made by the leader of the PS/Açores, Francisco César, regarding the regional fire service. The criticisms levelled do not reflect the reality. They rather ignore the progress made in the sector and seek to undermine the significant work carried out by the Regional Government in recent years to bolster resources, improve conditions for fire brigades and acknowledge the importance of Azorean firefighters. In this regard, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action clarifies the following: Recent statements by Francisco César, leader of PS/Açores, regarding the Azores’ fire service reveal a worrying lack of understanding of the reality of the sector and a rather frivolous attempt to dismiss everything that has been achieved in recent years. It seems that Francisco César has received the 2020 progress report. The situation he now describes largely corresponds to the reality this Government encountered as a result of previous socialist governments: lack of investment, ageing equipment, associations without an adequate funding model, and firefighters whose salaries did not reflect the demands of their role. If the leader of the PS/Açores were to follow developments in the Region more closely and with greater attention, he would know that the fire service has never been so highly valued as it is now. He would probably need to spend more time in the Azores to become better acquainted with the reality of the sector. Therefore, the fact that Francisco César is now talking about renewing the "red fleet" is particularly surprising, given that socialist governments have failed to purchase a single vehicle of this kind for fire departments since 2010 – a period spanning more than a decade. Francisco César may now try to rewrite history, but the facts are hard to ignore: for more than ten years, the socialist governments have not purchased a single fire engine for Azorean fire departments. This is what is known as convenient political amnesia. Today, whilst Francisco César is writing falsehoods, this Government has already purchased 28 red fleet vehicles, has another five scheduled for 2027, and has acquired 21 ambulances to bolster the emergency response capacity of Azorean fire departments – an overall investment exceeding €8 million in just five years. It also seems to have gone unnoticed by the leader of PS/Açores that it was this Government that created and implemented a model for the regular funding of humanitarian organisations – something that had long been called for but never implemented by previous socialist governments. This support, which began at €500,000, now amounts to €750,000 per year, distributed according to objective and transparent criteria. It is a fundamental tool for ensuring the sustainability and financial predictability of Firefighters' Humanitarian Associations. It is also curious that Francisco César should now advocate changes to a model that his party has never even been able to create. Perhaps the alternative he is proposing is a return to the model practised by socialist governments: no regular funding, no defined criteria and no structural support for humanitarian associations. In terms of salaries, the facts also refute the claims made by the leader of PS/Açores. Regrettably, Francisco César states that “firefighters have been waiting far too long for the Ordinance on Working Conditions to be updated,” when this document has been updated twice over the last two years, most recently less than a year ago. These statements are false, and firefighters are well aware of this. In 2020, entry-level firefighters earned around €720. Today, the base salary stands at €1,014, representing an increase of around 40% over five years. In the last two years alone, the base salary increase for entry-level firefighters has exceeded €150 a month. No firefighter performing operational duties currently earns less than €1,000, a figure around 10% higher than the base salary in Mainland Portugal. At the top of the career ladder, a salary that was just over €1,200 has now risen to over €1,600. These rises are not the result of political statements: they are the result of negotiation, dialogue with the associations and clear financial commitments made by the Regional Government. As for pre-hospital emergency care, investment has risen by 70%, from €4.9 million in 2020 to €8.3 million in 2026. The number of crew members has increased from 220 to 277, thereby bolstering crews, improving response capacity to the population and increasing the amounts paid to associations per crew member. It was also this Government that created and implemented a support model for the Junior and Cadet Fire Schools, which led to a 57% increase in the number of schools and an 82% increase in the number of students. This is how we ensure the sector’s generational renewal and prepare the future firefighters of the Azores: with tangible measures, funding and a long-term vision, rather than with empty statements. Across the Regional Civil Protection System, more than €60 million has been invested over the last five years, with the last two years seeing the largest investment programmes ever in the Azorean fire service. Francisco César may choose to ignore this reality. What he cannot do is try to deceive Azorean firefighters, humanitarian organisations and the public by pretending that nothing has been done when the results are there for all to see. It is entirely legitimate to want more for the fire service. This Government wants that too and has demonstrated it through investment, pay rises, renewed fleets, more staff and better conditions for fire departments. However, it is unacceptable to use the remaining difficulties as an excuse to turn a blind eye to what socialist governments failed to do for so many years.
June 25, 2026
Press release
The Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action considers it essential to set the record straight about the recent statements made by the leader of the PS/Açores, Francisco César, regarding the regional fire service. The criticisms levelled do not reflect the reality. They rather ignore the progress made in the sector and seek to undermine the significant work carried out by the Regional Government in recent years to bolster resources, improve conditions for fire brigades and acknowledge the importance of Azorean firefighters. In this regard, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Action clarifies the following: Recent statements by Francisco César, leader of PS/Açores, regarding the Azores’ fire service reveal a worrying lack of understanding of the reality of the sector and a rather frivolous attempt to dismiss everything that has been achieved in recent years. It seems that Francisco César has received the 2020 progress report. The situation he now describes largely corresponds to the reality this Government encountered as a result of previous socialist governments: lack of investment, ageing equipment, associations without an adequate funding model, and firefighters whose salaries did not reflect the demands of their role. If the leader of the PS/Açores were to follow developments in the Region more closely and with greater attention, he would know that the fire service has never been so highly valued as it is now. He would probably need to spend more time in the Azores to become better acquainted with the reality of the sector. Therefore, the fact that Francisco César is now talking about renewing the "red fleet" is particularly surprising, given that socialist governments have failed to purchase a single vehicle of this kind for fire departments since 2010 – a period spanning more than a decade. Francisco César may now try to rewrite history, but the facts are hard to ignore: for more than ten years, the socialist governments have not purchased a single fire engine for Azorean fire departments. This is what is known as convenient political amnesia. Today, whilst Francisco César is writing falsehoods, this Government has already purchased 28 red fleet vehicles, has another five scheduled for 2027, and has acquired 21 ambulances to bolster the emergency response capacity of Azorean fire departments – an overall investment exceeding €8 million in just five years. It also seems to have gone unnoticed by the leader of PS/Açores that it was this Government that created and implemented a model for the regular funding of humanitarian organisations – something that had long been called for but never implemented by previous socialist governments. This support, which began at €500,000, now amounts to €750,000 per year, distributed according to objective and transparent criteria. It is a fundamental tool for ensuring the sustainability and financial predictability of Firefighters' Humanitarian Associations. It is also curious that Francisco César should now advocate changes to a model that his party has never even been able to create. Perhaps the alternative he is proposing is a return to the model practised by socialist governments: no regular funding, no defined criteria and no structural support for humanitarian associations. In terms of salaries, the facts also refute the claims made by the leader of PS/Açores. Regrettably, Francisco César states that “firefighters have been waiting far too long for the Ordinance on Working Conditions to be updated,” when this document has been updated twice over the last two years, most recently less than a year ago. These statements are false, and firefighters are well aware of this. In 2020, entry-level firefighters earned around €720. Today, the base salary stands at €1,014, representing an increase of around 40% over five years. In the last two years alone, the base salary increase for entry-level firefighters has exceeded €150 a month. No firefighter performing operational duties currently earns less than €1,000, a figure around 10% higher than the base salary in Mainland Portugal. At the top of the career ladder, a salary that was just over €1,200 has now risen to over €1,600. These rises are not the result of political statements: they are the result of negotiation, dialogue with the associations and clear financial commitments made by the Regional Government. As for pre-hospital emergency care, investment has risen by 70%, from €4.9 million in 2020 to €8.3 million in 2026. The number of crew members has increased from 220 to 277, thereby bolstering crews, improving response capacity to the population and increasing the amounts paid to associations per crew member. It was also this Government that created and implemented a support model for the Junior and Cadet Fire Schools, which led to a 57% increase in the number of schools and an 82% increase in the number of students. This is how we ensure the sector’s generational renewal and prepare the future firefighters of the Azores: with tangible measures, funding and a long-term vision, rather than with empty statements. Across the Regional Civil Protection System, more than €60 million has been invested over the last five years, with the last two years seeing the largest investment programmes ever in the Azorean fire service. Francisco César may choose to ignore this reality. What he cannot do is try to deceive Azorean firefighters, humanitarian organisations and the public by pretending that nothing has been done when the results are there for all to see. It is entirely legitimate to want more for the fire service. This Government wants that too and has demonstrated it through investment, pay rises, renewed fleets, more staff and better conditions for fire departments. However, it is unacceptable to use the remaining difficulties as an excuse to turn a blind eye to what socialist governments failed to do for so many years.
Nota de Imprensa
June 18, 2026
Faial Botanical Garden celebrates 40 years of work to protect nature in the Azores
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.
June 18, 2026
Faial Botanical Garden celebrates 40 years of work to protect nature in the Azores
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.
