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Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
Azores increase reforested area and step up active management of forest ecosystems
Azores increase reforested area and step up active management of forest ecosystems
Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
Hunting calendars for 2025–2026 season published in Official Journal
Hunting calendars for 2025–2026 season published in Official Journal
Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
Drone use has been "powerful ally" in environmental conservation, highlights António Ventura
Drone use has been "powerful ally" in environmental conservation, highlights António Ventura
January 27, 2026
Azores increase reforested area and step up active management of forest ecosystems
July 1, 2025
Hunting calendars for 2025–2026 season published in Official Journal
May 28, 2025
Drone use has been "powerful ally" in environmental conservation, highlights António Ventura
News
Nota de Imprensa
January 27, 2026
Azores increase reforested area and step up active management of forest ecosystems
In 2025, the Autonomous Region of the Azores recorded a 16.8% increase in forested area compared to the previous year, totalling around 141.5 hectares in new interventions. The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, emphasised that this growth demonstrates the Regional Government's commitment to the recovery and enhancement of the Azorean forest heritage. “The increase in the reforested area in 2025 demonstrates the Regional Government's firm commitment to the recovery and enhancement of the Azores' forest heritage. It confirms that we are consolidating a path of active management of our forests that simultaneously strengthens their environmental resilience and economic importance," stated the government official in reference to data from the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and Spatial Planning. In 2025, a total of 493,568 plants were provided through the Region's Forest Nurseries. Companies and private entities were responsible for the afforestation of approximately 73.7 hectares, an impressive figure in a year of transition between Community frameworks. "It is expected that, with the entry into force of PEPAC support, there will be a significant increase in areas planted by private entities, particularly through the afforestation of adjacent pastures, contributing to raising the archipelago's afforestation rate, which currently stands at 31%," stated António Ventura. It is also important to highlight the role of the Regional Government, with afforestation interventions in 2025 covering around 60 hectares, either using its own resources or through partnerships. Most of these afforestation projects are associated with the management of public forest perimeters or the implementation of community projects, such as those co-financed by the LIFE programme. Other notable initiatives include tree planting by local authorities, associations and communities covering around 7.8 hectares. The planting strategy varied according to the goals set out for each area. Cryptomeria remained the preferred species for forestry production, occupying around 70 hectares. In areas designated for biodiversity conservation and recovery, priority was given to native species such as Azores Juniper, Azorean laurel, Azores laurel cherry and Azorean Holly, with 178,551 plants covering 40 hectares. "This increase in reforestation interventions falls within a broad strategy of adaptation to climate change, soil protection and water regulation, also reflecting a careful selection of species," explained the Regional Secretary. The government official also highlighted the use of ornamental species, such as oak trees and camellias, to enhance the landscaping of public areas. The increase in reforestation interventions in 2025 falls within a broader effort to restore degraded areas and boost the productivity of the Azorean forest, improve water regulation capacity and soil conservation, enhance ecosystem services, and build a more diverse and balanced landscape capable of promoting the territory's climate resilience.
January 27, 2026
Azores increase reforested area and step up active management of forest ecosystems
In 2025, the Autonomous Region of the Azores recorded a 16.8% increase in forested area compared to the previous year, totalling around 141.5 hectares in new interventions. The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, emphasised that this growth demonstrates the Regional Government's commitment to the recovery and enhancement of the Azorean forest heritage. “The increase in the reforested area in 2025 demonstrates the Regional Government's firm commitment to the recovery and enhancement of the Azores' forest heritage. It confirms that we are consolidating a path of active management of our forests that simultaneously strengthens their environmental resilience and economic importance," stated the government official in reference to data from the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and Spatial Planning. In 2025, a total of 493,568 plants were provided through the Region's Forest Nurseries. Companies and private entities were responsible for the afforestation of approximately 73.7 hectares, an impressive figure in a year of transition between Community frameworks. "It is expected that, with the entry into force of PEPAC support, there will be a significant increase in areas planted by private entities, particularly through the afforestation of adjacent pastures, contributing to raising the archipelago's afforestation rate, which currently stands at 31%," stated António Ventura. It is also important to highlight the role of the Regional Government, with afforestation interventions in 2025 covering around 60 hectares, either using its own resources or through partnerships. Most of these afforestation projects are associated with the management of public forest perimeters or the implementation of community projects, such as those co-financed by the LIFE programme. Other notable initiatives include tree planting by local authorities, associations and communities covering around 7.8 hectares. The planting strategy varied according to the goals set out for each area. Cryptomeria remained the preferred species for forestry production, occupying around 70 hectares. In areas designated for biodiversity conservation and recovery, priority was given to native species such as Azores Juniper, Azorean laurel, Azores laurel cherry and Azorean Holly, with 178,551 plants covering 40 hectares. "This increase in reforestation interventions falls within a broad strategy of adaptation to climate change, soil protection and water regulation, also reflecting a careful selection of species," explained the Regional Secretary. The government official also highlighted the use of ornamental species, such as oak trees and camellias, to enhance the landscaping of public areas. The increase in reforestation interventions in 2025 falls within a broader effort to restore degraded areas and boost the productivity of the Azorean forest, improve water regulation capacity and soil conservation, enhance ecosystem services, and build a more diverse and balanced landscape capable of promoting the territory's climate resilience.
Nota de Imprensa
July 1, 2025
Hunting calendars for 2025–2026 season published in Official Journal
The Regional Government has already published in the Official Journal the ordinances determining the hunting calendars for each island for the coming season, which begins today and ends on June 30, 2026. The hunting calendar is designed to be tailored to the reality of each island. It aims to provide hunters with information on which species can be hunted, the period during which hunting is permitted, the number of animals that can be captured, the locations where hunting is permitted, and the hunting methods that can be used. The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and Spatial Planning, aims to ensure that regional hunting resources are managed sustainably, according to the nature conservation and ecological balance principles, and in coordination with other forms of land use. In this regard, a management strategy has been developed that is primarily based on technical and scientific studies to further our understanding of the biology and ecology of game species in the Region; monitor the abundance of different game species and other work and studies conducted over the years by the forestry services of each island; monitor hunting efforts; supervise and collect data on hunting days; and establish hunting calendars adjusted to the reality of each island and the circumstances of the moment, which are subject to change as soon as the evolution of the situation justifies it. All proposals for the hunting calendars for the 2025/2026 season have been submitted, analysed and discussed with hunters' organisations, farmers' associations, forestry producers and environmental protection associations on each island. The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food also informs that the proposals presented by the partners consulted were considered and included in the respective hunting calendars, by consensus among all those consulted, who deserve our appreciation for their collaboration. Hunting for the 2025/2026 season will remain essentially at the same levels as the previous season, except for the islands of São Miguel, Faial and Flores, where an increase in wild rabbit hunting is planned, through an increase in the number of hunting days, as a result of the recorded abundance levels, which are intended to become more controlled. In turn, the decline in the nesting population of common snipe on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial has led to a further ban on snipe hunting on these islands. For other game species, the population status has not required any major changes to the conditions applicable to their hunting. "Game species face today various disturbances leading to fragmentation and deterioration of habitats, ecological niches, and changes in the composition and structure of communities. Added to these threats are climate change and extreme weather events," stressed António Ventura, Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food. He added: “Game species play a fundamental ecological role. Hunters who engage in hunting in an ethical, adaptive and sustainable manner are essential to nature conservation, thus contributing to reversing biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.”
July 1, 2025
Hunting calendars for 2025–2026 season published in Official Journal
The Regional Government has already published in the Official Journal the ordinances determining the hunting calendars for each island for the coming season, which begins today and ends on June 30, 2026. The hunting calendar is designed to be tailored to the reality of each island. It aims to provide hunters with information on which species can be hunted, the period during which hunting is permitted, the number of animals that can be captured, the locations where hunting is permitted, and the hunting methods that can be used. The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, through the Regional Directorate for Forest Resources and Spatial Planning, aims to ensure that regional hunting resources are managed sustainably, according to the nature conservation and ecological balance principles, and in coordination with other forms of land use. In this regard, a management strategy has been developed that is primarily based on technical and scientific studies to further our understanding of the biology and ecology of game species in the Region; monitor the abundance of different game species and other work and studies conducted over the years by the forestry services of each island; monitor hunting efforts; supervise and collect data on hunting days; and establish hunting calendars adjusted to the reality of each island and the circumstances of the moment, which are subject to change as soon as the evolution of the situation justifies it. All proposals for the hunting calendars for the 2025/2026 season have been submitted, analysed and discussed with hunters' organisations, farmers' associations, forestry producers and environmental protection associations on each island. The Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food also informs that the proposals presented by the partners consulted were considered and included in the respective hunting calendars, by consensus among all those consulted, who deserve our appreciation for their collaboration. Hunting for the 2025/2026 season will remain essentially at the same levels as the previous season, except for the islands of São Miguel, Faial and Flores, where an increase in wild rabbit hunting is planned, through an increase in the number of hunting days, as a result of the recorded abundance levels, which are intended to become more controlled. In turn, the decline in the nesting population of common snipe on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira and Faial has led to a further ban on snipe hunting on these islands. For other game species, the population status has not required any major changes to the conditions applicable to their hunting. "Game species face today various disturbances leading to fragmentation and deterioration of habitats, ecological niches, and changes in the composition and structure of communities. Added to these threats are climate change and extreme weather events," stressed António Ventura, Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food. He added: “Game species play a fundamental ecological role. Hunters who engage in hunting in an ethical, adaptive and sustainable manner are essential to nature conservation, thus contributing to reversing biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.”