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Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
World Forest Day marked with more than 3,000 participants across the archipelago
World Forest Day marked with more than 3,000 participants across the archipelago
Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação
António Ventura reviews hunting season, highlighting sustainable species management and stricter enforcement
António Ventura reviews hunting season, highlighting sustainable species management and stricter enforcement
March 31, 2026
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
March 27, 2026
World Forest Day marked with more than 3,000 participants across the archipelago
March 24, 2026
António Ventura reviews hunting season, highlighting sustainable species management and stricter enforcement
News
Nota de Imprensa
March 31, 2026
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, is stepping up integrated rodent control measures across the archipelago, ensuring direct support to producers through the free provision of rodenticides, specialist training and ongoing technical advice. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “protecting agriculture is about protecting the Azorean identity.” The government emphasised that controlling these pests “is not merely a technical measure; it is essential to safeguard farms, ensure the quality of produce and protect the daily efforts of farmers.” Managed by the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food (DRAVA), the current strategy involved the purchase of 42.1 tonnes of rodenticide, representing an overall investment of €191,619.86 (plus VAT). Approximately 21.1 tonnes are currently being distributed across all islands, continuing the first phase of deliveries (20.9 tonnes) that began in September 2025. The distribution of these products is carried out in a decentralised manner by the Agrarian Development Services – in some cases in partnership with local councils – to ensure maximum logistical efficiency. The quantity of product allocated to each producer is based on the declared agricultural areas, covering arable crops, fruit crops, horticultural crops and POSEI areas. From a scientific and technical standpoint, field operations make use of active substances such as brodifacoum and difethialone (second-generation anticoagulants). The effectiveness of these products is closely monitored by the Integrated Pest Management Committee – Rodents, which met on February 25, 2026, and confirmed that no resistance to these substances has been identified in the Region. Alongside material support, the Regional Secretariat has been investing in training human resources, promoting several training initiatives aimed at authorised operators and responsible technicians on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Flores. This effort is complemented by wide-ranging public awareness campaigns through the media (RTP Açores and Antena 1 Açores - television and radio stations), social media and the distribution of posters. “In an archipelago with such diverse circumstances, this strategy requires knowledge, coordination and a hands-on approach,” António Ventura stated, explaining the simultaneous focus on training, on-site monitoring and awareness raising. “Acting early and acting effectively makes all the difference. It is this shared commitment – between government departments, experts and farmers – that enables us to protect Azorean agriculture and ensure a more secure and sustainable future for all islands,” concluded the government official.
March 31, 2026
Regional Government is investing over €190,000 in stepping up rodent control measures to protect farms
The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, is stepping up integrated rodent control measures across the archipelago, ensuring direct support to producers through the free provision of rodenticides, specialist training and ongoing technical advice. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, “protecting agriculture is about protecting the Azorean identity.” The government emphasised that controlling these pests “is not merely a technical measure; it is essential to safeguard farms, ensure the quality of produce and protect the daily efforts of farmers.” Managed by the Regional Directorate for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food (DRAVA), the current strategy involved the purchase of 42.1 tonnes of rodenticide, representing an overall investment of €191,619.86 (plus VAT). Approximately 21.1 tonnes are currently being distributed across all islands, continuing the first phase of deliveries (20.9 tonnes) that began in September 2025. The distribution of these products is carried out in a decentralised manner by the Agrarian Development Services – in some cases in partnership with local councils – to ensure maximum logistical efficiency. The quantity of product allocated to each producer is based on the declared agricultural areas, covering arable crops, fruit crops, horticultural crops and POSEI areas. From a scientific and technical standpoint, field operations make use of active substances such as brodifacoum and difethialone (second-generation anticoagulants). The effectiveness of these products is closely monitored by the Integrated Pest Management Committee – Rodents, which met on February 25, 2026, and confirmed that no resistance to these substances has been identified in the Region. Alongside material support, the Regional Secretariat has been investing in training human resources, promoting several training initiatives aimed at authorised operators and responsible technicians on the islands of São Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Flores. This effort is complemented by wide-ranging public awareness campaigns through the media (RTP Açores and Antena 1 Açores - television and radio stations), social media and the distribution of posters. “In an archipelago with such diverse circumstances, this strategy requires knowledge, coordination and a hands-on approach,” António Ventura stated, explaining the simultaneous focus on training, on-site monitoring and awareness raising. “Acting early and acting effectively makes all the difference. It is this shared commitment – between government departments, experts and farmers – that enables us to protect Azorean agriculture and ensure a more secure and sustainable future for all islands,” concluded the government official.
Nota de Imprensa
March 27, 2026
World Forest Day marked with more than 3,000 participants across the archipelago
The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, has brought together more than 3,000 people in a wide-ranging programme of activities to mark World Forest Day, which has inspired initiatives taking place between March 16 and today. The initiatives were organised by the Forestry Services of the nine islands. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, the occasion meant “much more than a symbolic date.” “We celebrate our forests, their irreplaceable value and the collective commitment we have been building across all islands,” he stressed. “Over the course of these days, thousands of children, young people, teachers, volunteers, scouts and local partners have come together for planting, awareness-raising and active learning activities,” he added. The activities focused on promoting the native Azorean forest, dominated by laurel forest and endemic species such as the Azores juniper and the Azorean Buckthorn, which are a unique heritage and the natural habitat of iconic species such as the Azores bullfinch. The strong mobilisation of the Azorean community was reflected in a diverse programme of events across the Region. On Santa Maria Island, environmental protection planting initiatives were organised at the airport and in local schools, involving students, teachers and scouts. On São Miguel Island, exhibitions, treasure hunts, biodiversity activities, sapling planting and talks delivered by forest rangers took place in schools located in Nordeste, Vila Franca do Campo, Ponta Garça and Ponta Delgada. In turn, volunteering and educational activities took place on the island of Terceira, namely the symbolic planting at Monte Brasil, in partnership with the army, and the planting of endemic species, including an event open to the public and another involving scouts. There were also recreational and educational activities in various schools across the island. On Graciosa Island, the programme included the planting of around 600 native trees in Serra das Fontes, in partnership with the Quercus Association, Portuguese Postal Services (CTT), schools and the Santa Cruz da Graciosa Municipal Council, as well as symbolic plantings in the island’s four parishes. On São Jorge Island, the activities were part of the Biosphere Reserve Festival, featuring tree-planting, traditional games and other activities aimed at children and families in the Macelas and Silveira Forest Reserves. Meanwhile, on the island of Pico, the exhibition and themed activities entitled “Forest of the Senses” in Lajes and Madalena involved more than 460 students. On Faial Island, the celebrations took the form of a tree-planting event along the Cabouco–Caldeira Forest Trail, organised in partnership with Horta Municipal Council and the Faial Automobile Club, as well as awareness-raising activities at three institutions in Horta. Lastly, on the island of Flores, native species were planted at Lagoa Branca and on the grounds of the Flores Basic Education and Secondary School, with the support of the GNR (National Republican Guard) and the Environmental Service. António Ventura assured that the conservation of Azorean forests will remain a collective priority, resulting in practical actions that ensure their protection for future generations. “Every action, whether it be planting a tree, tending a seed, an environmental education activity or a simple conversation about nature, represents an investment in the future of the Azores,” concluded the government official.
March 27, 2026
World Forest Day marked with more than 3,000 participants across the archipelago
The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, has brought together more than 3,000 people in a wide-ranging programme of activities to mark World Forest Day, which has inspired initiatives taking place between March 16 and today. The initiatives were organised by the Forestry Services of the nine islands. According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, the occasion meant “much more than a symbolic date.” “We celebrate our forests, their irreplaceable value and the collective commitment we have been building across all islands,” he stressed. “Over the course of these days, thousands of children, young people, teachers, volunteers, scouts and local partners have come together for planting, awareness-raising and active learning activities,” he added. The activities focused on promoting the native Azorean forest, dominated by laurel forest and endemic species such as the Azores juniper and the Azorean Buckthorn, which are a unique heritage and the natural habitat of iconic species such as the Azores bullfinch. The strong mobilisation of the Azorean community was reflected in a diverse programme of events across the Region. On Santa Maria Island, environmental protection planting initiatives were organised at the airport and in local schools, involving students, teachers and scouts. On São Miguel Island, exhibitions, treasure hunts, biodiversity activities, sapling planting and talks delivered by forest rangers took place in schools located in Nordeste, Vila Franca do Campo, Ponta Garça and Ponta Delgada. In turn, volunteering and educational activities took place on the island of Terceira, namely the symbolic planting at Monte Brasil, in partnership with the army, and the planting of endemic species, including an event open to the public and another involving scouts. There were also recreational and educational activities in various schools across the island. On Graciosa Island, the programme included the planting of around 600 native trees in Serra das Fontes, in partnership with the Quercus Association, Portuguese Postal Services (CTT), schools and the Santa Cruz da Graciosa Municipal Council, as well as symbolic plantings in the island’s four parishes. On São Jorge Island, the activities were part of the Biosphere Reserve Festival, featuring tree-planting, traditional games and other activities aimed at children and families in the Macelas and Silveira Forest Reserves. Meanwhile, on the island of Pico, the exhibition and themed activities entitled “Forest of the Senses” in Lajes and Madalena involved more than 460 students. On Faial Island, the celebrations took the form of a tree-planting event along the Cabouco–Caldeira Forest Trail, organised in partnership with Horta Municipal Council and the Faial Automobile Club, as well as awareness-raising activities at three institutions in Horta. Lastly, on the island of Flores, native species were planted at Lagoa Branca and on the grounds of the Flores Basic Education and Secondary School, with the support of the GNR (National Republican Guard) and the Environmental Service. António Ventura assured that the conservation of Azorean forests will remain a collective priority, resulting in practical actions that ensure their protection for future generations. “Every action, whether it be planting a tree, tending a seed, an environmental education activity or a simple conversation about nature, represents an investment in the future of the Azores,” concluded the government official.