LIFE IP CLIMAZ begins fieldwork to assess soil organic carbon in forest areas Body

Nov. 12, 2025

As part of the LIFE IP CLIMAZ project, the Regional Directorate for Forestry Resources and Land Management (DRRFOT) is advancing an innovative initiative to quantify the carbon stored in the forest ecosystems of Terceira and São Miguel islands.

This initiative, integrated into action C.2.4 – Trials and Demonstration of the use of LIDAR technologies for biomass monitoring and carbon sequestration, began in June with the collection of soil samples to estimate organic carbon stocks, complementing the estimation of carbon in above-ground biomass.

During July, sampling was completed in plots of endemic forest species on Terceira Island, including Caldeira de Santa Bárbara, Morro Assombrado, Lomba, Terra Brava, and Bela Rocha. In August, work continued on São Miguel Island, with monitoring of plots in the Serra da Tronqueira area.

This process is essential to understanding the role of forests in mitigating climate change and strengthening ecosystem resilience.

With the financial support of the European Union's LIFE Program.